FDA Post-baccalaureate Fellowship in Viral Vaccines and Vaccine-mediated Immune Responses

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis, and this opportunity will remain open until filled.

A research opportunity is available with the Office of Vaccines Research and Review (OVRR) in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) located in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Current ongoing research in our laboratory is mainly focused on developing assays to assess the potency of seasonal and pre-pandemic influenza vaccines, and to evaluate humoral immune responses elicited by vaccines against viral diseases, including SARS CoV-2 as well as Influenza A H5N1 and H7N9. The prospective candidate will be trained in tissue culture techniques, the development and performance of bioassays such as direct and capture ELISAs, binding and competition assays using Biolayer Interferometry, cell-based assays, molecular cloning, protein expression, Western
blot, and basic bacteriology.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 4, 2022; start date is flexible

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and FDA. The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at FDA in the Silver Spring, Maryland, area. Participants do not become employees of FDA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at FDA.  OPM can complete a background investigation only for individuals, including non-US Citizens, who have resided in the US for a total of three of the past five years.

FDA requires ORISE participants to read and sign their FDA Education and Training Agreement within 30 days of his/her start date, setting forth the conditions and expectations for his/her educational appointment at the agency.  This agreement covers such topics as the following:

• Non-employee nature of the ORISE appointment;
• Prohibition on ORISE Fellows performing inherently governmental functions;
• Obligation of ORISE Fellows to convey all necessary rights to the FDA regarding intellectual property conceived or first reduced to practice during their fellowship;
• The fact that research materials and laboratory notebooks are the property of the FDA;
• ORISE fellow’s obligation to protect and not to further disclose or use non-public information.