FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Informatics

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

FDA Office and Location: A postdoctoral fellowship opportunity is currently available in the Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Jefferson Laboratories Campus located in Jefferson, Arkansas. 

Research Project: Research efforts will include participation in multi-disciplinary efforts in a nationally recognized training program in support of the FDA’s mission. The candidate will use a combination of toxicological, bioinformatic and statistical approaches to investigate adverse drug events. They will collaborate with FDA investigators at NCTR and with investigators in other FDA centers. During the project, they will be actively encouraged to present the research at internal and external meetings and publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals. 

Learning Objectives: The postdoctoral fellow will receive training in performing scholarly research, conceiving, planning, and conducting highly specialized research in areas of (bioinformatics, epidemiology, statistics) and participate in making contributions to the statistical and mathematical fields of science.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will gain experience in:

• Design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of informatics research while developing skills in bioinformatics, data analysis, statistics, database development, and epidemiology.
• Writing reports, publishable scientific papers, and give oral presentations on the findings and results of research and data analysis regarding women's health.
• Helping in preparation, submission, and review of manuscripts for publication.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2024.  Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for two years, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

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 participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. 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 Ethics Requirements

If an ORISE Fellow, to include their spouse and minor children, reports what is identified as a Significantly Regulated Organization (SRO) or prohibited investment fund financial interest in any amount, or a relationship with an SRO, except for spousal employment with an SRO, and the individual will not voluntarily divest the financial interest or terminate the relationship, then the individual is not placed at FDA. For additional requirements, see FDA Ethics for Nonemployee Scientists. 

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

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. bioinformatics, biology, or statistics). The doctoral degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

• Candidate should have knowledge in the area of Toxicology, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, and Molecular and Cellular Biology.
• Demonstrated written and oral communications skills. Demonstrated ability for team collaboration.
• The preference will be given to the candidate who already has experience in handling mice or rats.

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).