FDA Graduate Student Research Fellowship

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), located in the Office of Regulatory Science (ORS) in Raleigh, North Carolina.  

The goals of this project are to study the complex interactions of human pathogens such as Salmonella, shiga-toxin producing E. coli and L. monocytogenes with produce commodities in the pre-harvest environment. This research will be conducted at the phytotron facility at North Carolina State University.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn and assist in the following:

• Learn North Carolina State University biosafety procedures for working in a biosafety level 3 phytotron facility
• Learn advanced aseptic techniques used for the growth of plants in a BSL-3P level greenhouse
• Learn techniques to inoculate plants with pathogens at varying stages of growth 
• Learn microbiological and molecular techniques to identify pathogens present on or in plants
• Assist in the development of protocols for assays to identify enteric pathogen contamination within various plant tissues
• Assist with data management on all above stated projects as well as other research related activities
• Follow experimental protocols and document findings in a laboratory notebook
• Communicate with mentor on a daily basis
• Assist mentor to prepare reports for communicating results to CFSAN, FDA, and the scientific community

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 15, 2023; 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 with FDA in the Raleigh, North Carolina 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. Appointment to the position is subject to favorable background adjudication.  In addition, the selected applicant must maintain required suitability assessments and favorable background investigations as a condition of continued employment.  Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. Applicants will be issued an Official job offer letter after a favorable background security investigation and security risk assessment has been completed.

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