FDA Office and Location: A postdoctoral fellowship opportunity is currently available in the Division of Neurotoxicology at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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 train closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) in FDA funded research to evaluate the developmental toxicity of analgesia and anesthesia. The focus of these projects is determining the neurotoxic potential of analgesia or anesthesia exposure in utero and during the first year of life. These projects will be performed in rats and guinea pigs and focus on histological, immunohistological, and molecular endpoints of neurotoxicity. The candidate will interact with researchers who are focusing on secondary endpoints related to liver function and sexual development. The Division of Neurotoxicology has a wide array of experimental tests and models allowing exposure to a variety of research methods and models as well as firsthand experience performing regulatory research. The candidate will be trained in planning experimental exposures and the timing of tissue collection; tissue preparation, imaging, and analysis; data analysis and reporting. The successful candidate will be required to provide quarterly research updates to partners, coordination data analysis between groups, and disseminate findings.

During the project, he/she will be actively encouraged to present the research at internal and external meetings and publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2024.

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.