FDA Postdoc Research Fellowship in Computational Modeling

Two postdoctoral fellowship opportunities are currently available in the Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Jefferson Laboratories Campus located in Jefferson, Arkansas.

Research efforts will include participation in multi-disciplinary efforts in a nationally recognized training program in support of the FDA’s mission and be trained to conduct fundamental and applied research designed to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity and support risk-assessment for chemicals of interest to the FDA. The selected participant will be trained under Dr. Annie Lumen and her team on the development and use of pharmacokinetic and mechanistic models on projects in support of NCTR’s objectives and the FDA mission. Opportunities may include developing PBPK models for underrepresented life-stages to investigate and ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs repurposed for SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterizing life-stage specific variabilities to derive intra-population extrapolation strategies, and simulating drug-drug interactions of medications used concomitantly for treating COVID-19 which may differ from typical clinical trial participants based on specific life-stages. Through this fellowship, the selected participant will have the opportunity to learn and apply computational modeling skills, including life-stage PBPK modeling, local and global sensitivity analysis and population analysis, to address public health-related issues and gain experience in developing tools geared towards the advancement of regulatory science. S/he will collaborate with FDA investigators at NCTR and with investigators in other FDA centers such as the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). During the project, s/he will be actively encouraged to present the research at internal and external meetings and publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals.

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 Jefferson, Arkansas, 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:

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion by May 31, 2021. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills: