FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship to Study Early Age Immunology/Immune Responses to Vaccines

Overview

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

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

Research Project: The laboratory is investigating the immunobiological mechanisms responsible for the suboptimal vaccine responses in newborns and infants. The goal of these studies is to improve the efficacies of pediatric vaccines using adjuvants targeting the pathways responsible for the blunted immune responses. This project is using neonatal mice from immunocompetent as well as various transgenic backgrounds to study the immune responses to diverse vaccine platforms including mRNA vaccines (SARS-CoV-2) and novel delivery systems. The analysis of immune response involves detailed investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the development of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and germinal center B cells.

Learning Objectives: You will participate in experimental design, immunization and analyzing cellular and molecular responses to vaccines in addition to writing manuscripts and presenting her/his research in national and international meetings.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Mustafa Akkoyunlu (Mustafa.Akkoyunlu@fda.hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

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

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) only.

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 or expects to have received a master’s or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields by 12/31/26. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

Experience with multi-color flow cytometry and standard immunology techniques
Experience with RNA-seq, bioinformatics and single cells sequencing
Previous mouse handling experience
Ability to collaborate with others in a team environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Publication record in peer-reviewed journals