FDA Research Opportunity in Glycoconjugate Vaccines

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis. FDA Office and Location: Two research opportunities are currently available at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, Maryland. The ORISE Research Participation Program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is an educational and training program designed to provide college students, recent graduates, and university faculty opportunities to connect with the unique resources of the FDA. With the support of an assigned mentor, participants have authentic hands-on research experience and allows them access to unique research opportunities, top scientists and engineers, and state-of the art facilities and equipment. The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is one Center within the Food and Drug Administration, an Agency within the United States Government's Department of Health and Human Services. CBER's mission is to protect and enhance the public health through the regulation of biological and related products including cellular and gene therapies.

Research Project: This is a pioneering project that is focused on Glycoengineered Outer Membrane Vesicles (geOMV) as an alternative platform to generate glycoconjugate vaccines that target encapsulated pathogens. The project goals are: To generate a prototype expression system to reconstitute bacterial polysaccharides (e.g. capsule, O-antigen) in Escherichia coli; and to test and evaluate the immune response of the purified geOMV. Learning Objectives: The candidate will learn and get experience in microbiology, recombinant technologies, and immunological assays improve and test glycoconjugate vaccines.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 14, 2025. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors. Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for four months, 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.

The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in one of the relevant fields. The degree must have been received within 5 years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills: Molecular biology (e.g. molecular cloning). Biochemistry (e.g. recombinant protein expression and purification, PAGE/Western blot protein analysis) . Tissue culture. Immunology.

The application must be completed through Zintellect.