FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Breast Cancer Research

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

FDA Office and Location: A postdoctoral fellowship opportunity is currently available in the Division of Biochemical Toxicology at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) located in Jefferson, Arkansas. Funding for this opportunity will be provided by the Office of Commissioner (OC), Office of Women's Health (OWH).

Research Project: This opportunity is in the Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, Division of Biochemical Toxicology, which primary mission is to conduct peer-reviewed research and develop new scientific tools for the FDA to improve public health. The overall research in this Division is focused on measuring the toxicities and risk of cancer related to specific chemicals and the introduction of new techniques to enable regulatory agencies to evaluate better the risks associated with exposure to chemicals. 

Learning Objectives: The postdoctoral fellow will receive training in performing scholarly research, conceiving, planning, and conducting highly specialized research in areas of specialization (cancer biology, epigenetics, toxicology) and participate in making contributions to the biological or toxicological fields of science. In this opportunity, you will:

• Train in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of laboratory research while developing skills in cell culture, next-generation sequencing, assay development, and bioinformatics.
• Write reports and publishable scientific papers and give oral presentations on the design and results of research and experiments.
• Assist in preparation, submission, and review of manuscripts and publications. 

Mentor: The mentors for this opportunity are Kelly Harris (Kelly.Harris@fda.hhs.gov) and George Hammons (George.Hammons@fda.hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentors.

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, 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.