FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Glycobiology

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

This research opportunity will be within the Laboratory of Bacterial Polysaccharides with the goal of using recombinant technologies, metabolic engineering and/ synthetic biology as tools to improve the understanding of glycoconjugate vaccine synthesis and immunology. The selected participant will receive mentoring on fulfilling the project, which will also include collaboration with investigators within and external to the FDA. The participant will be studying Glycoengineered Outer Membrane Vesicles (geOMV) as an alternative platform to generate glycoconjugate vaccines that target encapsulated pathogens. The participant will generate a prototype expression system to reconstitute bacterial polysaccharides (e.g. capsule, O-antigen) in Escherichia coli, and test and evaluate the immune response of the purified geOMV.

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 Silver Spring, Maryland, area. Participants do not become employees of FDA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

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

If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.FDA.CBER@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity (FDA-CBER-2020-0047) in your email.