FDA Cosmetic Microbiology Analysis Fellowship
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Regulatory Science (ORS), Division of Microbiology (DM), located in College Park, Maryland.
Concerns about the safety of cosmetic products necessitate reevaluation and possible revisions to the BAM Cosmetics Chapter (Chapter 23). Particular areas of concern are the method’s ability to detect and isolate biological contaminants such as toxigenic Bacillus cereus/Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cosmetics. Reevaluation and possible revisions of BAM Chapter 23 will require a multiprong approach that includes the development and validation of rapid DNA-based detection systems with conventional microbiological isolation procedures. Protocols derived from this merger of conventional and molecular methodologies should enable rapid and high throughput screening of cosmetics, while still allowing for the production of actual bacterial isolates which are essential to compliance and other regulatory actions taken by FDA during outbreaks and routine surveillance. The participant will assist the PI performing these development and validation studies.
Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant may perform specific tasks that include, but are not limited to the following:
- Validation of cultural based method for the detection of microorganisms of concerns in wipes
- DNA- based rapid qPCR detection systems that perform directly in a wide variety of pre-enriched cosmetic samples.
- Validation of several novel qPCR platform strategies for analysis of B. cereus in cosmetics.
- Conduct of traditional cultural methods of enumeration, isolation, and identification of microorganism in powder-type cosmetics.
- Evaluate and adapt screening method used for food or other matrices for cosmetic applications.
- Prepare presentation of useful detection data.
- Assist the PI in developing new molecular detection and typing strategies for microbial pathogens in cosmetics.
- Perform comparisons of methods and platforms for the detection of microorganisms of concern in cosmetic matrices.
- Maintain laboratory as per guidelines of CFSAN QA/QC.
- Follow all safety guidelines as described in Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 5th Edition or Later (2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA).
- The candidate should prepare all the materials needed to bring the task into fruition.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 1, 2020
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 College Park, Maryland, 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:
- 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.
If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.FDA.CFSAN@orau.org.