*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

A postdoctoral fellowship opportunity is currently available in the Division of Neurotoxicology at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Jefferson Laboratories Campus located in Jefferson, Arkansas.

The successful candidate will participate in a multi-disciplinary preclinical project to investigate acute and long-term neurocognitive, neurochemical, and histopathological effects of perinatal exposure to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder in pregnant women. While MAT is the recommended clinical approach it is not without risk and data gaps exist regarding long-term effects on offspring. The candidate will engage in neurobehavior and neuromotor testing, protein-based assays, fluorescent and confocal microscopy, and rodent colony management. The appointment is multi-disciplinary and advanced training will be available based on candidate background. The successful candidate will collaborate with FDA investigators at NCTR and with investigators in other FDA centers. During the project, they will be actively encouraged to present the research at internal and external meetings and publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals.

The desired start date is June 15, 2023; start date is flexible.

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 appointment is up to 3 years and will be full-time. 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.

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Neuroscience, Pharmacology/Toxicology, Biomedical Sciences), or be currently pursuing the degree with completion prior to the appointment starting date. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred Skills:

• Preferred excellent skills in cellular and molecular biology techniques, e.g., western blot, PCR, ELISA, HPLC
• Preferred but not required to be familiar or proficient with fluorescent and confocal microscopy techniques.
• Preferred but not required to be familiar or proficient with histological and immunofluorescent staining techniques.
• Basic proficiency with cognitive and motor function tests in rodents and animal colony management
• Basic proficiency with statistical analyses for biological data.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to work within a multi- disciplinary team
• General understanding of opioid neuropharmacology and interest in long-term effects of perinatal opioid exposure and developmental neurotoxicity.

Eligibility Requirements
Degree:

• Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.

Discipline(s):

• Life Health and Medical Sciences
• Other Physical Sciences
• Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Must have lived in the United States for at least 36 out of the past 60 months (36 months do not have to be consecutive).

https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/FDA-NCTR-2023-05 .

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.