FDA Fellowship - Structural Vaccinology

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

Silver Spring (MD)

On-site

USD 28,000 - 42,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

The FDA in Silver Spring offers a research fellowship in the Office of Vaccines Research and Review to explore how antibodies recognize viral proteins at the atomic level using cryo-EM.

You will learn protein expression/purification, cryo-EM data collection, and contribute to manuscript writing under mentorship, with a focus on enabling vaccine design.

The appointment is full-time for one year, starting in 2026, with a monthly stipend commensurate with education and experience.

Qualifications

Master's or PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Structural Biology, Virology, Immunology, Biochemistry) or pursuing with completion before start date.
Background in protein expression, purification, and structural biology preferred; drive and initiative welcomed.

Responsibilities

Join a new lab using cryo-EM to study how viral proteins are recognized by antibodies at atomic detail.
Design and execute experiments to determine structures of viral proteins and antibodies.
Develop and expand projects using structural biology to enable vaccine development.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Protein expression (mammalian cells)

Protein purification

Publications/records

Immunology/Virology knowledge

Structural biology software (PyMOL/PhX

Education

Master's or PhD in Structural Biology/Virology/Immunology/Biochemistry

Tools

PyMOL

Phenix

Chimera

Job description

Organization

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Reference Code

FDA-CBER-2026-0037

Description

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling‑basis.

FDA Office and Location:

A research opportunity is currently available in 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.

Research Project:

You will join a new lab that uses cryo‑electron microscopy to understand how viral proteins are recognized by antibodies at an atomic level, and how that recognition can be exploited to design effective vaccines. You will learn to design and execute experiments to determine the structures of clinically relevant viral proteins and their associated antibodies and receptors. This is an exciting opportunity for those who want to learn structural biology and apply new ideas to antigen design.

Learning Objectives:

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will learn how to:

Express protein through transient transfection
Purify protein (affinity and size exclusion chromatography)
Conduct protein binding experiments (ELISA or SPR)
Develop and optimize protocols for sample preparation and imaging by cryo-EM
Collect and analyze cryo-EM data using a Tundra microscope
Monitor and troubleshoot experiments
Analyze, interpret, and present scientific data
Write scientific manuscripts and design figures to communicate scientific findings
Develop new projects using structural biology to enable vaccine development
Build and analyze atomic‑level protein models

Mentor:

The mentor for this opportunity is Jason Gorman (Jason.Gorman@fda.hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

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.

Proof of Health Insurance:

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.

Background Investigation:

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.

Education:

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.

Qualifications:

The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Structural Biology, Virology, Immunology, Biochemistry) or be currently pursuing the degree with completion expected prior to the appointment starting date. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

A background in protein expression, purification, and structural biology is preferred but drive, initiative, and an enthusiastic attitude can go a long way towards making up for a lack of experience.

Preferred Skills/knowledge:

Organizational and communication skills
Drive to learn new techniques
Experience with protein expression using mammalian cells
Experience with protein purification
Record of publications in peer‑reviewed journals
Knowledge of immunology, virology
Experience with structural biology software (Pymol, Phenix, Chimera, etc)

Point of Contact:

Ashley

Eligibility Requirements:

Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
Discipline(s): Computer, Information, and Data Sciences
Artificial Intelligence (including Robotics, Computer Vision, Human Language Processing, and Machine Learning)
Computer Architecture and Grids
Computer Science - Languages and Systems
Computer Science - Theoretical Foundations
Computer Science (general)
Computer Systems Analysis
Computer Systems Design (including Signal Processing)
Data Science
Databases, Information Retrieval, and Web Search
Graphics and Visualization
Human Computer Interaction
Information Science and Technology
Information Security and Assurance
Networks and Communications
Operating Systems and Middleware
Scientific Computing and Informatics
Software Engineering
Life Health and Medical Sciences
Affirmation: I have lived in the United States for at least 36 out of the past 60 months. (36 months do not have to be consecutive.)
I have read the FDA Ethics Requirements.
Do you expect to receive your degree prior to the start of the appointment?