FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship - Biofilm Associated Medical Device Related Infections

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education offers a postdoctoral research opportunity with the U.S. FDA in Silver Spring, MD.

The project focuses on biofilms on medical devices, including detection methods and assessing antimicrobial efficacy. You will work in the Division of Biology, Chemistry and Materials Science, gaining hands-on experience in microbiology and biochemistry while communicating results to the scientific community.

Qualifications

• Candidate should be pursuing or have completed a doctoral degree in biology, microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry or related field.
• Completion by May 31, 2026 is acceptable for eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Learn to develop, troubleshoot, and improve biofilm growth methods on medical device materials.
• Develop methods for growing multi-species biofilms on relevant materials.
• Gain expertise in experiments, data analysis, and communicating results to a scientific audience.

Skills

Doctoral degree

Education

Doctoral degree in a relevant field

Job description

Organization

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Reference Code

FDA-CDRH-2026-0014

Application Deadline

9/30/2027 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

FDA Office and Location

A postdoctoral research opportunity is available in the Division of Biology, Chemistry and Materials Science (DBCMS) within the Office of Science and Engineering Labs (OSEL) at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) located in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Research Project(s)

The objective of the research project is to advance the understanding of biofilms on medical devices which have been associated infections. The project will include developing methods of detection of biofilms on medical devices, methods for reproducible biofilm formation on devices and device surrogates, and methods for assessing effectiveness of antimicrobials to prevent biofouling.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how to develop, implement, troubleshoot, and improve biofilm growth methods using medical device materials.


• Develop methods for growing multi-species on medically relevant materials.


• Develop methods for growing biofilms on materials with complex geometries.


• Gain expertise in performing experiments, analyzing data, and interpreting results, using analytical methods of microbiology and biochemistry.


• Learn how to effectively communicate results to a wide scientific audience.

Mentor

The mentor(s) for this opportunity are Sara Linden ([e-mail]) and Ruchi Pandey ([e-mail]). 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.

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.

Education

• 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 be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in a relevant field (e.g., biology, microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, etc.), with completion by May 31, 2026. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Point of Contact

Richard

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2026 11:59:00 PM.


• Discipline(s):
  
  
  
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences
    
    
    
    • Analytical Chemistry
    
    
    • Bio-inorganic Chemistry
    
    
    • Bio-organic Chemistry
    
    
    • Biophysical Chemistry
    
    
    • Chemistry (General)
    
    
    • Environmental Chemistry
    
    
    • Inorganic Chemistry
    
    
    • Materials Sciences
    
    
    • Organic Chemistry
    
    
    • Physical Chemistry
    
    
    • Polymer Chemistry
    
    
    • Theoretical Chemistry
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 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.)

and

I have read the FDA Ethics Requirements.