FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Arkansas; On-site; USD 40,176 - 58,032; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education seeks participants for a full-time, two-year fellowship program with the FDA focus on donor variability in respiratory toxicity using ALI airway cultures. The program involves interdisciplinary collaboration, data analysis, and predictive toxicology framework development.

Anticipated start in 2026, with a monthly stipend commensurate with education and experience.

Qualifications

• The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.
• Fields span Chemistry and Materials Sciences, Communications and Graphics Design, Computer/Data Sciences, Earth and Geosciences, Engineering, Environmental and Marine Sciences, Life Health and Medical Sciences, Mathematics/Statistics, Physics, Science & Engineering-related, Social/Behavioral Sciences.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and report laboratory research on donor variability in respiratory toxicity.
• Collaborate with biostatisticians, toxicologists, and modelers to support dose–response modeling and IVIVE analyses.
• Communicate findings through scientific reports, manuscripts, and presentations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Data interpretation

Scientific writing

Education

Doctoral degree in Chemistry/Materials Science/Environmental/ Life Sciences

Tools

Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) culture

Job description

Project Overview

You will join a project with the aim to conduct research investigating donor variability in human respiratory toxicity responses to chemical irritants using air–liquid interface (ALI) airway epithelial cultures. This project supports the FDA’s goal of advancing predictive, human‑relevant alternative testing methods to improve chemical risk assessment and reduce reliance on animal testing.

You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of scientists, including biostatisticians, computational toxicologists, and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelers, who will analyze experimental data to develop dose–response models, perform in‑vitro‑to‑in‑vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) analyses, and establish predictive toxicological frameworks. You will contribute to experimental design discussions and assist in generating high‑quality datasets suitable for downstream computational and statistical analyses.

Learning Objectives

• Participate in the design, analysis, and reporting of laboratory research while developing skills in advanced cell culture techniques, Air‑Liquid Interface (ALI) airway epithelial culture systems, aerosol exposure technologies, toxicological assays, next‑generation sequencing, and data analysis approaches.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary scientists, including biostatisticians, computational toxicologists, and PBPK modelers, to support dose‑response modeling, IVIVE analyses, and predictive toxicology framework development.
• Analyze and communicate research findings through scientific reports, manuscripts, publishable papers, and oral presentations.

Through the program, you will also strengthen scientific writing, data presentation, communication, and critical‑thinking skills within a regulatory science research environment.

Mentor

The mentor for this opportunity is Yiying Wang ([e-mail]). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Appointment Details

Anticipated start: 2026 (flexible). Appointment length: two years, with possible renewal contingent on the availability of funds. Level of participation: full time.

Participant stipend: monthly, commensurate with educational level and experience.

Proof of health insurance is required. 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 onboarding.

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.

I am a U.S. citizen, or I have lived in the United States for at least 36 out of the past 60 months, and I have read the FDA Ethics Requirements.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

• 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
• Communications and Graphics Design
• Computer, Information, and Data Sciences
• Earth and Geosciences
• Engineering
• Environmental and Marine Sciences
• Life Health and Medical Sciences
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Physics
• Science & Engineering‑related
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Program Requirements

Applicants will be required to read and sign the FDA Education and Training Agreement within 30 days of start date. The agreement covers non‑employee nature of the appointment, prohibition on performing inherently governmental functions, obligation to convey rights to FDA for intellectual property, ownership of research materials and laboratory notebooks, and protection of non‑public information.