FDA Statistical Evaluation of TD50 and Benchmark Dose Approaches for Carcinogenic Impurities Acceptable Intakes

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 33,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly stipend

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education invites applicants for a fellowship with FDA-CDER in Silver Spring, MD. The opportunity focuses on statistical evaluation of TD50 and BMD approaches to derive acceptable intakes for carcinogenic impurities, through simulation studies.

Mentored by Meiyu Shen, fellows gain experience communicating statistical findings in a regulatory-science setting. Start date is October 2026, for an initial one-year appointment with potential renewal.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or holding a Master’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Participate in statistical evaluation of TD50 and benchmark dose (BMD) approaches for deriving acceptable intakes of carcinogenic impurities by simulation studies.
• Develop experience with TD50, BMD modeling, model averaging, and uncertainty assessment.

Education

Master's Degree

Job description

Organization

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Reference Code

FDA-CDER-2026-0146

Application Deadline

8/31/2027 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

FDA Office and Location

A research opportunity is available in the Office of Immunology and Inflammation (OII), Office of New Drugs (OND), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) performs an essential public health task by making sure that safe and effective drugs are available to improve the health of people in the United States. As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDER regulates over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including biological therapeutics and generic drugs. This work covers more than just medicines.

Research Project

You will have the opportunity to participate in a statistical evaluation of tumorigenic dose 50 (TD50) and benchmark dose (BMD) approaches for deriving acceptable intakes of carcinogenic impurities by simulation studies. The goal of this project is to provide a stronger statistical basis for interpreting TD50- and BMD-based acceptable intakes in regulatory risk assessment.

Learning Objectives

• Learn quantitative cancer risk assessment and carcinogenic impurities acceptable-intake derivation.
• Gain experience with TD50, BMD modeling, model averaging, and uncertainty assessment.
• Develop experience communicating statistical findings in a multidisciplinary regulatory-science setting.

Mentor

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

October 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 and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) only.

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.

Program Admin

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.

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 be currently pursuing or have received a master's degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Master's Degree.

Disciplines

• Mathematics and Statistics
  • Algebra, Number Theory and Combinatorics
  • Analysis
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Biometrics and Biostatistics
  • Computational Mathematics
  • Geometry
  • Logic or Foundations of Mathematics
  • Mathematics (General)
  • Operations Research
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Topology

Affirmation

I am a U.S. citizen, or 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.