*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Cosmetics and Colors, located in College Park, Maryland.

The selected participant will serve as a chemist in the field of investigation of the analysis of color additives. The project involves development, validation, and implementing analytical methods designed to identify and quantify impurities in color additives used in foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. The participant will learn to use analytical instrumentation including high-performance liquid chromatography, ultra-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and applicable computer software. The participant will learn to synthesize and characterize reference materials used for quantifying impurities in color additives. The participant will draft internal and external publications and poster presentations that describe significant accomplishments. The participant’s research will be guided by the mentor and senior chemists in the Color Technology Branch.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 11, 2022; 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 initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at FDA in the College Park, Maryland, area. 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 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.