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FDA Postdoctoral Research Microbiologist Fellowship

Job Description

FDA Postdoctoral Research Microbiologist Fellowship

*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), located in Bedford Park, Illinois.

Presence of pathogenic bacteria in low-moisture foods is a significant and increasing problem in the U.S. and elsewhere. Salmonella has been linked to nationwide outbreaks and recalls involving a broad range of products, including almonds, black pepper, hazelnuts, peanut products, pistachios, pet food, soy products, and breakfast cereal. Additionally, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and Listeria monocytogenes are increasingly implicated in outbreaks and/or recalls linked to low-moisture foods, including nut products and wheat flour. However, the root causes of these failures (scientific, technical, and/or human) often are unidentified. Furthermore, much of the low-moisture food industry is comprised of historical/legacy systems, such as harvesters, silos, dryers, mills, and ovens, that were designed to achieve economic goals, but not necessarily food safety outcomes. This is a large, but unsolved farm-to-consumer problem.

Therefore, there is a need for a transdisciplinary, systems-based approach (harvest-to-consumer) to better protect U.S. public health. The overall objective of this project is to investigate current practices related to post-harvest drying and storage of wheat and apples and their effects on known food safety hazards. Efforts will largely be focused in three areas: 1) fate of pathogens in grain and fruit products during storage and processing, and 2) development and evaluation of multi-level outreach programs and resources spanning the cultural, technical, scientific, regulatory, and economic
domains for industry and regulatory personnel.

The participant will be trained in the use of processing methods such as drying, heating, milling, etc. Under the supervision of the mentor and other DFPST scientists, the participant will investigate the fate of pathogens on wheat during storage at several temperatures and humidity levels that approximate on-farm silo storage conditions and will evaluate pathogen survival at minimum temperature and air velocity conditions found in grain handling extension pamphlets based on three starting moisture contents. This will characterize the changes in risk due to adverse events and on-farm drying. Other plans for this project will include the evaluation of different factors (time, temperature, bed depth and air velocity) on survival of pathogens during forced air drying of apple slides. This research will enable industry and government stakeholders to identify risk mitigation strategies that may be influential in ensuring the safety of low moisture foods.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 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.

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