FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship - Nanotechnology​/Polymer Chemistry

Description

The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), a part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), offers a post-doctoral fellowship in the Nanotechnology Core Facility within the Office of Scientific Coordination, located in Jefferson, Arkansas. The fellowship provides advanced, hands-on regulatory science training focused on nanotechnology and polymer research relevant to FDA’s public health mission. The Nanotechnology Core Facility supports FDA’s mission by developing analytical approaches to characterize, assess safety and biocompatibility, and evaluate the performance of nanomaterials used in regulated products.

• Engage in structured research training under the mentorship of FDA scientists in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Develop technical experience and methodological rigor with an emphasis on regulatory science applications.
• Work on the following components:
  • Development of novel analytical methods for physicochemical characterization and detection of microplastics and nanoplastics
  • Hands-on training in advanced analytical techniques, including:
    • Pyrolysis or Thermogravimetric Analysis coupled to GC–MS
    • Particle size measurement techniques in solution (e.g., dynamic and static light scattering)
    • Separation techniques (e.g., size exclusion chromatography and asymmetric flow field flow fractionation)
    • Spectral techniques (UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman, Mass, NMR)
  • Participation in high-quality, high-impact research projects aimed at standardized method development leading to publications

The mentor for this opportunity is Anil Patri. For questions about the research, please contact the mentor ri.gov.

• Anticipated
  
  Start Date:
  
  2026 (flexible)
• Appointment Length:
  Initially one year, may be renewed based on recommendation and funding availability
• Level of Participation:
  Full-time
• Stipend:
  Monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience

• Citizenship:
  Open to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizens should consult program guidelines for acceptable immigration statuses.
• Education:
  
  Doctoral degree in chemistry, physics, engineering, or related field. Degree must be received within the past five years or anticipated by 12/31/2026.
• Preferred
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong emphasis on nanotechnology or polymer chemistry; experience with analytical instrumentation for polymer characterization and spectral data analysis; track record of research publications addressing complex problems.
• Other:
  Completion of a health insurance requirement and a background check may be required per program guidelines.

Information is provided for planning and understanding the fellowship. This program is administered under ORISE through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy and does not constitute FDA employment or confer FDA benefits.