WRAIR Brain Health Research Fellowship

How To Apply

Click on Organization. U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

Reference Code: MRDC-WRAIR-.

Click on Apply at the bottom of the opportunity to start your application.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is offering a doctoral fellowship at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command - Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (USAMRDC WRAIR).

As an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) participant, you will join a community of scientists and researchers in an effort to understand the risk to the human brain from repeated exposure to tactical training environments but without diagnosable injury. This mission is defined in several U.S. Public Laws, most recently 118-159, the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

This research requires field studies on site in coordination with military tactical training. Over the past 10 years, a small group of research and engineering professionals at WRAIR have conducted a series of such field studies and, as they have learned with experience what the threats are in these environments and how to improve measurement ability, have modified methods.

As an ORISE participant and under the guidance of a mentor, you will be involved in a research-based, educational fellowship that will advance your knowledge and professional development while supporting the mission of the Blast Induced Neurotrauma (BINT) Branch. BINT collaboratively confronts emerging challenges and builds on growing knowledge regarding blast, head impacts, and other tactical training exposures. You will have an opportunity to design and conduct all aspects of research and provide scientific input into the research process in a blast environment characterization.

• Performing neuro-pupillary testing that provides quantitative analyses of the health of the eyes and or nervous system.
• Performing assessments on paratroopers who have sustained high magnitude head impacts upon landing after parachute descent.
• Developing analytical approaches to identify those reflexes that differ from normative patterns and evaluating new technologies for this research area.
• Developing the research or test methodology, executing the research protocol or test plan, data collection, data analysis, and reporting the findings.
• Conducting data analysis using engineering software and computer programming.
• Learning to approach novel analytical problems with effective and appropriate solutions.
• Preparing briefings, technical reports, and manuscripts for publication in professional journals.

Please note this fellowship opportunity requires lifting and moving of equipment and prolonged periods of bending, moving about, standing, reaching and sitting. As the qualified candidate, you will also have the ability to travel to various research sites within the United States and overseas.

Silver Spring, Maryland

WRAIR is ready to make appointments immediately. Exact start dates will be determined at the time of selection and in coordination with the selected candidate. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and internships or fellowships will be filled as qualified candidates are identified.

This appointment is a twelve-month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

You will receive a stipend to be determined by WRAIR. Stipends are typically based on a participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other provisions may include the following:

• Health Insurance Supplement (Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE)
• Relocation Allowance
• Training and Travel Allowance

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) aims to conduct biomedical research that is responsive to Department of Defense and U.S. Army requirements and delivers lifesaving products including knowledge, technology and medical material that sustain the combat effectiveness of the warfighter. WRAIR provides unique research capabilities and innovative medical solutions to a range of Force Health Protection and Readiness challenges currently facing U.S. Service Members, along with threats anticipated during future operations.

These research opportunities include ongoing efforts to identify and treat traumatic brain injury as well as to understand and mitigate the deleterious effects of repeated exposures to blast. For more information about WRAIR, please visit Army Home.

This program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was…