FDA postdoctoral fellowship - Assessment of mesenchymal stromal cell extracellular vesicle medi

How To Apply

To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

• An application
• Transcripts –  for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Three educational or professional recommendations

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.FDA.OC.other. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

3/27/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A Postdoctoral Fellow opportunity is available immediately to join a collaborative project between the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) in the Office of Therapeutic Products (OTP) and Dr. Erika Moore's team at the University of Maryland. Funding for this opportunity will be provided by the Office of Commissioner (OC), Office of Women's Health (OWH).

The Marklein laboratory (FDA-CDER-OPT) and the Moore laboratory (University of Maryland) are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a collaborative project with interdisciplinary research that focuses on developing mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) as a novel therapeutic approach for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a devastating autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects young women, particularly African American women who face three times higher risk and mortality rates.

The project addresses a critical unmet medical need as cardiovascular disease represents the leading cause of death in SLE patients (accounting for up to 30% of fatalities). As part of the team, the fellow will investigate how MSC-EVs can modulate key cellular players in SLE-associated cardiovascular complications—specifically pericytes, endothelial cells, and monocytes—which are critical regulators of immune cell activation, vascular dysfunction, and disease progression.

The selected candidate will explore how manufacturing conditions influence MSC-EV production and function in the context of SLE.

• Gaining hands‑on experience with advanced cell culture techniques, extracellular vesicle isolation and characterization, and complex 2D/3D co‑culture systems
  • Determine the impact of mesenchymal stromal cell extracellular vesicles (MSC‑EVs) on cell‑types relevant to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Characterize MSC‑EVs derived from different manufacturing conditions (media, flask vs. bioreactor, etc.)
  • Develop SLE co‑cultures to investigate the role of pericytes in modulating vascular inflammation
• Professional development through publication in high‑impact journals and presentation at national conferences as well as preparation for future careers related to product research and development, quality control, regulatory science, and clinical translation

The FDA mentor for this opportunity is Ross Marklein (ross.marklein.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Winter 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA and is contingent on the availability of funds.

The appointment is full time.

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

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…