FDA Post-doctoral Fellowship in Immune Evasion and Variant Evolution

Description

Office of Vaccine Research and Review (OVRR) at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, Maryland offers a postdoctoral fellowship to study neutralization of rapidly evolving viruses, focusing on influenza and coronaviruses. The fellow will examine neutralization by monoclonal antibodies and serum after vaccination or infection, and conduct mechanistic follow‑up studies on viral escape mutations and their effects on viral surface glycoprotein structure, function, and immune evasion.

Studies will be performed using BSL‑2 compatible methods.

• Strengthen virology research, data analysis, and scientific communication skills.
• Gain experience in viral neutralization assays.
• Study immune escape mechanisms in influenza viruses and coronaviruses.
• Investigate how escape mutations affect viral entry and glycoprotein function.

Carol Weiss (Carol.

Weiss.gov).

Start date:

flexible in 2026. Length: initially one year, may be renewed based on funding. Full‑time appointment.

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPR) only.

ORISE participants must read and sign the FDA Education and Training Agreement within 30 days of the start date. The agreement covers topics such as the non‑employee nature of the appointment, intellectual property rights, and protection of non‑public information.

Master's or doctoral degree in a relevant field, received within the last five years or currently being pursued.

• Highly motivated applicants with relevant research experience.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen.
• Degree:
  Master’s or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  Life Health and Medical Sciences – Bioinformatics, Biology (General), Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Microbiology, Virology.

6/19/2026 3:00 PM Eastern Time Zone.