FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship - Allergenic Products in Food Allergy and Therapy

Research Project

This opportunity supports science-based approaches for the immunological characterization of allergenic products and the evaluation of food allergy immunotherapies. The role will involve in vitro immunoassay development, analysis of immune responses to allergenic products, biomarker validation, and assessment of immunotherapy mechanisms to generate evidence supporting risk assessment, product standardization, and regulatory decision-making for food allergy diagnostics and therapeutics.

• Develop in vitro and in vivo assays for immunological evaluation of GRAS substances and allergenic excipients using animal food allergy models and animal surrogate technologies to assess immunogenicity and safety profiles.
• Develop modification‑resolved IgE analysis methods to enhance allergenic product safety through improved potency testing, enabling more accurate dose determination, establishment of clinical endpoints, and therapeutic monitoring of patient responses.
• Investigate novel immunotherapy approaches for food allergy treatment, including mechanistic studies of immune cell engagers and chimeric allergen receptors designed to redirect immune responses and modulate allergic reactions.
• Gain proficiency in advanced immunological assays such as ELISA‑based potency testing, flow cytometry, and super‑resolution microscopy.
• Apply bioinformatic and statistical tools to analyze immunological datasets, including DNA/RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry, and interpret biomarker profiles.
• Participate in structured mentorship, laboratory research, seminars, and engagement with the FDA scientific community.
• Produce scholarly publications and scientific presentations to support regulatory science.

• Doctoral degree (or currently pursuing a doctoral degree) in one of the following fields:
• Biology (General), Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Computational Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecological Sciences, Evolutionary Biology, Immunology, Genetics, Virology, Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, Physiology, Toxicology
• Health Sciences:
  Biomedical Sciences, Health Physics, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Medical Genetics, Public Health
• Engineering & Applied Sciences:
  Agricultural Sciences, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Mechanical Engineering
• Life Sciences:
  Animal Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Zoology, Entomology, Ecology, Food Sciences and Technology, Cellular Biology, Immunology, Immunology Specialties, Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Systems Biology, Computational Biology
• Other Relevant Disciplines:
  Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Epidemiology, Environmental Science, Behavioral Sciences, Nutrition, Physiology, etc.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
• Proficiency in English and ability to submit original or official English translations of all materials.

• Start Date:
  
  May 1, 2026 (flexible)
• Length:
  One year, renewable dependending on funding and recommendation.
• Participation Level: Full‑time.
• Stipend:
  Monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
• Location:
  
  Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland.
• Mentor:
  Alexander S. Zhovmer (Alexander.
  
  Zhovmer.gov).