US Food and Drug Administration
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FDA Investigation of Pathways Governing Early Age Innate Immune Response to Vaccines U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in United States
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Vaccinology
Funding
Monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience; appointment initially for one year and may be renewed subject to recommendation and availability of funds.
Deadline
Jan 1, 2027
Country
United States
University
US Food and Drug Administration
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About this position
This research opportunity is based in the Office of Vaccine Research and Review at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The project examines why neonates and infants respond poorly to vaccination, with a focus on early-age host immune responses in a neonatal mouse model. The work is centered on the cellular and molecular pathways that shape suboptimal vaccine responses during early life, especially the behavior of innate immune cells and their interaction with adaptive immunity.
In this opportunity, the fellow will study the role of neonatal mouse macrophages and dendritic cells in activating CD4+ T cells, which are important for generating antibody responses after vaccination. A key aim is to determine whether CD4+ T-cell activation by these innate cells changes when experiments are performed in neonatal versus adult serum, helping to disentangle the influence of age-specific environmental factors on immune phenotype and vaccine responsiveness.
The selected participant will work under the guidance of mentor Mustafa Akkoyunlu and collaborate with other laboratory members studying the neonatal immune response to vaccines, including related work on adaptive immune mechanisms. The research environment also includes seminars, scientific presentations to the wider FDA audience, and opportunities to engage in immunology training and present findings at vaccine or immunology meetings.
The project is situated within a laboratory studying early-life vaccine biology and the immune mechanisms that limit protective responses in infancy.
Funding details
Monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience; appointment initially for one year and may be renewed subject to recommendation and availability of funds.
What's required
The candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, and the degree must have been received within the past five years. The opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents only. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and eligibility also includes bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree holders received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing. Participants must be able to complete a successful background investigation, and OPM can complete the investigation only for individuals who have resided in the United States for a total of three of the past five years. Proof of health insurance is required. All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
How to apply
Apply through the Zintellect/ORISE application portal. Submit the application, transcripts, current resume/CV, and one educational or professional recommendation. If you have questions, email [email protected] and include the reference code FDA-CBER-2026-0080.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.