The US Food and Drug Administration’s Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies is opening up two contract fellowship positions: one to study the potential of human pluripotent stem cells for developing gene and cell therapies, and one to further investigate mechanisms that RNA viruses use to inhibit host immune cell function.

Candidates with research experience in virology, immunology, cell biology, molecular biology or gene therapy will receive the strongest consideration, FDA says. Candidates must be available to start before 1 October 2016 at new laboratories at the FDA White Oak campus in Silver Spring, MD.

The aim of the first position is to evaluate the potential of human pluripotent stem cells for developing gene and cell therapies. The candidate is expected to use cellular differentiation and genome editing technologies to generate immune cell types and evaluate their functionality in preclinical experimental models, according to the agency.

The second position will be for a fellow who aims to understand mechanisms that RNA viruses use to inhibit host immune cell function (T and NK cells). The candidate will characterize molecular mechanisms of inhibition and develop novel immunomodulatory therapeutics based on virus-derived inhibitors, using in vitro and in vivo models.

Applicants must be US citizens, permanent residents or current J-1 visa holders. Foreign applicants who do not currently have a visa will not be considered. PhD or MD applicants must have received their degree less than 5 years ago, FDA says.

ORISE Fellowships