Nutritional Ecology of Early Development: NEED: in support of the NIH/FDA Nutrition and Regulatory S

Organization National Institutes of Health (NIH) Reference Code

NIH-DPCPSI-ONR-NEED-2026

Description The National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Office of Nutrition Research (ONR), is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join the Nutritional Ecology of Early Development (NEED) Project, a collaborative NIH-FDA initiative within the Nutrition Regulatory Science Program. This fellowship provides immersive research and STEM training experience focused on infant and young child nutrition (birth to 2 years). Under the mentorship of NIH scientists, the fellow will apply an ecological framework to examine how biological, nutritional, developmental, dietary, sociodemographic, and environmental factors influence early-life nutrition and health. Training opportunities include evidence synthesis, scientific writing, manuscript development, presentations, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with leading national and international experts while contributing to research that supports FDA regulatory science and evidence-based infant feeding guidance. What will I be doing? The fellow will receive training and experience in all aspects of the translational science continuum including development of conceptual frameworks, data acquisition, and interpretation relevant to achieving project objectives. The fellow will be involved in all phases of a deliberative process involving scientists with a range of expertise recruited to achieve project goals and will work with the NEED team to develop a series of manuscripts designed to address the project’s objectives with regard to FDA’s mission for regulation and safety evaluation of foods to support infant and young child nutrition (birth to 2 years of age). This opportunity provides experience to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, develop federal partnerships, contribute to the strategic planning and evaluation of data-driven projects, and build proficiency with analytic tools and data science methodologies relevant to advancing the ONR mission. Why should I apply? Participating in this STEM research learning experience offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of NIH mechanisms and collaborative research initiatives. You will explore various NIH databases and tools for data analysis, learn how to identify metrics and key indicators for evaluating programs, and analyze the outcomes of different types of collaborative research initiatives. Through guided mentorship, you will gain insights into data-driven approaches to assessing program effectiveness and explore ways to conceptualize future research opportunities based on evidence and trends. Where will I be located? Fellows are expected to be fully engaged, either in-person, hybrid. In-person or hybrid location is Bethesda, MD. What financial provisions will I receive? The selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend to help offset living and other expenses during this appointment. Stipend rates are determined by NIH officials and are based on the candidate’s academic and professional background. In addition, NIH may provide a health insurance supplement to cover the monthly premium costs if you elect the ORAU/ORISE health insurance plan, as necessary. What is the length of the appointment? The appointment will initially be for one year, renewable annually up to 4 additional years upon recommendation of NIH and is contingent on the availability of funds. When are selections made? Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis throughout the 2026 calendar year, and selections made as projects for participation become available. What is the Nature of the Appointment? This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Participants do not become employees of NIH, DOE, ORISE, nor ORAU, and there are no employment-related benefits. Qualifications The qualified candidate must be 18 years or older at the time of application and should have received a Doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. The degree must have been received within the last five years of the appointment start date. Current graduate students who are nearing degree completion may apply but must have completed their degrees by the start of the fellowship. Citizenship Requirements This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation. A Completed Application Consists Of A complete Zintellect profile. A program specific application submitted in Zintellect. Transcript(s) – Submit a copy of your most recent official transcript. For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic record printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted to complete the application requirement, if you do not have a copy of your official transcript at the time of application. The transcript or academic record must include the name of the academic institution, name of the student, courses completed/in progress, grades and degree expected/awarded. A copy of your official transcript and/or letter showing proof of your degree may be required prior to starting the appointment. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation. A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list. One Recommendation - Applicants are required to provide contact information for at least one recommendation in order to submit the application, but up to three are encouraged. You are encouraged to request a recommendation from professionals who can speak to your abilities and potential for success, as well as your scientific capabilities and personal characteristics. Recommendation requests must be sent through the Zintellect application system. Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect. Recommendations submitted via email will not be accepted. Recommendations must be submitted before your application can be reviewed. All documents submitted must be in English or include an official English translation. All social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth should be removed (blanked out or blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system. If you have questions, contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please include the reference code NIH-DPCPSI-ONR-NEED-2026 for this opportunity in your email. Stipend $75,000.00 - $88,000.00 Yearly Point of Contact Alecia Eligibility Requirements Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing. Discipline(s): Life Health and Medical Sciences Basic Biomedical Sciences Biochemistry Biology (General) Cellular and Molecular Biology Epidemiology Food Sciences and Technology Medicine Neurosciences Nutritional Sciences Pharmacology Physiology Population Medicine Public Health Toxicology Social and Behavioral Sciences (2 ) Age: Must be 18 years of age Affirmation I affirm that I have received my Doctoral degree within the last five years or am currently enrolled in a graduate program. If currently enrolled, I understand that my degree must be received before the appointment start date. #J-18808-Ljbffr Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education