What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nutritional Ecology of Early Development: NEED: in support of the NIH/FDA Nutrition and Regulatory Science Initiative position at National Institutes of Health (NIH)?
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.
Salary : $75,000 - $88,000