FDA ORISE Fellowship 2026: Research Opportunity in Bacteriophage Therapy for Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through its National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), is offering an exciting research fellowship for students and recent graduates interested in bacteriophage therapy, microbiome research, and antimicrobial resistance.
This ORISE fellowship provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research aimed at preventing menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) caused by Staphylococcus aureus using bacteriophages and phage-derived endolysins.
Menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition associated with Staphylococcus aureus. With antibiotic resistance becoming an increasing global concern, researchers are exploring bacteriophages and phage-derived enzymes as highly targeted alternatives to conventional antibiotics.
This FDA research project aims to evaluate whether microbiome-informed phage therapy strategies can reduce S. aureus colonization while preserving beneficial vaginal microbiota.
Participants will work on an interdisciplinary project combining microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and microbiome research to support the development of safer, targeted antimicrobial therapies.
Key Responsibilities
Successful candidates will contribute to multiple aspects of the project, including:
- Analyzing publicly available vaginal metagenomic datasets.
- Studying vaginal microbiome composition associated with S. aureus colonization.
- Identifying bacteriophage-derived endolysin genes.
- Isolating, purifying, and characterizing bacteriophages.
- Evaluating lytic and lysogenic bacteriophages against approximately 30 clinical S. aureus isolates linked to menstrual toxic shock syndrome.
- Cloning and expressing phage-derived endolysins.
- Testing bacteriophages and endolysins using advanced in vitro vaginal models.
- Assessing the potential incorporation of endolysins into feminine hygiene products as an innovative preventive strategy.
Qualifications & Skills Required
- Applicants should be currently pursuing or have completed a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
- Relevant disciplines include:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomedical Sciences
- Bioinformatics
- Life Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Mathematics & Statistics
- Environmental Sciences
- Related scientific disciplines
The fellowship is open to:
- U.S. Citizens
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
- Eligible foreign nationals who meet ORISE participation requirements.
This fellowship offers extensive training in:
- Bacteriophage biology
- Phage isolation and propagation
- Endolysin discovery and characterization
- Vaginal microbiome bioinformatics
- Molecular cloning and protein expression
- In vitro infection models
- Scientific communication and conference presentations
- Regulatory science within the FDA
Training will be tailored to the participant’s educational background and previous laboratory experience.
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This job post was originally curated by www.thephage.xyz/jobs
