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FDA ORISE is the set of research and training appointments at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that are run through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). FDA hosts and selects the participant; ORISE handles the administration. The official program page describes internships and fellowships, and covers faculty as an eligible category. It frames FDA’s mission as protecting and advancing public health by helping to speed innovations that provide “safe and effective medical products.” This guide sets out how that three-party structure works, who can apply, what a participant is and is not, and how an application moves, as described on the official page, checked 2026-10-29.
What it is and who runs it
ORISE appointments at FDA are not FDA jobs. The program is administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, and it exists through an agreement between DOE and FDA, according to the program’s opportunity announcements. Three parties therefore play different roles:
- FDA is the host. A mentor at an FDA center hosts the project, and the program page states that selections are made by the FDA mentor after an eligible application is completed in Zintellect.
- ORISE (operated by ORAU) administers the appointment: the application portal, the stipend and the paperwork.
- DOE holds the contract under which ORAU runs ORISE.
The practical consequence is that you apply through the ORISE portal, not through FDA’s federal jobs process. The portal is Zintellect; the CASRAI guide What Is Zintellect? explains what the portal does and does not do.
Eligibility (summary, with the official source)
The official FDA ORISE program page (orise.orau.gov/fda), checked 2026-10-29, sets eligibility by category:
| Category | What the program page says |
|---|---|
| Students | Enrolled at an accredited U.S. pre-college, college or university in a STEM degree program, making “satisfactory progress.” |
| Postgraduates | A STEM degree earned within five years of the appointment start date, or all degree requirements completed before the start. |
| Faculty | Full-time faculty at an accredited U.S. pre-college, college or university. |
Program page versus individual announcement
The program page gives the broad categories. Each opportunity announcement on the portal then sets its own terms. One FDA National Center for Toxicological Research announcement (NCTR General 2025), for example, also stated a citizenship or residency condition (U.S. citizen, or lived in the U.S. at least 36 of the past 60 months). The program page does not state that condition, so treat citizenship, appointment length and degree level as announcement-level terms and read the specific announcement before you rely on any of them.
What it funds or requires
Stipend and allowances
The program page describes a monthly stipend whose rate FDA sets according to education level. It also says that, depending on the project assignment, participants may be eligible for reimbursement of travel and educational experiences, and that a relocation reimbursement may be provided if you relocate more than fifty miles, one way, to the host site. A health insurance stipend is typically provided to cover medical, dental and vision insurance, and the page adds that some mentors may also award relocation, a travel allowance and/or a health insurance stipend.
Is a participant an FDA employee?
No. The NCTR General 2025 announcement states that participants are not employees of FDA, DOE or the program, and that “there are no employment-related benefits.” The same announcement requires proof of health insurance for participation. Participants must also read and sign an FDA Education and Training Agreement within 30 days of the start date, which covers non-employee status, intellectual property and confidentiality.
How long can an appointment last?
The same announcement states that appointments “can vary from a few months to one year, but may be renewed for up to three years” with FDA’s recommendation and available funds. Because this is announcement language, check the length in the opportunity you are applying to.
Application steps
- Browse “Search Open Opportunities” on the ORISE FDA page and choose a project whose center and topic fit you.
- Click “Apply Now” and submit your application in Zintellect.
- Assemble the documents the announcement lists. That announcement lists the application itself, transcripts, a current resume or CV (academic history, employment history, relevant experiences and a publication list) and one educational or professional recommendation, in English or with an official translation.
- Wait for the mentor’s decision; the program page says the FDA mentor makes the selection.
- If selected, sign the FDA Education and Training Agreement within 30 days of starting, and arrange proof of health insurance.
The program page links an Applicant Information page for details and a Contact Us page for questions.
Typical timeline phases
The program page gives no application cycle or deadline, so this guide states none. Deadlines belong to individual opportunities, and an announcement can be closed: the NCTR General 2025 announcement is marked closed. In order, the phases are:
- Find an open opportunity and check its terms.
- Submit the application and supporting documents.
- Mentor review and selection.
- Start of the appointment, with the Education and Training Agreement due within 30 days.
- Possible renewal, where the announcement allows it and FDA recommends it and funds are available.
Which FDA centers host participants
The program page points to research topics and programs at these FDA areas:
- Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)
- Medical Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)
- Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
- Food Safety and Nutrition
- Toxicological Research (NCTR)
For the one center with its own CASRAI guide, see NCTR: what it studies and how to train there.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as an FDA job. Participants are not FDA employees and receive no employment-related benefits; the stipend and insurance rules are different from a salaried post.
- Relying on the program page for announcement terms. Citizenship or residency, appointment length and degree level vary by opportunity.
- Missing the five-year window. For postgraduates the program page counts the degree from the appointment start date, not the application date.
- Applying to a closed announcement. Listings carry their own deadlines and can show as closed.
- Forgetting post-selection paperwork. The Education and Training Agreement is due within 30 days of the start date, and proof of health insurance is required.
Related programs
| Page | What it covers |
|---|---|
| What Is Zintellect? | The ORAU portal through which these applications are submitted |
| NCTR guide | One of the FDA research areas the program page names, and how to train there |
| NASA Postdoctoral Program | Application and advisor match for a separate federal postdoctoral program |
| EMA vs FDA | How the two regulators differ, for context on the agency hosting the appointment |
FAQ
Who selects ORISE participants at FDA?
The FDA mentor selects participants, according to the program page. ORISE administers the application and appointment.
Is FDA ORISE paid?
Yes, through a monthly stipend whose rate FDA sets by education level. The page also describes possible travel and relocation reimbursement and a typical health insurance stipend. Participants are still not FDA employees.
Where do I apply?
In Zintellect, by choosing an open opportunity from the ORISE FDA page and clicking “Apply Now.”
Do I need to be a student?
No. The page also covers postgraduates with a STEM degree earned within five years of the start date and full-time faculty.
Is an ORISE participant an FDA employee?
No. The NCTR General 2025 announcement states that participants do not become employees of FDA, DOE or the program administrator and that there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required.
How long can an appointment last?
That announcement says appointments can vary from a few months to one year and may be renewed for up to three years on FDA’s recommendation, depending on available funds. Check the length in the specific opportunity.
Sources
- Research Participation Program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (ORISE), official program page, checked 2026-10-29.
- FDA NCTR General 2025 research participation announcement, Zintellect, checked 2026-10-29. The announcement is marked closed and is used only as an example of announcement terms.
