CDER Academic Collaboration Program (CACP)

• Introduction
• Qualification and Application Process
• Acceptance into the United States Public Health Service
• Acceptance into the University of Florida Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy Research Program
• Frequently Asked Questions

  

Introduction

The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Academic Collaboration Program (CACP) is sponsoring an educational program in collaboration with the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and the University of Florida (UF) aimed at attracting scientists and health professionals to the FDA/CDER.

This program provides participants with two years of advanced graduate education at the masters or doctorate (PhD) level designed to advance scientific training and analysis involved in the safety and regulatory decisions unique to FDA/CDER’s mission. 

The partnership will plan to admit 15 to 20 recent graduates from the health or related sciences programs annually in the Masters or PhD program within UF’s Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy (POP). Students selected for these programs will be full-time students at the University of Florida as well as active duty Commissioned Corps officers.

Selected participants receive:

• Tuition
• Housing allowance  
• A competitive salary with active duty benefits

In return, the student must agree to work for FDA/CDER for two years for each year of paid tuition as a USPHS Commissioned Corps officer  

  

Qualification/Application Process

In order to be enrolled in the program all applicants must apply and qualify to be commissioned into the USPHS Commissioned Corps in addition to being accepted into the UF’s POP program. It is highly recommended that candidates apply to both the USPHS and to the UF POP program simultaneously. 

  

Acceptance into the United States Public Health Service

Candidates must apply and qualify to receive a commission in the USPHS prior to the beginning of the program.

To qualify for this program in the Commissioned Corps, candidates must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be less than 44 years of age (unless prior service)
• Be medically qualified
• Have a favorable suitability/security investigation
• Have a qualifying degree or a higher degree from an accredited institution (varies depending on occupation).

Apply to the USPHS.  

  

Acceptance into UF’s POP Program

Candidates will also need to apply and be accepted into the Masters or PhD program in the University of Florida Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy (POP).  

More information on the UF POP program and how to apply.

General questions regarding the CDER Academic Collaboration Program at the University of Florida should be directed to LCDR Carlos Bell at CDERCommissionedCorpsJobs@fda.hhs.gov.  

For specific programming questions, please contact:

CAPT Greg Wood at William.Wood@fda.hhs.gov about FDA’s CACP  
Dr. Almut Winterstein at Almut@cop.ufl.edu about UF’s POP Program  

Please note that at this time we are not able to offer this opportunity to those already holding a commission in the USPHS.

       

  

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many students are currently in the program? 

Five

• What are students’ backgrounds?

Four are pharmacy officer in the Commissioned Corps, and one is a health services officer (HSO) in the Commissioned Corps with a public health specialty.

• Are there any other academic requirements?

Yes, during the summer, extensive hands-on experience in FDA regulatory science including regulatory review opportunities and mentoring will be provided by CDER/CACP staff. 

• Will there be more students joining the program?

Yes, we are recruiting 20 new student/officers for the fall 2010 semester at the UF.