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  6. Eligibility Requirements for Program
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Eligibility Requirements for Program

Participant Criteria

1. Student Trainee

a. High School student

* At least 16 years old

* GPA of 2.8

* Have a work permit if under 18 years of age

* Official copy of school transcript

b. Undergraduate student

* Currently enrolled in an accredited:

• 2- or 4-year college or university;

• professional, technical, vocational, or trade school;

• other qualifying educational institutions in scientific, clinical or relevant discipline.

c. Graduate Program Student

* Advanced degree program institutions in scientific, clinical, or relevant discipline

2. Postgraduate Trainee

a. Individual has an associates, bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree in an appropriate discipline, generally within 5 years.

b. Individual with a doctoral degree with no more than 5 years of post-doctoral experience

3. Certificate Trainee

a. Certificate in an appropriate program with a minimum of 30 semester credit hours or equivalent, within 1 year.

4. Veteran Trainee

a. Honorably discharged or disabled service member.

5. Faculty Trainee

a. Full time faculty member at an accredited U.S. college or university.

b. Faculty in appropriate department.

c. Research that collaborates and compliments research projects and other mission-related work at FDA.

6. Return to Research and Science Trainee

a. Completed a scientific degree.

b. Experienced a substantial career development interruption* or other career interruption due to non-work circumstances such as family care, family relocation, ill health, or military service.

* Interruptions are typically more than 6 months and less than 8 years.

7. Established Scientist Trainee

a. Evaluated on a case-by-case basis, requiring Center/Office level approval, with no more than 5% of total Center/Office Trainees per year.

b. Seeks to gain knowledge/experience in a new area to expand career opportunities or to advance professionally.

8. Pre-College Educator Trainee

a. Teacher or Administrator

b. Serves any of the grades from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.

c. Supports an appropriate pre-college program.

9. Uncompensated Trainee

a. Not paid by anyone

b. Must follow all Traineeship Requirements

The FDA Research and Science Traineeship Program is an equal opportunity program open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or covered veteran’s status.

Citizenship Requirements

Trainees are required to be US citizens or Legal Permanent Residents (“Green Card Holders”) at the time of application and through the duration of their assignment. There may be FDA offices that limit participation in the FDA Traineeship Program to U.S. Citizens due to the sensitive nature of the research performed.

Security Requirements

Individuals applying for participation in the FDA Research and Science Traineeship Program must be able to meet applicable security requirements of the Agency, which include completion of a background check. Completion of a background check requires U.S. citizenship or individuals to have resided for a minimum of 3 of the past 5 years within the United States.

Ethics Requirements

If an applicant to the FDA Research and Science Traineeship, including their spouse and minor children, reports what is identified as a Significantly Regulated Organization (SRO) or prohibited investment fund financial interest in any amount, or a relationship with an SRO, except for spousal employment with an SRO, and the individual will not voluntarily divest the financial interest or terminate the relationship, then the individual is not placed at FDA.

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