Office of Scientific Professional Development Also referred to as: OSPD
FDA's Office of Scientific Professional Development supports a range of dynamic and innovative programs and activities targeted at FDA's scientific staff and its stakeholder community.
Vision
Championing quality and innovative professional development opportunities for FDA's diverse scientific workforce.
Mission
Lead cross-agency staff collaborations to foster the scientific and professional development of current and future FDA scientists, through STEM training, continuing education, regulatory trainings and recognition programs that advance FDA's public health mission.
Functions
FDA's Office of Scientific Professional Development (OSPD) supports a range of dynamic and innovative programs and activities designed to ensure that FDA's scientific staff and its stakeholder community are current with rapidly evolving regulatory science.
Within the Agency, OSPD collaborates across FDA to strengthen its workforce by:
- Coordinating activities to educate external scientists and potential scientists
- Managing FDA-wide training programs for students, fellows, trainees, and senior scientists
- Managing trainings to meet regulatory requirements
- Facilitating continuing education and professional development collaborations
- Coordinating activities to recognize the achievements of FDA scientists
1. Coordinating activities to educate external scientists and prospective scientists
This goal aligns with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 USC 393(d)(2)(D)), 21st Century Cures and the Federal STEM Education Plan.
OSPD coordinates:
- FDA Grand Rounds
- FDA Science Forum
- Learning Portal for Students, Academia, and Industry
- FDA STEM Education, Engagement, and Outreach.
2. Managing FDA-wide training programs for students, fellows, trainees, and senior scientists
This goal aligns with the 21st Century Cures Act, Federal STEM Education Plan, and HHS Strategic Objective 4.2 and FDA scientific workforce priorities.
OSPD is responsible for:
- Managing Agency-wide traineeship and fellowship programs
- FDA Research and Science Traineeship Program
- FDA ORISE Fellowship
- Joint FDA – NIH/NCI Interagency Oncology Task Force (IOTF) Fellowship
- Joint FDA – NIH/NCATS Translational Science Interagency Fellowship
- Coordinating compliance with ethics requirements for nonemployee scientists.
- Coordinating training for students, fellows, and trainees in collaboration with the FDA Fellows Association.
3. Managing trainings to meet regulatory requirements.
This goal supports the training required regulatory programs.
OSPD manages FDA-wide trainings for:
- Human Subject Research Protection as required by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and HHS Common Rule
- Animal Welfare as required by the US Animal Welfare Act
- Responsible Conduct of Research as required by the Public Health Service Act
- Medical Countermeasures as required by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act
OSPD manages trainings for the Office of the Chief Scientist’s Regulatory Testing Laboratories as required in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 USC §379l(a)).
4. Facilitating continuing education and professional development collaborations
This goal aligns with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 USC §379l(a)) to provide scientific training to FDA staff as well as HHS and FDA priorities to strengthen the workforce.
OSPD coordinates continuing education (CE) for the Committee for the Advancement of Clinical and Scientific Education (CACSE) that awards CE credit for medical officers, nurses, and pharmacists.
OSPD sponsors the annual Abrams lecture under a co-sponsorship agreement between FDA and The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT).
OSPD coordinates the annual FDA 101.
This goal also aligns with 5 CFR §410 to support OCS staff professional development as well as 5 CFR §412 to support OCS manager and supervisor trainings.
5. Coordinating activities to recognize the achievements of FDA scientists
This goal aligns with FDA’s scientific workforce priority.
OSPD coordinates:
- Scientific Achievement Awards
- FDA Annual Student Scientific Research Day
- FDA Scientific Achievement Awards and Recognition Ceremony
Resources For You
- Office of the Chief Scientist
- Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
- Request an FDA Speaker
- Student Internships and Fellowships
- Staff Manual Guide: Office of Scientific Professional Development
Contact Us
- Office of Scientific Professional Development
- Leslie D. Wheelock, M.S.,RN
Director
Office of Scientific Professional Development
FDA White Oak Campus - Building 1
Silver Spring, MD 20993 -
Hours Available