MOU 225-02-8001
Memorandum of Understanding
Between The United States Food and Drug Administration
and The University of Maryland, College Park
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) have a shared interest in scientific progress through an exchange of scientific capital in the diverse fields of science that directly and indirectly affect human and animal health and medicine. Both institutions also endorse scientific training for academicians and students to foster a well-grounded foundation in interdisciplinary science on which scientific learning will grow.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes terms of collaboration between FDA and UMD to support these shared interests that can proceed through a variety of programs such as sabbaticals, postdoctoral fellowships, and student internships.
I. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
For the programs listed below, FDA will provide UMD the following:
• Laboratory and/or office space as needed.
• Openness and proactive efforts in establishing collaborative research efforts with UMD faculty, students, and staff.
• Based on available resources, willingness to participate in graduate courses and seminars at UMD.
• Continuing and frequent communication with faculty and staff.
• Openness and welcome to faculty, staff, and students wishing to visit FDA laboratories.
• Promulgation and communication of this collaborative effort through web pages, informal conversations with colleagues, faculty, and students.
In addition to the above, FDA will provide UMD personnel the following:
In the Sabbatical Program:
• Opportunities to apply for a sabbatical with the agency with terms of the sabbatical to be negotiated between the individual and the agency.
• Opportunities to apply for salary support, where appropriate, through a variety of funding mechanisms. Request for salary support must coincide with the current federal fiscal year.
• Opportunity to attend a variety of didactic courses.
In the FDA Service Fellowship Program:
• Opportunity to compete for appointments. For those who receive appointments, research training and mentoring of the Fellow will be the responsibility of the appointing office.
In the Graduate Student Internship Program:
• UMD will select the graduate student and FDA will approve the student applying mutually agreeable criteria.
• With concurrence of both parties on a research project, FDA, as appropriate, will offer office support, laboratory support, and supplies.
• The student will have the opportunity to apply for salary support from the FDA through a variety of mechanisms including Internship Programs, the Student Career Experience Program, and other work-study programs by working with the FDA Outreach Coordinator, Marge Dexter Shifflett (301-827-4048) and the appropriate FDA Center Director.
• Consistent with UMD and FDA rules and regulations, and negotiated on a case-by-case basis, FDA mentors can, where appropriate, serve on thesis committees, attend examination and committee meetings, and participate in other aspects of the student's educational program at UMD.
• As appropriate, openness and welcome to students wishing to rotate through FDA laboratories, as well as an opportunity to obtain short-term training in related areas.
General Appointments:
• Opportunity to submit resumes to apply for Special Government Employee (SGE) appointments.
II. University of Maryland, College Park
For the programs listed below, UMD will provide FDA the following:
• Laboratory and/or office space as needed.
• Openness and proactive efforts in establishing collaborative research efforts with FDA scientists and staff.
• Continuing and frequent communication with FDA scientists and staff.
• Openness and welcome to FDA scientists and staff wishing to visit relevant UMD programs and laboratories.
• Promulgation and communication of this collaborative effort through web pages, informal conversations with colleagues, faculty and students.
In addition to above, UMD will provide FDA personnel the following:
In a Sabbatical Program at UMD:
• Opportunities to apply for a sabbatical with UMD. Terms of the sabbatical will be negotiated between the individual and the appropriate University unit.
• Opportunity to attend and/or participate in a variety of courses at the graduate level.
In the FDA Service Fellowship Program:
• Opportunities to apply for funding through internal and external mechanisms for additional research support for collaborative research efforts between UMD and FDA laboratories, subject to the policies and practices of UMD and FDA.
For UMD Graduate Students:
• The basic formal educational structure for students within any of its programs. It is understood that all students will meet all requirements for courses and degree programs as set up by the appropriate department or program at UMD.
• Stipend support, health insurance coverage, and/or tuition support in the form of teaching assistantships, campus fellowships, or other mechanisms, where appropriate and based on available resources, to UMD Graduate Students taking classes full time at UMD.
• Opportunity to receive dissertation research credits from the Graduate School, when available and appropriate, for UMD students engaged in dissertation research while participating in an internship at an FDA Center.
• Long-term commitment from the Graduate School to offer continued educations, typical of what is provided to other UMD graduate students in good standing in their program, to UMD graduate students engaged in dissertation research while participating in an internship with FDA.
• Encouragement of graduate students to rotate through, and/or have short-term research opportunities in FDA laboratories.
• Adjunct faculty appointments in relevant UMD programs or departments, based on available resources and consistent with standard UM policies, for those FDA staff members working with UMD students, and/or assisting in teaching at UMD.
III. Coverances
UMD individuals participating in the MOU will be United States Citizens or Permanent Residents. Regarding the latter, all federal restrictions will be adhered to.
Patient, license, and other legal instruments will be prepared in accordance with federal law and UMD policy, and written notice referencing the policies will be provided to the individual prior to entering on duty with FDA. UMD and FDA may decide to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) at a future time to conduct collaborative research. The terms of such a CRADA will address Intellectual Property rights.
This MOU forms the basis for the initial relations between FDA and UMD for sabbaticals, research, and scientific education. However, as this collaborative effort progresses, it is expected that new and wider areas of mutual interest will evolve and be included in expansions of this document.
IV. Finances and Resources
UMD and FDA agree that this MOU does not commit either to make specific levels of financial or personnel support or to provide specific laboratory or office space for the programs and that the provision of such support will be based on available resources and provided in accordance with the rules, regulations and laws under which FDA operates and the policies of UMD.
V. Contact
The individual to whom all inquiries to FDA should be addressed is:
Judy Blumenthal, Ph.D.
Director Academic Partnerships and Outreach Program
jblument@oc.fda.gov
The individual to whom all inquiries to UMD should be addressed is:
Robert J. Dooling. Ph. D.
Acting Associate Vice President for Research
University of Maryland College Park
Dooling@psyc.umd.edu
Approved and Accepted
for the University of Maryland
Signed by: C.D. Mote, Jr., Ph.D.
President, University of Maryland
Date: September 4, 2004
Approved and Accepted
for the Food and Drug Administration
Signed by: Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Deputy Commissioner
Food and Drug Administration
Date: September 4, 2002