FDA Regulatory Science STEM Program
FDA is committed to STEM outreach to educate and inspire the next generation of innovators and to encourage under-represented groups, especially minorities, women, and girls, to pursue careers in the sciences.
As a science-based agency, whose regulated products account for nearly 20 cents of every dollar Americans spend each year, FDA must ensure that we have a highly skilled scientific workforce to conduct our mission of protecting and advancing the public health.
FDA's Regulatory Science STEM program seeks to:
- Raise awareness of FDA as a science-based agency
- Expose students to the broad scope of regulatory science and its impact on our lives
- Inspire future innovators to pursue the wide-range of scientific careers at FDA that make up the field of regulatory science
FDA is a public health agency comprised of STEM professionals, but many people are unaware of the broad scope FDA's work and the cutting-edge research our scientists conduct every day to support it.
Approximately more than 10,000 of the 14,000 staff working at FDA are scientists. They range from biologists, chemists, epidemiologists, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians to social and behavioral scientists, statisticians, veterinarians, and engineers. Their research, scientific activities, and inventions make a profound impact on the lives of all Americans.
The FDA STEM Program sponsors the following programs:
- Mentoring
- Academic Visits and partnerships
- Fellowship and Professional Development Opportunities
- Participation in science fairs and other STEM activities