Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP)http://gpp.nih.gov

• Develops Partnerships for Graduate Education

• Supports NIH Investigator Needs • Establishes Academic

Infrastructure• Supports NIH Graduate Student

Community• Explore New Approaches to PhD

Education Unique to NIH

GPP LinksNIH Researchers and Laboratories to Universities for the Training of PhD Graduate Students

Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE)

Partnerships – Mary DeLong, Ph.D.Student Affairs – Rick McGee, Ph.D.Admissions & Registrar – Pat McCarthy, Ph.D.Operations Manager – Deloris MillsProgram Assistant – Caroline Duffy, M.Ed.Program Assistant – Adrian WarrenAdministrative Assistant – Renée Gooden

Graduate Partnerships ProgramNational Institutes of Health2 Center DriveBuilding 2 / Room 2E06Bethesda, MD 20892-0234

Phone: 301-594-9605Fax: 301-594-9606Web: http://gpp.nih.govEmail: gpp@nih.gov

Medical Education Program~MEP~

Graduate Partnerships

Program~GPP~

Fellowship Training Program~FTP~

Why the Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP)?

• Trainee Populations at NIH – Summer Internship Program (SIP)– Post-Bac IRTA Program – Awarded Undergraduate Degree– Medical Student Training Program – Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)– Post-Doc IRTA Program – National & International Citizens

• Some Investigators Want PhD Students• Graduate Students Wishing to Train with Investigators

– Access to Specialized Equipment – Exploring New Research Areas– Develop Collaborative Project for Dissertation Research– Expand Existing Network of Researchers

Summer 2000 NIH Established the GPP to Formalize the Training of PhD Graduate Students at NIH

Two Pathways for AdmissionPartnership & Citizenship Considerations

Institutional Partnerships(Formal Agreement)

Individual Partnerships(Individual Agreement)

US Citizens &US Permanent

Residents

Memorandum of Understanding Stipend (Pre-IRTA)Health Insurance

Tuition

Prospective PhD Students

Negotiated by NIH InvestigatorStipend (Pre-IRTA)Health Insurance

Tuition

Apply as Current PhD Students

International Students

Memorandum of Understanding Stipend (Pre-doc Visiting Fellow)

Health Insurance No Tuition

Apply as Current PhD Students

Negotiated by NIH Investigator Stipend (Pre-doc Visiting Fellow)

Health InsuranceNo Tuition

Apply as Current PhD Students

Institutional vs. Individual Partnership Pathways

Institutional Prospective PhD

Institutional (Foreign)Current PhD

IndividualCurrent PhD

AgreementMemorandum of

Understanding (MOU)Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU)Negotiated by NIH

Investigator

Admission Process

Admission CommitteeGPP Application

Structured Interviews

Admission CommitteeGPP Application

Structured Interviews

NIH InvestigatorGPP Application?

Interviews?

Enrollment Year

First Year Second or Third Year Second or Third Year

Dissertation Project

Traditional or Collaborative Project

Collaborative ProjectTraditional or

Collaborative Project

Citizenship U.S. Citizens Non-U.S. U.S. or non-U.S.

Fall 2006 Partnerships (new students/year)

• Boston University – Bioinformatics (1-2)• Brown University – Neuroscience (4-6)• Johns Hopkins University – Cell, Molec., Devel. Biology & Biophysics (3-5)• George Washington University – Biomedical Sciences (2-4)• Georgetown University – Biomedical Sciences (3-4)• New York University – Structural Biology (2-4)• University of Mt./Rocky Mtn. Labs – Molecular Basis of Infectious Diseases (2-3)• University of Maryland, College Park – Chemical Physics/Biophysics (1-3)• University of Maryland, College Park – Sensory & Communication Neurosci. (2-3)• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill – Cell Motility & Cytoskeleton (2-3)• University of Pennsylvania – Immunology (3-5)

• Karolinska Insitutet – Neuroscience (Sweden) (2-4)• University of Cambridge – Health Sciences (UK) (5-6)• University of Oxford – Biomedical Sciences (UK) (5-6)

• NCI & MSU/NCSU/UMD/UIUC – Molecular Pathology for DVMs (2-3)• NINR – Nursing & Biobehavioral Research (2)

+ Marshall, Churchill, Rhodes Scholars

Typical Curriculum for U.S. Partnerships

• Year One– Lab rotation at NIH encouraged or required in first summer– Courses and rotations at the university– Laboratory rotations at NIH after first year– Research mentor(s) chosen by the second year– Many partnerships beginning to require co-mentorships

• Year Two – University and/or NIH– Courses – limited to fall semester at most + FAES courses– Candidacy examinations– Dissertation proposal by end of year

• Year Three– Dissertation research at NIH or collaboration with university

• Year Four/Five– Dissertation Research, Writing and Defending

• Goal – time to degree not to exceed 5 years

University of Cambridge – Health Sciences University of Oxford – Biomedical Sciences

• Choose Oxford/Cambridge and NIH mentors first summer– Spend One week in UK and one week at NIH in June

• Prepare preliminary dissertation research proposal in August and September– Structured guidance on how to write a research proposal

• Expected to spend about two years each at UK and NIH– Must spend at least half of the time at NIH– Pattern of time can vary

• Requires clear areas of interest from start• No classes required but available if needed/desired• Requires very strong academic science background• Up to 6 students in each school per year• Must maintain active communication throughout

Newest Addition to GPP – MD/PhD Options

• Designed to Attract/Enable PhD Trainees to work at NIH• Intramural/Extramural Collaboration• Students to MD Training at Medical School and PhD

Training at NIH or Through GPP Partnership• Several Variations Possible

– Student applies simultaneously to Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at U.S. Medical School and GPP - If accepted does first two years of MD followed by GPP PhD and then finishes MD

– Current MD student applies to GPP – may join school MD/PhD or do as two separate entities – may be as formal GPP or individual

– PhD student in GPP applies to medical school and is accepted – finishes PhD then does MD

• If at MSTP school, extra extramural NRSA slot given to MSTP program to fund medical school years

• If at non-MSTP school, no current MD funding available

Graduate Student Growth at NIH

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Pre-GPP 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Academic Year

Num

ber o

f GS

Institutional PartnershipIndividual Partnership

• ~400 Graduate Students• Institutional ≈ Individual

Partnerships• >100 U.S. and International

Universities• 21 Countries of Origin ~ 20%

International• Across 21 NIH Institutes-Centers

Institutional Partnership – Exists between NIH and Host UniversityIndividual Partnership – Exists between NIH and university researchers

Financial Support of Graduate Students

Stipend Health Insurance Tuition

Institutional – Prospective

Pre-IRTAGPP (year 1)

NIH Investigator (years 2+)

FAES or UniversityGPP (year 1)

NIH Investigator (years 2+)

GPP (year 1)NIH Investigator (years 2+)Amount varies by university

Institutional – Current

Pre-Doc Visiting FellowNIH Investigator

FAES or UniversityNIH Investigator

Not Allowed

Individual – US Citizens

Pre-IRTANIH Investigator

FAES or UniversityNIH Investigator

NegotiatedNIH Investigator

Individual – International

Citizens

Pre-Doc Visiting FellowNIH Investigator

FAES or UniversityNIH Investigator

Not Allowed

Recruiting Methods

• Conferences– Scientific – Neuroscience, Cell, etc…– Academic – SACNAS, ABRCMS, GREAT, CGS

• Publications– Websites – GPP & University Pages– Peterson’s Guide – Web Description of US University Partnerships– GradSchools.Com – Web Description of All Partnerships– Brochures – Mailings to Undergraduate Universities– ETS/GRE – Email Mailings to Select GRE Test-takers

• Presentations– Universities– Undergraduate Training Programs

Admissions Process

• Institutional Agreements– Applicant Submits Required Applications

• online GPP (can apply to several) and usually parallel university application

– Partnership Admissions Committee Selects Applicants for Interviews• NIH and university faculty involved in selection

– Candidates Interview for Admission – NIH alone or NIH and university– Candidates Approved by Both NIH and University Receive Offer– Students Must Decide by April 15

• Individual Agreements– Student Contacts NIH PI – may or may not talk to university first– PI and/or SD only decision makers – GPP not involved in selection– Requires Written Permission of University PhD Program– Student Must “Register” with GPP Either Through GPP Online Application or

Copy of Appointment Paperwork from IC to GPP

Services Provided to Graduate Students

• Orientation to NIH and Graduate School• Graduate Student Retreat (Fall)• Graduate Student Research Symposium (Spring)• Graduate Student Award Ceremony (Spring)• Workshops – linked to specific needs by years in training

– Dissertation Proposal Writing– Dissertation Writing– Grant Writing– CV/Resume Development and Interviewing

• Teaching– BIO262 “Principles of Laboratory Techniques”– Teaching and Learning Interest Group

• Guidance– Coursework– Rotations– Career Options & Pathways

• Graduate Student Council – Support Activities

The Graduate Student Council (GSC)

• Central to the graduate student community at NIH• Resource for GPP, the students’ perspective – open and

frequent dialogue• Annual elected Co-Chairs• Active Committees

– Academic / Teaching– Housing– International Students– Pathways Conversations– Research Symposium– Retreat– Social– Website development

• Monthly meeting• Collaboration with postdoctoral Fellows Committee

What Do Graduate Students Say About NIH?

• Incredible research resources and breadth of research• Funds allow creative, higher risk experiments• Very helpful, cooperative and collaborative environment• Most mentors get high marks for mentorship provided• Remarkable quality and quantity of visiting lecturers• Collaborations help build maturity and communication skills• Opportunities for presentations at national meetings• Many networking opportunities • Highly productive – average about 5 publications

Services Provided to Mentors and ICs

• Application that Captures Key Elements for NIH Appointment Mechanisms

• Student Community that Individual Labs Can’t Provide• Interface with and “Translate” Academic Requirements• Consultation on Student “Problems”• GPP online Student Handbook to Help Students• Individual Program Handbooks being Created

How Can You Participate in the GPP?

• Obtain an Approval of Participation – Indicates you have the resources and experience to successfully

mentor PhD student – Granted by Scientific Director– Forward approvals to Dr. Pat McCarthy (OD)

• Create a GPP WebPages – See Researchers Section• Affiliate Yourself with Specific Partnerships• Assist in Recruitment Efforts• Participate in Interview Days• Rotation Laboratory & Dissertation Laboratory• Dissertation Advisory Committee • Mentor Graduate Students at NIH

Identification/Support of Graduate StudentsHow You Can Help the GPP…

• Let us know if a student will be joining your lab as an individual agreement

• If we know in advance you can use the GPP online application to capture all of the information you need for their appointment paperwork

• Encourage your students to participate in GPP activities – it helps them avoid getting lost in the postdoc world of NIH