Training and Working at the National Institutes of

Health

Dr. Sharon L. Milgram, Director NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education

The National Institutes of Health

“The Nation’s biomedical research institution”

An Agency of the Department of Health and Human Services

Main campus in Bethesda MD; other campuses in MD, NC, MI, and MT

Two major divisions – extramural and intramural

www.nih.gov

Core Components of the NIH Mission Research Communication Training

The Intramural Research Program

Major research enterprise in 24 Institutes and Centers

Campuses in MD, NC, MT, MI, MA, AZ

Basic, translational and clinical research

Very broad STEM disciplines representation

Houses the NIH Clinical Center, a hospital dedicated exclusively to biomedical research

www.irp.nih.gov

Intramural Research Training Opportunities

www.training.nih.gov

The OITE (www.training.nih.gov)

A trans-NIH resource to help our trainees develop scientific and professional skills

Home of the NIH Science Career Services CenterWe share educational and training resources with

colleagues in the extramural community Many workshops available by videocast and podcast Science Career Blog Jobs board and job search resources Visit campuses for professional and career development workshops Arrange NIH visits for classes and student groups NIH Intramural Science Linked-In Group

NIH Intramural Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Eight+ week research experience at all levels High School College (including the CCSEP) Medical/Dental Graduate (MS, MPH, PhD, PharmD, PsyD, etc)

Opportunities on all NIH campuses; paid and volunteer opportunities available

Many workshops, journal clubs, and educational opportunities

Science Skills Boot Camp for first-time researchers Pre-graduate/pre-professional and career advising End-of-summer poster session

NIH Intramural Postbac Programs Paid internships in an NIH intramural research group

Across many disciplines One or two years

Can work on any NIH campus Extensive educational programming and career advising

leading to graduate and professional school All NIH postbacs are eligible to participate in the NIH

Academy Health Disparities Training Program

The Intramural Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP)

Provides up to $20,000/yr to cover educational expenses for undergraduates who meet specific eligibility criteria:

U.S. citizen or permanent resident

GPA ≥ 3.3

Extreme financial need

Major in a field relevant to biomedical research

All UGSP Scholars Participate in SIP each year following the scholarship year

Are required to work in the NIH IRP for one year total in return for each scholarship year

Intramural Graduate Partnership Program

Allows Ph.D. and combined degree students to do all or part of their dissertation research in the NIH IRP

Open to US citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals

Many workshops and educational programs including new Translational Medicine Training Program

Students can apply through one of two pathways: Individual agreement pathway Institutional agreement pathway

NIH Medical Research Scholars ProgramNIH Medical Research Scholars Program A comprehensive, year-long research enrichment

program for medical, dental and veterinary students A mentored basic, clinical, or translational project in an

area that matches students’ research interests and career goals

Opportunities include: Lecture series focused on translational science Instruction on clinical protocol development Participation in clinical teaching rounds in the Clinical Center

NIH Postdoc Basics

Eligibility: < 5 years of relevant research experience since receipt of the doctoral degree

Appointment for up to 5 years; may be promoted to Research Fellow for up to 3 additional years

International postdocs are funded as Postdoc-Visiting Fellows and come to NIH on the J1 visa program

First year stipend: ~$45,000 - $50,400 $10,000 supplements for some specialties (chemistry,

engineering, math) Health insurance provided: individual or family

NIH Administrative Fellowship Programs

Federal Agencies including NIH Presidential Management Program; http://www.pmf.gov

AAAS Science and Technology Fellowship; http://fellowships.aaas.org

HHS Emerging Leaders Program; http://hhsu.learning.hhs.gov/elp)/

Pathways; http://www.jobs.nih.gov/vacancies/student/internship.htm )

NIH Institute-sponsored programs NCI Health Communications (https://hcip.nci.nih.gov/hcip/)

NIH OTT Internships (http://www.ott.nih.gov/training/training.aspx)

Want a Job at NIH? In intramural research

Basic, translational and clinical Staff Scientists, Staff Clinical and Assistant Clinical Investigators Tenure-track investigators – IC-specific and trans-NIH Stadtman

Search

In extramural review Scientific Review (for IC or CSR) Program officer and program staff

In policy, administration, communications, outreach, tech transfer, etc.

Federal Hiring Mechanisms Title 5 positions (General Schedule)

Classification/compensation system for white collar Federal jobs Federal benefits and retirement Requires US citizenship

Title 42 positions (Administratively Determined) Many science positions and clinical research support positions Federal benefits and retirement No citizenship requirement

Contract positions Using a wide range of companies Citizenship requirement varies Not eligible for Federal benefits or retirement

Finding Jobs Jobs@NIH website (http://www.jobs.nih.gov/)

NIH jobs at and away from the bench OITE Jobs Board

USAJOBS (https://www.usajobs.gov/ ): The official job site of the US Federal Government

Contractor websites Juju (http://www.job-search-engine.com/; keyword = NIH

contractor) Websites for Kelly Scientific, Lockheed Martin, Leidos, Discovery

Logic, etc.

Keep In Touch

Connect with me on Linked-In Watch our MANY career workshops on-line and

read our career blog at www.training.nih.gov Email me anytime! milgrams@od.nih.gov