Research Training @ the NIH

Pat Sokolove, PhDDeputy DirectorNIH Office of Intramural Training & Educationsokolovp@mail.nih.gov

NIH Mission

Science* in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems

AND the application* of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability*.

* Ranging from chemistry and computational biology to behavioral science; translational research; nationally and globally

Core Mission Components

Conducting research in its own laboratories and on its own projects (intramural research)

Providing support for research conducted outside the NIH (extramural research)

Training research investigators Fostering the communication of medical

information

27 NIH Institutes and Centers

= Extramural only Extramural only

NEI

NCI

NHLBI

NLM NINDS

NIMH

NIAMS

NINR

NCCAM

CIT

CC

NHGRI

NIANIAAA

NIAID

NICHD

NIDCD

NIDCR

NIDDK

NIDA

NIEHSOD

NIGMS

NCRR

NIBIB

NIMHD

FICCSR

The Intramural Research Program22 ICs with labs/research projects in

Bethesda, MD Frederick, MD – NCI Baltimore, MD – NIA and NIDA Research Triangle Park, NC – NIEHS Rocky Mountain Labs, MT – NIAID Phoenix, AZ – NIDDK Detroit, MI – NICHD Framingham, MA - NHLBI

The Main NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD

Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center

admits patients as part of clinical

trials only 240 beds 7,000 inpatient admissions a year 9,750 new patients a year 72,600 outpatient visits a year 900 active clinical protocols

How Many Researchers Are at the NIH?

3800 Postdoctoral Fellows 485 Graduate Students 700 Postbacs 1200 Summer Interns 75 Medical Students 250 Tenure-track Investigators 900 Tenured Investigators 1300 Staff Scientists 300 Staff Clinicians

NIH Budget in FY 2009: $30.6 Billion

SpendingSpendingOutside NIHOutside NIH

$25.7 B$25.7 B

SpendingSpendingat NIHat NIH$4.9 B$4.9 B

Amount Expenditure

10.39% $3.2B 10,000 intramuralintramural scientists &

research personnel

5.17% $1.6B RM&S and OD Oversight

0.44% $0.1B B&F

16.0%16.0%

84.0%84.0%84% of the total NIH budget supports over 325,000 extramuralextramural scientists and research personnel at more than 3,000 institutions nationwide.

What Can the NIH Offer You?

Resources - access to outstanding mentors, new technologies and state-of-the-art research facilities

Science seminars, workshops, and courses Exciting programs in all NIH Institutes & Centers Leadership and personal development opportunities Communication skills workshops Opportunities to learn about many different science

careers Workshops to help you successfully take “the next

step” Access to the OITE Career Services Center

Apply your book knowledge Improve your communication and interpersonal

skills Experience new areas of science Explore opportunities; “try on” your future career Build your social and professional network See new places and make new friends

Why Do a Summer Internship?

Use your imagination Surf the Web Visit the career center at your school Talk to your professors Talk to your friends Talk to us!

Finding Internship Opportunities

Programs for College Students

Summer Internship Program (SIP) Summer research experience at all levels Workshops and other educational experiences

Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP)

Scholarship support during the academic year Summer research experience Payback obligation after graduation

Summer Internship Program

Eight - ten week research experience at all levels High School College Medical/Dental Graduate (MS, PhD, PharmD, PsyD, etc.)

Workshops and other educational opportunities Access to pre-professional and pre-graduate

advising End-of-summer poster session

https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip

The Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP)

Provides up to $20,000/yr to cover educational expenses for undergraduates

Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident GPA ≥ 3.5 Financial need Major in a field relevant to biomedical research

Payback requirement: one summer and one year at the NIH as an employee for each year of support received

https://ugsp.nih.gov/home.asp?m=00

For Recent College Graduates

Postbac IRTA Program One - two year focused research experience in an NIH

lab (on all campuses) Many workshops and educational programs Pre-professional and pre-graduate advising

NIH Academy A postbac program focused on domestic health

disparities All fellows live together near the Bethesda campus

https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/postbac_irta

The Graduate Partnerships Program

Students work in NIH lab for all or part of their dissertation research

PhD is granted by home university Two types of partnerships:

Individual agreement Institutional agreement

https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/gpp

Incredible research resources and breadth of research

Cooperative and collaborative environment Amazing quality and quantity of visiting lecturers Many opportunities to present research on and

off campus Wealth of opportunities for career development Networking opportunities

What Do Trainees Say About NIH?

OITE Mission

Helping trainees in the NIH Intramural Research Program develop scientific and professional skills to become leaders in the biomedical research community

https://www.training.nih.gov/

Special Events at the NIH

Poster Days Summer Poster Day Postbac Poster Day

NIH Graduate & Professional School Fair GPP Retreat Graduate Student Research Symposium NIH Career Symposium

Applications: General principles

Before you begin writing, read Follow directions Submit early Ensure that everything you submit is:

Grammatically perfect Clearly expressed Well organized

Your contact information A cover letter Your résumé or CV Letters of recommendation A transcript or a list of your courses

and grades

An Application Typically Includes:

Contact Information

Be thoughtful about Your email address Material added after your signature on your

email messages The message on your answering machine

Your chance to convince the reader that you would be the perfect “fit” for the program and/or lab

Do not rehash your resume; point out highlights and special qualifications

Be complete, but brief Use concrete examples Pay particular attention to describing your

research interests

Cover Letters

A concise representation of your educational and professional history

Should include: contact information schools attended, dates, and degrees received honors and awards research and work experience (include volunteering; list

skills using power verbs) publications

Your Résumé

Should be from teachers who know you well Must address your scientific knowledge base and

relevant personal traits Can be from a boss or someone outside of school but

only if they can discuss similar qualities Start thinking about who can write you strong letters of

support early in your education

Letters of Recommendation

List all of your courses, including those you are currently enrolled in, unless directed otherwise.

If you are a first-semester college freshman include information on your high school grades

Organize your list Invest the time to make the list easy to read

Courses and Grades

Contact faculty to express an interest in their lab

Apply to multiple programs - flexibility helps If you don’t get in…don’t give up!

What Next?

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futu

re Contact the OITE

https://www.training.nih.gov/

Sharon Milgram, PhD Debbie Cohen

Director, OITE Summer & Postbac Programs

milgrams@mail.nih.gov cohend@mail.nih.gov

Yolanda Mock Hawkins, PhD Pat Sokolove, PhD

NIH Academy Deputy Director, OITE

mocky@mail.nih.gov sokolovp@mail.nih.gov

Useful Web Sites

Training at NIH (OITE):www.training.nih.gov

NIH Annual Reports:http://intramural.nih.gov/search

NIH Enterprise Directory (NED):http://ned.nih.gov