1. Research the NIH Pat Sokolove, PhD Deputy Director NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education

2. 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
Our mission is very simple – improve health and save lives 2

3. 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

4. 27 NIH Institutes and Centers
NHLBI
NINR OD
NCI
NCCAM
NIEHS
NIAMS
NEI
CIT
NIMH
NIDA
NLM CC
NINDS
NIDDK
NIBIB
NIAID
NHGRI
NIDCR
The NIH is made up of 27 different institutes and centers each with its own specific research agenda.
Out of the 27 institutes, 25 institutes have extramural offices that fund grant awards and 23 institutes have intramural programs that support research in their own labs.
At NIH, we love our acronyms, so the National Cancer Institute is NCI. Inside of your folder is a blue trifold pamphlet with the full names of all of the institutes at NIH.
NIDCD
NIA
NIAAA
NICHD
NIGMS
NIMHD
FIC
NCRR
CSR
= Extramural only 4

5. The Intramural Research Program 22 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

6. The Main NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD

7. 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
Patients at the CRC are all involved in clinical trials; all of their health care is provided free of charge.
Who works at the NIH? 7 7

8. 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

9. NIH Budget in FY 2009: $30.6 Billion
16.0%
Amount
Expenditure
10.39%
$3.2B
10,000 intramural scientists & research personnel
5.17%
$1.6B
RM&S and OD Oversight
0.44%
$0.1B
B&F
Spending
at NIH
$4.9 B
Spending
Outside NIH
$25.7 B
This chart shows you how we achieve our mission –
1) Extramural Funding – 84% of the money we receive leaves the NIH as grant awards to 325,000 scientists at more than 3,000 universities, medical institutions, and hospitals across the U.S., in our territories, and at some foreign institutions.
2) Intramural Funding – This is the money that stays at the NIH to support scientists on the campus and in laboratories in Baltimore, MD, Frederick, MD, at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and the Rocky Mountain Labs in Hamilton, Montana.
84% of the total NIH budget supports over 325,000 extramural scientists and research personnel at more than 3,000 institutions nationwide.
84.0% 9

10. 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

11. Why Do a Summer Internship?
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

12. Finding Internship Opportunities
Use your imagination
Surf the Web
Visit the career center at your school
Talk to your professors
Talk to your friends
Talk to us!

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. What Do Trainees Say About NIH?
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

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

20. 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

21. Applications: General principles
Before you begin writing, read
Follow directions
Submit early
Ensure that everything you submit is:
Grammatically perfect
Clearly expressed
Well organized

22. An Application Typically Includes:
Your contact information
A cover letter
Your résumé or CV
Letters of recommendation
A transcript or a list of your courses and grades

23. Contact Information
Be thoughtful about
Your address
Material added after your signature on your messages
The message on your answering machine

24. Cover Letters
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

25. Your Résumé
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

26. Letters of Recommendation
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

27. Courses and Grades
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

28. What Next? 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!

29. Contact the OITE build your career, shape the future
Sharon Milgram, PhD Debbie Cohen
Director, OITE Summer & Postbac Programs
Yolanda Mock Hawkins, PhD Pat Sokolove, PhD
NIH Academy Deputy Director, OITE
build your career, shape the future

30. Useful Web Sites Training at NIH (OITE): www.training.nih.gov
NIH Annual Reports:
NIH Enterprise Directory (NED):