Research Training @ the NIH Pat Sokolove, PhD Deputy Director NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education sokolovp@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 Our mission is very simple – improve health and save lives 2

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 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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Contact the OITE build your career, shape the future 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 build your career, shape the future

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