Training Opportunities at the National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Program

1
Training Opportunities at theNational Institutes
of Health Intramural Research Program

• Yolanda D. Mock Hawkins, Ph.D.
• Director, NIH Academy
• hawkinsy_at_od.nih.gov

2
NIH Intramural Training Mechanisms

• The NIH Intramural Research Program offers
  several mechanisms to train high-quality
  researchers in biomedical research.

3
NIH Intramural Research Training Mechanisms

• A few examples of NIH research training
  opportunities
• Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training
  Award (Postbac IRTA).
• NIH Academy
• Technical IRTA
• Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
• Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Award
  (IRTA) Program

4
Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training
Award (IRTA)

• The Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research
  Training Award provides opportunities for recent
  college graduates to spend a year engaged in
  biomedical research at the NIH.
• While in this program participants work
  side-by-side with some of the leading scientists
  in the world in an environment devoted
  exclusively to biomedical research.
• Post-baccalaureate fellows are expected to
  initiate the application process for graduate or
  medical school.

5
Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training
Award (IRTA)

• To Be Eligible for consideration
• Students must be either U.S. citizens or
  permanent residents of the United States and have
  graduated from an accredited U.S. college or
  university.
• Fellowship awards must be activated within two
  years of receipt of a bachelors degree.

6
Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training
Award (IRTA)

• Award Duration
• Awards are normally granted for one year , but
  may be renewed once for an additional year
  provided the performance of the trainee is
  satisfactory and continued support by the
  laboratory is available.
• Stipend
• The stipend for Post-baccalaureate trainees is
  adjusted yearly with supplements for prior
  experience, (current stipends are posted in Table
  2 at http//www.training.nih.gov/stipends.asp) .

7
Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training
Award (IRTA)

• How to Apply
• Prospective candidates should apply
  electronically via the internet at
  http//www.training.nih.gov.
• The electronic application requires the
  submission of three letters of reference.
  Applicants will be asked to enter the e-mail
  addresses of each referee. Individuals who do
  not have access to the internet are encouraged to
  visit a local library.
• TIP
• Be as descriptive as possible in your cover
  letter outlining your research interests, career
  goals, and reasons for applying for training at
  the NIH.

8
NIH Academy

• The NIH Academy provides opportunities for recent
  college graduates to spend a year engaged in
  biomedical research at the NIH in Bethesda, MD.
  Participants work side-by-side with some of the
  worlds leading scientists. The primary emphasis
  of the program is research-based training, which
  may be related to health disparities. In
  addition, there are two educational components
  seminars and workshops on topics related to
  health disparities, as well as skills development
  and general knowledge workshops. Participants
  reside in apartments located adjacent to the NIH
  main campus.

9
NIH Academy

• A few examples of Health Disparities
• Hispanics and Latinos are nearly twice as likely
  as Caucasians to be diagnosed with diabetes
  American Indians nearly three times.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) occurs 2.5
  times more often in African Americans than in the
  majority population.
• The death rate from stomach cancer is
  substantially higher among Asian and Pacific
  Islanders than among other populations, while
  Vietnamese women in the U.S. have a cervical
  cancer incidence rate that is five times greater
  than Caucasian women.

10
NIH Academy

• To be eligible for consideration
• Students must be either U.S. citizens or
  permanent residents of the United States
• Have graduated from an accredited U.S. college or
  university.
• Recent college graduate (meaning that the Academy
  start date, the last Friday in August, is less
  than a year after applicants graduation from
  college). Note students should apply during
  their senior year of college.

11
NIH Academy

• During their tenure in the program, fellows are
  expected to initiate the application process for
  graduate or medical school.
• The duration of the program is normally a year,
  but the award can be extended for an additional
  year based on successful trainee performance,
  satisfactory trainee progress towards
  matriculation at an accredited graduate or
  medical school, and continued availability of
  funds.
• In order to encourage peer mentoring and
  facilitate interactions among members, the NIH
  Academy is a residential program. Trainees share
  two-bedroom apartments that are furnished and
  located adjacent to the Bethesda campus.

12
NIH Academy

• Stipend and benefits
• NIH Academy trainees receive a stipend of
  approximately 26,000 per twelve-month period.
• Travel to and from the NIH
• Support for FAES (Foundation for the Advancement
  of Education in the Sciences) courses (preceptor
  approval is required)
• 350 Education allowance for courses, MCAT/GRE
  review, or books
• Health insurance
• Travel to a national scientific meeting
  (preceptor approval is required)

13
Technical Intramural Research Training Award
(IRTA)

• Technical Intramural Research Training Award
  Fellowships are designed to produce a cadre of
  highly trained support professionals capable of
  performing the latest advanced techniques in
  biomedical research.

14
Technical IRTA

• Eligibility
• To be eligible for this program, candidates must
  have graduated from an accredited U.S. college or
  university with a bachelors or masters degree.
• Length of Appointment
• The initial fellowship award is for two years and
  can be extended for a maximum of three years.

15
Technical IRTA

• Stipend
• Stipends are established based on the
  individuals degree and amount of relevant
  experience at the beginning of the fellowship.
• For individuals with bachelors degrees, initial
  stipends range from 23,800 to 29,000. For
  individuals with masters degrees, stipends range
  from 29,600 to 33,100.

16
Technical IRTA

• Application Procedure
• Prospective candidates are strongly urged to
  apply electronically at http//www.training.nih.go
  v.
• The electronic application requires two (2)
  letters of reference. You will be asked to key
  in the e-mail addresses of your referees. An
  automatic e-mail will be sent to each of your
  referees requesting that they complete an on-line
  letter of reference.

17
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

• Participants are able to join one of the NIH
  research laboratories for a minimum of eight
  weeks between late May and August. At the end of
  the program, students have an opportunity to
  participate in the NIH Poster Day Program.

18
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

• To Participate
• Students must be either U.S. citizens or
  permanent residents of the United States.
• At the time of application students must be
  currently enrolled at least half-time in an
  accredited U.S. high school, college, or graduate
  school

19
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

• Appointment is competitive through the IRTA
  mechanism.
• Students are responsible for their own travel and
  housing expenses.
• Housing is not available on the NIH campus.

20
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

• Applications are available on-line in November.
• To apply visit this website
• http//www.training.nih.gov
• (Applicants will be asked to enter the email
  addresses of each referee).
• Deadline for applications is March 1.
• TIP It is a good idea to apply and request your
  letters of reference early.

21
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Intramural
Research Training Award (IRTA) Program

• The focus of this program is on biomedical
  laboratory research. It is designed to provide
  advanced research training to doctoral-level
  scientists who are at the beginning stages of
  their research careers.

22
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Intramural
Research Training Award (IRTA) Program

• Postdoctoral Fellows have the opportunity to
• Obtain research training in one of NIH
  intramural research laboratories.
• Attend lectures and seminars featuring world
  leaders in the biomedical sciences.
• Prepare for their futures by attending workshops
  on the preparation of NIH grants and alternative
  job opportunities.

23
Postdoctoral Fellowship ProgramIntramural
Research Training Award (IRTA) Program

• Eligibility
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Recent recipient of a doctoral degree (within 5
  years of obtaining their doctoral degree).
• Duration
• Initial commitments 1 month 2 years yearly
  renewal, maximum duration 6 years.
• To apply, visit http//www.training.nih.gov/pdop
  enings

24
Websites of Interests

• NIH Intramural Research Training Opportunities
• http//www.training.nih.gov
• NIH Jobs
• http//www.jobs.nih.gov/