| Q: |
What is intramural research? |
| A: |
Intramural research is research carried out in the laboratories of the NIH. In contrast, NIH extramural research is research that is funded by the NIH and is carried out in universities, research institutes, or corporate laboratories.
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| Q: |
What research opportunities are available for postdocs at the National Institutes of Health? |
| A: |
The NIH offers six postdoctoral research training programs: Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs), Cancer Research Training Awards (CRTAs) for research carried out in the National Cancer Institute, Visiting Fellowships for international scholars, National Research Council NIH Associateships, NRC NIH/NIST Joint Postdoctoral Associateships, and the Pharmacology Research Associate Program (PRAT) housed in the National Institute for General Medical Sciences. There are also focused postdoctoral programs in Women's Health and Health Disparities.
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| Q: |
Where are these research opportunities located? |
| A: |
These fellowships are available in the research laboratories at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD as well as at off-campus locations in Baltimore (NIDA and NIA) and Frederick, Rockville, and Gaithersburg (NCI), MD; Hamilton, MT (NIAID); Phoenix, AZ (NIDDK); Detroit, MI (NICHD); and Research Triangle Park, NC (NIEHS). Trainees in the NIH/NIST Joint Postdoctoral Program administered by the National Research Council divide their time between an NIH laboratory and a laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO.
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| Q: |
How do I apply for a postdoctoral CRTA position at the NIH? |
| A: |
Each of the NCI divisions that offer postdoctoral opportunities has its own application procedures. Center for Cancer Research position announcements contain contact information for the investigator who posted the position. Inquiries should be addressed directly to that person. The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics offers four programs: Genetic Epidemiology, Radiation Epidemiology, Molecular Epidemiology, and Biostatistics. For this division, application is made to the program. The Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program requires its own on-line application. For information on that program and its application, click here. You can also contact individual NIH principal investigators by phone or e-mail and submit whatever materials they request directly to them. This last process may be appropriate when a relationship already exists between the applicant and the investigator.
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| Q: |
If I do not have access to the Internet, how can I apply? |
| A: |
You can visit your local library to access the Web or you may contact the unit of the National Cancer Institute that interests you for guidance. Applications to the Center for Cancer Research and the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics do not require online submission.
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| Q: |
Is there a deadline for submission of applications? |
| A: |
There are no application deadlines for positions in the Center for Cancer Research and the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. Applications are accepted year round. The Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program has an application deadline of September 1.
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| Q: |
Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation? What should I ask them to write? |
| A: |
You should request letters from individuals who can best evaluate your scientific accomplishments and your potential for successfully completing postdoctoral training. It is generally expected that you will request a letter from your dissertation advisor. It would make sense for the letters to be tailored for the position you are seeking. It is likely that the principal investigator will be looking for someone who is motivated, responsible, capable, bright, and creative and who works well with others. Also, some people just have "good hands" — i.e., their experiments always work; such individuals are worth their weight in gold. Your letters of recommendation need to convince the PI that you are just such a highly capable person. A good way for your references to do this is to include stories or descriptions of incidents that demonstrate both that you possess desirable qualities and that they know you well.
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| Q: |
What instructions should I give those who will be writing my letters of recommendation? |
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Please ask three referees who have direct knowledge of your scientific interests, abilities, and accomplishments to prepare written recommendations. If an address is listed in the announcement for the opening, letters should be forwarded to that address, and you may want to provide stamped, addressed envelopes to streamline the process. If no address is provided, your referees will receive an e-mail containing directions for submitting their recommendations electronically.
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| Q: |
How can I find out about NCI investigators who are doing research in areas that interest me? |
| A: |
Two good sources of information on the NIH intramural research program are the NIH Intramural Research Sourcebook and the NIH Intramural Database. The latter contains all of the NIH Institute and Center Annual Reports, which can be searched for topics that interest you. You may wish to contact investigators directly to inquire about potential postdoctoral positions. You can also visit the NCI homepage at http://www.cancer.gov/.
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| Q: |
How many applications may I submit? |
| A: |
You may submit multiple applications. A successful strategy is to submit several well-thought-out and carefully focused applications.
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| Q: |
How are applications reviewed? |
| A: |
When you apply for a postdoctoral position in the Center for Cancer Research, your application is made directly to the investigator with whom you wish to work. As in most academic situations, each investigator decides to whom he/she will offer his/her postdoctoral position(s). The OITE is not involved in the selection process. For information on application review in the other NCI programs, please contact them directly.
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| Q: |
How will I be notified if I am selected? |
| A: |
Typically, for a position in the CCR, you will receive a phone call or an email message from the investigator who is interested in having you join his/her lab.
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| Q: |
Can a postdoctoral CRTA be used for research training outside the NIH? |
| A: |
No. This award provides support for training experiences in the intramural research program at the NIH; it cannot be used for other purposes.
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| Q: |
Are citizens of countries other than the United States eligible to apply for postdoctoral positions in the NIH intramural program? |
| A: |
Postdoctoral positions in the Center for Cancer Research are open to those of all nationalities. If the applicant is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, the appointment will be as a CRTA; if not, the appointment will be as a Visiting Fellow. Applicants to the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics must be U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or foreign nationals with a valid training visa. To be eligible for the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program one must be either a citizen of the U.S. or a resident alien eligible for citizenship within 4 years at the time of application.
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| Q: |
How do I provide proof of my citizenship? |
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You will be asked to submit a copy of your birth certificate, passport, and/or alien registration card once you are selected for a position.
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| Q: |
Is housing provided by the NIH? |
| A: |
Housing for postdoctoral trainees is not provided by the NIH. Fellows are responsible for finding their own housing. Information on housing alternatives can be found at http://preirta.cit.nih.gov/DotNetNuke/Default.aspx?tabid=91.
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| Q: |
Is health insurance provided? |
| A: |
Health insurance is required for all Postdoctoral CRTA trainees. The NIH will pay for low-option individual or family coverage available through the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES). If you wish to subscribe to an FAES policy with more extensive coverage than that provided by the NIH, you will be required to pay the difference in cost. If you are already insured on another policy, you will be allowed to remain on that policy if you provide evidence of coverage. If the policy is in your name, and you can demonstrate that you are the individual who makes the premium payments, you will be reimbursed by the amount the NIH would have paid for FAES coverage.
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| Q: |
When should I submit my application? |
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For programs that accept applications year round, we suggest that you apply three to six months before the date on which you wish to start. On the other hand, it is never too early to begin networking with NIH scientists whose work is of interest to you and discussing the possibility of spending time at some point in their laboratories.
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| Q: |
How will I be paid? |
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Postdoctoral trainees receive monthly stipend checks. Trainees are paid at the beginning of the month for work completed the previous month. Taxes are not withheld. Income is reported by the NIH to the IRS on IRS Form 1099 at the end of the year. Trainees should plan ahead for the taxes that they will be required to pay and may need to pay quarterly Estimated Taxes throughout the year to avoid penalties. For information on trainee taxes, visit http://felcom.nih.gov/Infobank/IRTAtax.html.
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