Official duties and outside activities

Trainees and fellows appointed as IRTAs, CRTAs, and Visiting Fellows are not government employees and are not subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct in the same manner as are full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. However, some restrictions apply to non-FTE trainees, including rules governing outside and official duty activities.

Official duty activities are those activities that are performed as an extension of your regular (or official) duties at NIH. Examples include serving on a committee at a scientific society, reviewing manuscripts, collaborating with researchers outside NIH with consultation of your PI, or writing a letter of recommendation on behalf of someone you mentored at NIH. Consult here for guidance regarding approval for official duty activities.

Definition

An outside activity is work that is outside of, or not related to, your current NIH position. It is typically done outside of your assigned working hours and using your own resources. It can include volunteer or paid activities such as tutoring, teaching, serving on the board of a non-profit, being a hospital translator or scribe.

Guidelines

Many outside activities are allowable, as long as you do not use your NIH email address, NIH affiliation, or NIH resources (for example, computer, copier, office or research supplies). Outside activities should not interfere with research and other training responsibilities. If you participate in outside activities during the work day, you must seek approval from your PI or daily supervisor.

Getting approval

Some outside activities are more closely related to your work duties and may require written approval from your PI or others; consult the Guidelines for Non-FTEs (Trainees) for NIH-Related Activities, Outside Activities, and Awards portion of the NIH IRP sourcebook for guidance.

If you have questions about official duty and outside activities and want clarification before talking to your PI, reach out to us at [email protected]. We will offer guidance and work with you to consult your PI and IC training director.

Visiting Fellows should also consult the NIH Division of International Services in advance of participating in any outside activity to ensure visa compliance.

Reach out to [email protected] with questions.