T H E N I H C A T A L Y S T | M A Y J U N E 2005 |
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Announcements | |||
New
Performance Management Appraisal Program
by Sue Fishbein What
is the PMAP? Who
Will Be Affected? Efforts
are underway at NIH to implement the new HHS-wide performance
management appraisal program (PMAP).
All NIH employeesincluding all research fellows and
investigators, but excluding SES and Commissioned Corps employeesare
to be placed on new performance plans incorporating PMAP requirements
by the end of June. Basically, employees who served under performance
plans and contracts before will now serve under one programthe PMAPand
will use the PMAP forms, rating methodologies, and processes. The PMAP program aims to enhance organizational and individual
accountability and results; provide clear information concerning performance
expectations; and reward employees who perform exceptionally well. The
program shifts employees from a two-level (pass/fail) system to a four-tiered
rating system. General Schedule and Title 42 appointment categories, including
both extramural and intramural researchers, are included in the program. Performance
Liaisons
Working with the staff of the NIH Office of Human Resources
(OHR), the ICs have designated
individuals to serve as "Performance Liaisons." These individuals have gone through orientation provided
by OHR and are now helping to train supervisors and employees in their
respective ICs, assist with the development of employee performance plans,
and track PMAP progress. They are the first point of contact for questions
about the PMAP. Customized
Performance Plans
For
Varied Types of Researchers
Also, to expedite performance plan development,
OHR is collaborating with subject-matter experts across NIH to develop
generic performance plans for various occupations, such as senior investigator,
investigator, senior scientist, and senior clinician. These generic plans
can be customized and are available on the OHR
PMAP website. Other prototype plans for targeted NIH occupational groups
include staff scientist, staff clinician, research fellow, clinical fellow,
senior research assistant, and research assistant. Additional
Support
The website also includes the list of NIH Performance Liaisons;
detailed information on the PMAP program; suggestions for supervisors
who would like to fine-tune their managerial skills, including the provision
of feedback; and links to other related websites.
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New
Vision Research Lecture Series/Award The
first Sayer
Vision Research Lecture"Stemming Vision Loss with Stem
Cells"took place May 25,
2006.
It can be viewed at Martin
Friedlander, professor of cell biology at Scripps Research Institute
and chief of Retina Services at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif.,
kicked off this new lecture series in vision research. The
lecture series is sponsored by NEI in collaboration with the Foundation
for the NIH. Its focus is interdisciplinary research with special relevance
to vision. Investigtators chosen to deliver a Sayer lecture may work
within or outside NIH. Additionally,
the Sayer Vision Research Fund will award a grant-in-aid to a promising
new intramural NIH investigator to pursue his or her current research.
This individual will be asked to deliver the Sayer lecture during the
year in which the award is given. More details about this award are
forthcoming. NIH
research chemist Jane
Sayer established the fund to honor her family and in memory of
her parents, Winthrop and Laura Sayer.
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