In the Office of the Director, NIH
THE NIH CATALYST, OIR
On detail to The NIH Catalyst, intramural scientists will participate in the life of the newsletter, from its planning, writing, graphics, photography, editing and copy-editing, to its layout and proof review. The detailee will write one or more articles for The Catalyst on either a scientific or science policy subject. Catalyst staff will give the detailee specific training in formulating newsworthy story ideas and in journalistic writing and its differences and commonalties with writing for scientific papers. Contact: Christopher Wanjek, 402-4274 , or Fran Pollner, 402-7248. Shorter term assignments can be arranged for scientists who cannot do a full detail to The Catalyst but wish to round out their portfolios with writing for a general scientific audience.
OFFICE OF BUDGET (OB)
This assignment would provide the detailee an opportunity to understand the responsibilities of the Office of Budget, the organization providing budgetary advice to the Director of NIH. The detailee will participate in responding to congressional requests for scientific and budgetary information resulting from the appropriations hearings. The detailee may also be involved in submission of testimony. If skills and knowledge allow it, OB may permit the detailee to take the lead in developing a response to a pending project. The assignment is intended to last 6 months in the spring of the year. Contact: Andy Baldus, 496-4477.
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY LIAISON
Detailee will assist the Director in planning and implementing programs that provide opportunities for NIH to share its resources with the community. An example is the Office's Community Health Forum which involves seminars and exhibits on health education and disease prevention and on NIH research and research findings. The detailee will work with NIH scientists and program administrators, community members, Montgomery County departments, and NIH program offices.
Detailee will provide assistance to the Director in working with the Community Liaison Council as it updates and reviews the 1995 Bethesda campus NIH Master Plan. The Council receives regular briefings on the Master Plan from NIH staff and from consultant architects. The Council reviews all information relevant to the Master Plan prior to its submission to local and national planning authorities. Detailee will have opportunity to learn substantial information regarding laboratory planning, construction, and design.
Participants will also work with the Office in planning and implementing environmental initiatives, including pollution prevention and environmental assessments related to construction projects. Contact: Ms. Janyce Hedetniemi, Director, Office of Community Liaison, 301 496-3931 or JH69z@nih.gov
OFFICE OF INTRAMURAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION
The OITE experience would provide the individual with an opportunity to become involved in program development and program evaluation activities. Specifically, the trainee would also have an opportunity to work on projects designed to prepare fellows for academic careers by developing teaching skills that are not usually acquired through the NIH experience. The OITE experience would also enable the trainee to contribute to the development of a career services program that would better meet the needs of fellows as they prepare to transition from the NIH to other venues. Finally, we can provide opportunities for fellows to design instruments to be used in evaluating the effectiveness of a range of OITE programs and initiatives.
Contact: Patricia Sokolove, 301 402-3889
OFFICE OF SCIENCE POLICY
Office of Science Policy Analysis
For information about the office and policy fellowship programs, see http://ospa.od.nih.gov/index.asp
Office of Biotechnology Activities
The Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA), within the Office of Science Policy, Office of the Director, NIH, focuses on the scientific, safety, and ethical issues related to recombinant DNA and human gene transfer research, genetic testing, and xenotransplantation. OBA also manages advisory committees associated with each of these programmatic areas. The public meetings of these groups, and associated safety symposia and policy conferences, provide important public fora for discussion of biotechnology issues with broad societal implications.
Within the recombinant DNA program, OBA updates and implements the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules. The NIH Guidelines set forth the roles and responsibilities of scientists, clinical investigators, and local oversight bodies involved in laboratory and/or clinical studies utilizing recombinant DNA molecules, including human gene transfer technology. The Office also manages the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC), a group of non-governmental experts who advise the NIH on broad policy matters relevant to the safe and ethical conduct of this arena of research. OBA is also developing a national database for the collection and analysis of data from gene transfer clinical trials.
Regarding genetic testing, OBA manages the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing (SACGT), a group of outside experts who advise the Department of Health and Human Services on the medical, ethical, legal, and social implications raised by the development and use of genetic tests. The SACGT addresses such issues as enhancement of oversight of genetic testing, the development of informed consent guidelines for the use of genetic tests in clinical and public health settings, the education of health professionals, elements of data collection, access issues, and special considerations for rare diseases.
In the area of xenotransplantation, OBA manages the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Xenotransplantation (SACX), a group of outside experts which advises the Department on the complex scientific, medical, public health, social, legal, and ethical issues associated with xenotransplantation. OBA will also oversee the updating of the recently issued PHS Guideline on Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation.
In OBA, detailees could:
· Assist in planning meetings of the RAC, SACGT, or SACX and developing relevant background materials.
· Work with OBA staff on a major effort to revise and update the NIH Guidelines.
· Assist OBA staff in developing an outreach and training program for Institutional Biosafety Committees re oversight of recombinant DNA and clinical gene transfer research.
· Plan and implement special conferences that focus on a novel, unresolved, and/or emerging issues in gene transfer, genetic testing, or xenotransplantation.
· Track issues relevant to these programmatic areas.
· Write about current issues in recombinant DNA research, genetic testing or xenotransplantation. Articles could be directed to students, teachers, the public, or the scientific/medical community.
Contact: Dr. Amy Patterson, 496-9838
OFFICE OF PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES (OPASI) - EVALUATION BRANCH
The Evaluation Branch (EB) is located within the Office of Portfolio Assessment and Strategic Initiatives (OPASI) in the NIH Office of the Director (OD). The EB home page is http://opasi.nih.gov/desa/eb/.
The EB administers the NIH Evaluation Set-Aside program, which Congress established in 1970 to assess the effectiveness of Federal health programs and to identify ways to improve program implementation. Managing this program ($15 million in FY 2006) involves reviewing more than 100 evaluation applications annually from the ICs and OD offices for significance, technical merit, and project management. Professional contract evaluation firms conduct the approved evaluations, most of which focus on research programs and their administration -- basic and clinical research programs, communication of research results, research leadership and administration, and training and career development.
As a key member of the EB, a detailee will help facilitate a wide range of evaluation activities that may include:
For the right candidate, this could be a significant opportunity for career development. The ideal detailee should possess:
For more information about the EB and the NIH Evaluation Set-Aside Program, see the EB website at http://opasi.nih.gov/desa/eb/. Contact: Juliana Blome, Ph.D., M.P.H., Acting Chief, Evaluation Branch, 301-496-4145.
CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW (CSR)
Detail opportunities may be available for NIH intramural scientists wishing to gain experience in the extramural grant process by working with Scientific Review Administrators (SRAs) in the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). An SRA plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the NIH peer-review process identifies the most promising research grant applications. SRAs use their scientific expertise as well as their communication and interpersonal skills to:
· Analyze the scientific content of grant applications;
· Identify scientists to invite to serve on study sections and assign the applications each member will review;
· Organize and run peer review meetings;
· Provide applicants with a succinct summary statement explaining how the review committee viewed the application;
Please contact Dr. Brent Stanfield by email on stanfieb@csr.nih.gov if you are interested in pursuing a detail in CSR.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
Opportunites for participants with an interest/expertise in bioinformatics/ computational biology, functional genomics, or population genetics, to work with program or grant review administrators. Contact: Dr. Judith Greenberg at 594-0943.