Application & Selection

Selection Process

The practicum is limited to approximately 80 attendees from academia. This will ensure a proper number of people for the room given its size and setup for audiovisuals, a good mix of faculty to attendees, and easy mobility around the room for interaction.

We expect more applicants than we have seats. Please review the selection criteria below, and follow the application process carefully and thoroughly. Make your best case for why you should attend the practicum.

Selection Criteria

• You are a faculty member or doctoral student in a recognized academic program in the United States, Canada, or other country.
• Initially, a department will be allowed to send up to ONE faculty member and ONE doctoral-level student to this practicum. Let us know if you have other individuals who wish to attend. Depending on the number of applicants, we may be able to accommodate them or can place them on a waiting list.
• You must be able to attend the entire practicum. Please do not apply if you cannot commit to participating for the entire five days if accepted.
• Preference will be given to those who provide instruction or conduct research on dietary supplement ingredients or who would like to do so.
• Selections will be made to ensure a good "mix:" approximately equal numbers of faculty members and students, attendees from a wide variety of states and countries, and representation from the largest number of academic institutions and health-science disciplines.
• FOR FACULTY: Preference will be given to assistant, associate, and full professors. Part-time adjunct faculty may be accepted if space is available.
• FOR STUDENTS: You must be (or will be as of September 2009) in a doctoral program of study. Masters-level students and individuals in a non-doctoral level professional program are not eligible to attend.
  

Application Process

To apply to the practicum, please mail, email, or fax the following information by March 31 to practicum coordinator Régine Laroche at the address below:

• your name and full contact information (home address; email address; phone contacts).
• a curriculum vitae or resumé.
• a one-page letter outlining why this practicum might be important to you in your career development and/or teaching activities.
• a one-page letter of support from the relevant professor (if a student) or department chair or dean (if a faculty member).
• Students who wish to request a travel award (see the section below) should note this in their application letter and provide a justification.

Applicants will be notified by April 10 whether they will be registered to attend the practicum or be placed on a waiting list.

Travel Awards

Travel awards will be available to students only (no faculty) to help defray the costs of travel, accommodations, and meals. In most cases, the amount of the award will be $1,000. Make your best case for why you should receive a travel award.

Criteria for consideration for a travel award.

• Your research experience demonstrates interest and/or relevance in the area dietary supplements.
• Those who anticipate the greatest travel costs (e.g., you live far from the Washington DC area or are served by an airport that does not offer relatively inexpensive flights to this area) will be given special consideration.

The Office of Dietary Supplements will select students to receive travel awards based on these criteria as well as achieving a good mix of awards to students from the largest number of academic institutions and health-science disciplines.

Student applicants will be notified by April 10 whether they will receive a travel award as part of their admittance into the practicum.

Please contact us if you have any questions or would like additional information.

Régine Laroche, Practicum Coordinator
Office of Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health
6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7517
Suite 3B01
Bethesda, MD 20892-7517
(For courier service, such as FedEx, UPS, and Airborne, use "Rockville, MD 20852" as the last line in the address instead of Bethesda)

Phone: 301-435-2920
Fax: 301-480-1845
Email: larocher@od.nih.gov
Web: http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov