Guidelines for the Review of Scientific Directors

Because the Scientific Director plays such an important role in determining the overall excellence of the Intramural Research Program, the performance of the Scientific Director is reviewed every four to six years by an ad hoc committee of the Institute or Center’s Advisory Council or Board.

• Institute or Center (IC) Director sends a letter to the Chair of the IC Advisory Council or Board, requesting that the review of the IC Scientific Director be performed. The Council or Board is requested to establish an ad hoc committee, composed of at least four members, that will report to the IC's Advisory Council or Board. The committee may contain one member who is a present or former Board of Scientific Counselor (BSC) member, while the others may be drawn from the IC Advisory Council or Board, former IC intramural scientists, and other senior scientists and scientific administrators. The BSC cannot carry out this review since the BSC is charged with reviewing the Intramural Research Program, but not its scientific and administrative directions.
• Scientific Director (SD), IC, submits a report, covering the four to six year period since the previous review, to the chair of the ad hoc committee entitled: "Report of the Scientific Director, IC, to the Chair, for Review." This report should describe short- and long-term goals and program achievements since the previous review or since assuming the position of SD.
• Ad hoc committee conducts review of the Scientific Director, IC, which should include interviews with the Scientific Director, Lab/Branch Chiefs, IC scientists at all levels, the IC Director, and the Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR). Letters of reference may be solicited as appropriate.
• Chair, ad hoc committee, submits a report to the Advisory Council or Board, via the IC Director, entitled "Review of the Scientific Director (IC)". The report should comment on the overall performance of the SD as head of the intramural program, including, but not limited to, the scientific vision and administrative skills of the SD, the quality of training and mentoring within the IRP, success in assuring diversity and fair treatment of scientists within the IRP, the administrative style of the SD, relationships with the Lab/Branch Chiefs and the offices of the IC Director and the DDIR, and recommendations. The Advisory Council or Board will make recommendations to the IC Director and DDIR based on the report. A response from the IC Director should be made to the IC Advisory Council or Board and the DDIR within six months.

Suggested Elements of the Report

• Performance of the Scientific Director (related to overall quality of the Intramural Research Program and its future directions)
• Administrative Style (of the Scientific Director)
• Scientific Review Process (of the BSC, IC)
• Relationship with the Office of the Director, IC
• Relationships with the Laboratory /Branch Chiefs
• Attachments
  • Copy of letter from the Chair, Ad hoc committee, to References
  • List of references who received letters
  • Copies of reference letters received