Life After Graduate School: WORKING IN GOVERNMENT Professional

Life After Graduate School: WORKING IN GOVERNMENT Professional Skills Workshop on Careers in Nutritional Sciences: March 31, 2001 Experimental Biology 2001 Sharon Ross PhD, MPH Program Director, Nutritional Science Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute

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NIH Introductory course "Orientation to NIH Extramural Activities“ June 20, 2000, Dr. Ron Geller OEP/OER/OD

Program Director Roles and Responsibilities Provide guidance and assistance to applicants in constructing grant applications Review applications and assure grant applications are responsive to NCI’s mission Attend review meetings Discuss review outcome (i.e., summary statements) with applicants Work with Scientific Review Administrator in the resolution of appeals Resolve issues impeding the award process Monitor research progress and scientific advances, phase-out or termination of supported projects/programs

Program Director Roles and Responsibilities Establish scientific goals and opportunities that are responsive to the health needs of the general public Identify biomedical problems and areas of research that are underserved or areas where ongoing research efforts should be further intensified Review and evaluate the state of the art of research in a specific program area and stimulate scientific investigations in that field through the issuance of Request for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PA)

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Typical Day There is no typical day! Common elements to day include: – Communications: email, phone, discussions with colleagues – Meetings: NSRG, project team, scientific seminars, training seminars, other groups, i.e., USDA – Reading: scientific articles, grant applications, proposals, concepts, other – Writing: concepts, proposals, review articles, summaries of research program areas, statement of work for contract activities, other – Grant management activities: the paper pushing portion Databases to accept applications and assignment to program director; databases/software for funding decision on grants – Problem solving and analytical skills One current activity: Diet, DNA Methylation Processes and Health Workshop

Career Path Opportunities for Advancement Opportunities for challenge, growth, and learning Opportunities for advancement/promotion Develop plan for career development with supervisor Annual evaluation plan Rate of Pay: permanent government employees who work in professional, administrative, technical and support positions are covered by the General Schedule Pay System

Benefits Full Spectrum Leave: annual, paid holidays, sick Health Insurance: Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Life Insurance: Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Retirement: Federal Employees Retirement System; tax deferred retirement group and investment plan Training: career development, computer, scientific

Academic Experience Necessary for the Job Program Directors typically have education, training, knowledge, and research experience in the discipline of that program, e.g., nutrition, cancer prevention for the NSRG: – PhD in Nutritional Sciences; other nutrition education – Training in cancer prevention: Cancer Prevention Fellow – Research experience in nutritional sciences and cancer biology, prevention – Intramural research experience at NCI – Other government experience: FDA – Publications in nutrition

How to Find a Position in the Field Basic personal contact, meeting and talking to people at meetings, getting to know others in the field- networking, in short is a way to find a job and is still a strategy in the job hunting jungle Grants experience Other academic/research experience Other government experience Geography/proximity to Washington, DC NIH post doctoral position

How to Find a Position in the Field The U.S. Government's official site for jobs and employment information (U.S. Office of Personnel Management): http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ NIH Jobs Website: http://www.jobs.nih.gov/ NIH Research Training Opportunities: http://grants.nih.gov/training/index.htm Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program: http://dcp.nci.nih.gov/pob Internships in the NSRG: http://dcp.nci.nih.gov/nsrg/internships/index.html

Three Recommendations Connect with as many professional scientists as you can and determine the best way your education can balance a career with your personality and skills Using web sites- hotjobs.com, monster.com, BioMedNet (sciencejobs.com), Bio online (bio.com), biospace.comand emailing a resume with a cover letter are secondary avenues Develop marketing skills- talk about yourself in positive terms, emphasize and describe skills in addition to details about education, training and publications

Grants Process Everything you wanted to know about the NCI grants process. but where afraid to ask: http://www.nci.nih.gov/admin/gab/98GPB/98GPBtoc.htm What happens to your research project grant application after it is received for peer review: http://www.drg.nih.gov/REVIEW/peerrev.htm