Kamron Woods4th year MICRO major and pre-MD/PhD The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offer many opportunities for scientists to further their training at some of the best-resourced facilities in the world. One of the opportunities for recent graduates is the Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (Postbac IRTA). This research-based program is designed to prepare students for health professions (medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary, etc.), as well as graduate school programs. Fellows conduct full-time research for 1-2 years under the guidance of world-renowned scientists. There are vast opportunities to do research in specific fields, as the NIH has six different campuses throughout the U.S.
The application for the Posbac IRTA requires a CV, coursework and grades, three references, areas of research interest, and a cover letter that elaborates on your previous research experience (if you have some), as well as your reasons for wanting additional experience at the NIH. It’s always a good idea to have a few people read over your application materials before you submit your final version (thank you Dr. Sarah Hainer and Gabby Galli!). After your application is submitted, you can begin to contact NIH investigators with whom you are interested in working. There are a little over a thousand NIH investigators, but they are categorized by research area. If you have a general idea of what you are interested in studying, then this makes the process easier. For example, I sought out investigators who conduct research in the “microbiology and infectious diseases” category. Some researchers may contact you after viewing your application in the database. I was contacted by a lab that studies human norovirus at the Vaccine Research Center and interviewed for an available postbac position! Before my interview, I asked if they had any papers that would provide more context about their research project. Reading these papers allowed me to prepare questions, which is a great way to show your interest in a laboratory’s work. In addition to discussing the paper, I was asked about my previous experiences in research, volunteering, hobbies, and what I would consider my greatest strengths and weaknesses. In my experience, many PIs aren’t interested in intensely grilling applicants, they are just looking for mentees who will show dedication and enthusiasm in their work. I am currently waiting to hear back from this lab. Fingers crossed! If you have any questions about the NIH Postbac IRTA program or need advice about contacting PIs feel free to send me an email or stop by my office hours on Fridays from 10 AM - 11AM!
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January 2022
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