November Announcements

Have you told us about your accomplishments this year?

Every year, The NICHD Connection publishes a “Year in Review,” where we share the many accomplishments of the NICHD fellows community. Did you win a poster award at a conference? Or maybe you won a grant or accepted a new job offer. We’d love to hear from you, to recognize your great news! Please send a letter to our editor, at Shana.Spindler@gmail.com, with your accomplishment(s) from 2017, and we will include them in our December issue.

A Two-Part Series with Scott Morgan on Job Interviewing & Chalk Talks

If you are actively looking for a job this year, we strongly recommend that you sign up for these two small-group sessions with Scott Morgan. Given how competitive the job market is, we want you to be successful in your searches.

Interviewing – Wednesday, November 29, 10 AM – 12 Noon

This workshop focuses on sample interview questions to help you formulate effective answers. Mr. Morgan aims to increase your comfort level, enhance your confidence, and most importantly, prepare you for the interview process. Together, you will analyze expected questions, themes, dilemmas, and your demeanor through interactive exercises and peer review.

Chalk Talks – Monday, December 11, 10 AM – 12 Noon

Chalk Talks are an increasingly important component of science communication. Once reserved for academic interviews, they are now common in industry and for tenure-track positions, such as the NIH Earl Stadtman Investigators program. This workshop will focus on the components that make an effective chalk talk and provide a safe place to practice new skills.

Topics include:

• Connection to job talks
• Relevance to faculty
• What to draw on the white/blackboard
• Levels of detail
• Question anticipation
• Tone and delivery

There are 15 spots available for both workshops. If you would like to attend either session or both, please contact Dr. Yvette Pittman (yvette.pittman@nih.gov).

The Business of Science: Your Guide to Career Success

A new training for fellows and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in industry

January and February of 2018—register now!

We will offer this certificate program by SciPhD as a four-day course in January and February 2018 at the NIH. Enrollment is now open for 40 NICHD trainees.

The course is designed to translate academic research skills into the business-oriented qualifications that hiring companies are looking for. At present, the course is also offered at highly respected research institutes, such as New York University, University of California San Francisco, University of California Irvine, and the New York Academy of Sciences. Ninety percent of the people who applied for jobs while taking the course reported that The Business of Science helped them land an interview or job offer!

Throughout the program, you will have the exciting opportunity to:

• Learn business processes and communication skills driving science in industry
• Learn how industry science follows the principles of the scientific method
• Discover the many business career paths in which having a PhD can make you a competitive job candidate
• Research a job ad and identify the scientific, business, and social skills that the company is looking for
• Develop a targeted resume that demonstrates your specific qualifications
• Expand your science industry network
• Take part in mock interviews that will prepare you for your own job searches

Course instructors will hone into common research practices that academic scientists are already familiar with, to help in the understanding of business concepts, and to demonstrate how your own experiences can mold you into a competitive job candidate. 

The Business of Science will introduce students to essential science business skills in the form of 24 core business and social competencies that are categorized into six groups as follows:

The certificate program schedule: four, full-day sessions (9 AM – 5 PM) as follows:

NICHD Fellows Advisory Committee: Seeking New Members!

The Office of Education formed an advisory committee in 2016, and we are seeking several more dedicated members to help us develop and initiate academic support programs for the institute. Both domestic and visiting fellows are needed. We want to achieve a broad representation, culturally and academically, so we can address the needs of all our trainees at NICHD. The committee meets monthly to exchange ideas and informally discuss ways we can enhance and tailor the training experience within the NICHD intramural program.

Some potential topics for our committee are how to:

• Increase participation in training activities
• Expose fellows to various careers in science
• Identify teaching opportunities
• Identify internal and external research funding mechanisms
• Establish a structure for sharing scientific and career resources within the institute

The committee meets once a month on Thursdays, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Our remaining dates this year are November 9 and December 7.

Don’t miss this opportunity to serve your intramural NICHD community. Please contact Dr. Yvette Pittman at yvette.pittman@nih.gov if you are interested in joining the group.

AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Summer Fellowship

Applications open October 16 - January 15!

From the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship website:

This highly competitive program strengthens the connections between scientists and journalists by placing advanced undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level scientists, engineers and mathematicians at media organizations nationwide. Fellows have worked as reporters, editors, researchers, and production assistants at such media outlets as the Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, WIRED, and Scientific American.

For 10 weeks during the summer, the Mass Media Fellows use their academic training in the sciences as they research, write and report today's headlines, sharpening their abilities to communicate complex scientific issues to non-specialists. Participants come in knowing the importance of translating their work for the public, but they leave with the tools and the know-how to accomplish this important goal.

For additional information about the program visit aaas.org/mmfellowship

14^th Annual NIH Graduate Student Research Symposium — Outstanding Mentor Award Nomination

From the NIH Office of Intramural Research and Education

Every year, the Symposium recognizes three outstanding mentors for his/her leadership and dedication to his/her graduate students. To nominate your mentor, please write a brief nomination letter (1-2 pages) describing why your mentor should receive the GPP Outstanding Mentor Award. Nominations are due November 10, 2017 at 5PM!

You may wish to consider how your mentor has played a role in the following areas:

• your ability to conduct science (critical evaluation skills, experimental design, etc.)
• your ability to communicate scientifically (written and oral)
• networking
• career development
• leadership/mentorship in the lab
• scientific responsibility

Nominate your mentor here!