Career Planning for Trainees and Fellows

Interested in a career in academia? There are several resources to prepare you for tenure track. Evaluating your readiness for a career as an independent scientist using the Academic Career Readiness Assessment is a great way to determine where your skills could be improved, and preparing an Individual Development Plan can help you to begin setting specific goals.

There are many opportunities here at NIH to help you attain skills that will prepare you for academic careers.

Professional Brand

LinkedIn isn't just for job searching—it's a powerful tool for building your professional brand as a scientist. Think of it as your online CV and networking hub. By actively sharing your research, commenting thoughtfully on others' work, and engaging in relevant scientific discussions, you can showcase your expertise and connect with potential collaborators, mentors, and employers. A strong LinkedIn presence helps you establish yourself as a thought leader in your field and opens doors to exciting opportunities.

LinkedIn Essentials: How to Amplify Your Professional Presence: A presentation by Dr. Roshni Rao, Executive Director, PHutures, Johns Hopkins University.  This session was presented to NCI fellows as part of the 2023 National Postdoc Appreciation Week activities.

Networking

NIH Scientific Interest Groups (SIGs) are assemblies of scientists with common research interests. Joining a SIG is a great way to network with other NIH scientists and investigators from outside institutions while coming together to discuss science. Visit the Get Involved! page to learn more about these networking opportunities at NIH.

NCI Fellows Seminar Series

Fellows PASS (Presentation Skills Seminar) – Bethesda
PASS (Presentation and Seminar Skills) is a two-part monthly series open to all CCR scientists. Participants are allowed to both practice and polish their presentation skills.  For more information or to sign up, contact Gia Vitale. 

Center for Cancer Research Fellows & Young Investigators (CCR-FYI) Seminar Series – Frederick
The CCR-FYI  Seminar Series is a bi-weekly series that provides fellows the opportunity to hone their scientific communication skills while receiving constructive feedback on their science and presentations from their peers and from principal investigators. For more information, contact Kathy Easterday.

You should also present your work at branch meetings, scientific meetings, and conferences such as

• NIH Research Festival
• CCR Fellows and Young Investigators (FYI) Colloquium
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
• Other scientific conferences in your area of expertise

NCI CCR-FYI Newsletter provides an opportunity to gain experience in writing communication for non-academic audiences by submitting an article for publication in the quarterly CCR-FYI newsletter. For more details, contact Riley Metcalfe.

NIH Fellows Editorial Board Submissions offers a free, confidential scientific document-editing service for any current NIH or FDA fellow. The all-volunteer Editorial Board of fellows and other professionals edit fellows’ scientific documents—typically manuscripts and grant applications—for grammar, form, and clarity.

Writing and Publishing a Scientific Paper Workshop is a four-week, writing-intensive workshop is designed for NIH trainees and biomedical scientists at all levels. Participants will write a draft of a research paper based on data generated from their current or previous study for publication in a peer-reviewed science journal.

OITE English Language Resources assist in learning to master the English language.  There are a number of resources that can assist you. It is essential for scientists and clinicians to improve their communication skills to move forward in their careers. Please visit the OITE website on U.S. English and culture for a list of opportunities.

Leadership and Management

Scientific Management Training is a course offered by CCT that focuses on personnel and project management. The goal of this course is to help you develop the skills you need to successfully lead a scientific research laboratory.

OITE Leadership and Management Training developed a set of workshops and resources to help scientists become better leaders and managers, deal with conflicts, and thrive in a team environment. The topics have all been developed with a focus on science, using examples taken straight from research groups. Fellows who complete all sessions are eligible for a certificate of completion.

Want a career at the bench but prefer industry over academia? Many jobs in the industry require some previous experience in the field or additional training. You may want to consider obtaining additional training or taking business/industry-related courses at the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES).

Business

Business of Science for Scientists is a SciPhD certificate program that helps you get business-ready by teaching skills valued by professional organizations. The skills taught during the course specifically teach business and social skills necessary to be competitive and successful in the professional marketplace.

Project Management Training for Scientists is a training workshop offered by BioTech at FAES that focuses on techniques used routinely in industries and government/contract research laboratories. Go in-depth about scientific and project management, as well as learning skills for government and industry labs.

FAES Course Catalog has a variety of courses to help you to expand your knowledge and gain experience in areas relevant to the business world. Below are some examples of courses offered.

LEAD 499 Leading from Within: Personal Leadership Development
TECH 565 Biomedical Business Development for Scientists
TECH 566 Building a Biotech Company: Business Leadership and Management Strategie

Regulatory Affairs

Would you like to stay in government? Are you interested in pursuing a career at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? There are several ways you can get regulatory experience while at the NIH.

Interagency Oncology Task Force (IOTF) Fellowship program trains scientists in research and research-related regulatory review, policies, and regulations to develop a skillset that bridges the two disparate processes.

Interested in pursuing a career away from the bench? If you are unsure about the available opportunities, there are several programs that provide information and opportunities for networking with individuals in a variety of fields. OITE also offers career counseling that can help guide you along this process, from identifying the best career for you to helping you negotiate your offer. To schedule an appointment, please visit the OITE Career Services page.

NCI Science-Based Non-Academic Careers (SNAC) is a weekly workshop aims to help participants learn about the various career opportunities that lie outside of independent academic research. Given these may include unfamiliar roles outside of bench science, we invite guest speakers from various science-based backgrounds to provide information and insight that will help inform decisions about potential future endeavors.

NIH Detail Assignments  provides an opportunity to explore non-bench careers in any government agency in areas such as science administration, science policy, science writing, and technology transfer. A detail can be part-time or full-time, but you must have the full support of your PI, and an agreement between your PI and the hosting office, as your PI typically pays for your salary during this time. For additional information about obtaining a detail, please read “Details, Details, Details: Leaving the Bench, but Staying in Science” by Ben Porter.

Many detail assignments arise informally, either through networking or informational interviews. However, there are several offices that routinely offer details and have information for specific opportunities readily available in the NIH Sourcebook.

NIH Fellowships
These NIH fellowships provide a way for scientists to gain skills in tech transfer, science policy, science administration, and other careers.

OITE Career Symposium aims to highlight the diversity of career choices available to your generation of biomedical researchers. Whether you are a new graduate student, postdoc, or clinical fellow just beginning to consider career options or a senior student/fellow ready to look for a job, the NIH Career Symposium is for you.