Employment
If you are looking for a permanent full-time federal position, you can view open NIDDK position announcements at USAJOBS.gov. Senior research positions are also advertised on major scientific websites such as AAAS.org.
NIH Intramural Research Training Opportunities
The NIDDK Fellowship Office provides detailed information regarding all aspects of research training and career development within the NIDDK intramural program. Training opportunities onsite at the NIH are listed below. To learn about offsite training opportunities and grants at colleges and universities (through our extramural program) visit the Research Training and Career Development page.
Before applying for a position in basic, translational, or clinical research, we recommend that you review the NIDDK Labs and Branches. Once you identify potential mentors or investigators whose research interests align with your goals, consider contacting these individuals directly to discuss your interest in a position at the NIDDK.
| Title | Description |
|---|
| NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP) (short duration summer IRTAs) | Purpose: To provide a developmental training experience to promising high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have expressed a strong interest in or are studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences
Eligibility: Applicant students who are at least 16 years of age and are enrolled at least half-time in high school or have been accepted for or are enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate in an accredited U.S. college or university, in good academic standing, are eligible. Each NIH Institute or Center (IC) is responsible for establishing its own policy on the granting of fellowships to students who are relatives of IC employees. However, in no case may trainees receive a training assignment in a lab or branch where a relative has authority for resource allocation decisions. For minors under 18 years of age, if required by state or local government law, work permits must be obtained. A written agreement of a parent or guardian is also required. In addition, restrictions published by the Deptartment of Labor must be followed regarding assignments that may be hazardous or detrimental to the health and well-being of students.
Length of Award: Short duration during the summer only
NIDDK Contact: Nicole Ray | | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) | Purpose: The NIH Postbac Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) program (Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) in the National Cancer Institute) provides recent college graduates who are planning to apply to graduate or professional (medical, dental, or pharmacy) school an opportunity to spend one or two years performing fulltime research at the NIH. Postbac IRTAs and CRTAs work side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.
Eligibility: Individuals who have
- graduated from a fully accredited U.S. college or university no more than 2 years prior to the activation date of fellowship, and intend to apply to graduate school in biomedical research or medical school within the next year, or
- students who have been accepted into graduate, other doctoral or medical degree programs and who have written permission from their school to delay entrance for up to 1 year
Length of Award: Post-baccalaureate IRTAs are eligible for initial 1 year awards (appointments) with one renewal for an additional year under the most justifiable circumstances. | | NIH Academy | Purpose: Students with an interest in conducting biomedical research and eliminating health disparities should apply for this program.
Eligibility: To be eligible, you should
- have plans to pursue a doctoral degree,
- be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and
- be a recent college graduate (meaning that the Academy start date, at the end of August, is less than a year after your graduation from college with your first bachelor's degree).
All Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Awardees (IRTAs) and Technical IRTAs at the NIH are eligible to participate in the NIH Academy as are individuals who have accepted one of these positions. If you are not currently a Postbaccalureate IRTA but want to be a part of the NIH Academy you must first apply to the NIH Postbac IRTA program and be accepted into a research group.
Length of Award: Length of award varies |
|
|
| Title | Description |
|---|
| NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP) (short duration summer IRTAs) | Purpose: To provide a developmental training experience to promising high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have expressed a strong interest in or are studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences
Eligibility: Applicant students who are at least 16 years of age and are enrolled at least half-time in high school or have been accepted for or are enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate in an accredited U.S. college or university, in good academic standing, are eligible. Each NIH Institute or Center (IC) is responsible for establishing its own policy on the granting of fellowships to students who are relatives of IC employees. However, in no case may trainees receive a training assignment in a lab or branch where a relative has authority for resource allocation decisions. For minors under 18 years of age, if required by state or local government law, work permits must be obtained. A written agreement of a parent or guardian is also required. In addition, restrictions published by the Deptartment of Labor must be followed regarding assignments that may be hazardous or detrimental to the health and well-being of students.
Length of Award: Short duration during the summer only
NIDDK Contact: Nicole Ray | | NIDDK Diversity Summer Research Training Program | Purpose: Program highlights include independent research in an NIH laboratory; weekly research and career development seminars; summer seminar series where senior NIH investigators discuss the latest developments in biomedical research; poster presentation; courses in Ethics in Research and Lab Safety; students will be paired with postbaccalaureates or postdoctoral fellows for informal guidance; and bi-weekly informal meetings with Diversity Programs staff.
Eligibility: This program is specific to undergraduate students underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research, including African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, who have completed at least 1 year at an accredited institution. U.S. citizen or permament resident status and a minimum 3.0 GPA are required.
Length of Award: 10 weeks, starting in June through mid-August
| | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) | Purpose: The NIH Postbac Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) program (Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) in the National Cancer Institute) provides recent college graduates who are planning to apply to graduate or professional (medical, dental, or pharmacy) school an opportunity to spend one or two years performing fulltime research at the NIH. Postbac IRTAs and CRTAs work side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.
Eligibility: Individuals who have
- graduated from a fully accredited U.S. college or university no more than 2 years prior to the activation date of fellowship, and intend to apply to graduate school in biomedical research or medical school within the next year, or
- students who have been accepted into graduate, other doctoral or medical degree programs and who have written permission from their school to delay entrance for up to 1 year
Length of Award: Post-baccalaureate IRTAs are eligible for initial 1 year awards (appointments) with one renewal for an additional year under the most justifiable circumstances. | | Undergraduate Scholarship Program | Purpose: The NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program offers scholarship support, paid research training at the NIH during the summer, and paid employment and training at the NIH after graduation.
Eligibility: To be eligible for admission into the UGSP, applicants must: be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a fulltime student at an accredited 4-year undergraduate institution located in the United States; possess an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0-point scale, or within the top 5 percent of your class; have "exceptional financial need" as certified by your undergraduate institution or financial aid office.
Length of Award: Scholarships are awarded for 1 year and can be renewed up to 4 years. For each full or partial scholarship year, you are committed to two NIH service obligations. |
|
|
| Title | Description |
|---|
| NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP) (short duration summer IRTAs) | Purpose: To provide a developmental training experience to promising high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have expressed a strong interest in or are studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences
Eligibility: Applicant students who are at least 16 years of age and are enrolled at least half-time in high school or have been accepted for or are enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate in an accredited U.S. college or university, in good academic standing, are eligible. Each NIH Institute or Center (IC) is responsible for establishing its own policy on the granting of fellowships to students who are relatives of IC employees. However, in no case may trainees receive a training assignment in a lab or branch where a relative has authority for resource allocation decisions. For minors under 18 years of age, if required by state or local government law, work permits must be obtained. A written agreement of a parent or guardian is also required. In addition, restrictions published by the Deptartment of Labor must be followed regarding assignments that may be hazardous or detrimental to the health and well-being of students.
Length of Award: Short duration during the summer only
NIDDK Contact: Nicole Ray | | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) | Purpose: The NIH Postbac Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) program (Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) in the National Cancer Institute) provides recent college graduates who are planning to apply to graduate or professional (medical, dental, or pharmacy) school an opportunity to spend one or two years performing fulltime research at the NIH. Postbac IRTAs and CRTAs work side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.
Eligibility: Individuals who have
- graduated from a fully accredited U.S. college or university no more than 2 years prior to the activation date of fellowship, and intend to apply to graduate school in biomedical research or medical school within the next year, or
- students who have been accepted into graduate, other doctoral or medical degree programs and who have written permission from their school to delay entrance for up to 1 year
Length of Award: Post-baccalaureate IRTAs are eligible for initial 1 year awards (appointments) with one renewal for an additional year under the most justifiable circumstances. |
|
|
| Title | Description |
|---|
| NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP) (short duration summer IRTAs) | Purpose: To provide a developmental training experience to promising high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have expressed a strong interest in or are studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences
Eligibility: Applicant students who are at least 16 years of age and are enrolled at least half-time in high school or have been accepted for or are enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate in an accredited U.S. college or university, in good academic standing, are eligible. Each NIH Institute or Center (IC) is responsible for establishing its own policy on the granting of fellowships to students who are relatives of IC employees. However, in no case may trainees receive a training assignment in a lab or branch where a relative has authority for resource allocation decisions. For minors under 18 years of age, if required by state or local government law, work permits must be obtained. A written agreement of a parent or guardian is also required. In addition, restrictions published by the Deptartment of Labor must be followed regarding assignments that may be hazardous or detrimental to the health and well-being of students.
Length of Award: Short duration during the summer only
NIDDK Contact: Nicole Ray | | Clinical Fellowships | Purpose: Clinical Fellows, both domestic and foreign (VP) are brought to NIH to participate in clinical and laboratory research. Assignments are designed to provide for training in biomedical research in an environment which involves both clinical care and interaction with collaborating scientists from many biological disciplines. The primary appointment mechanism to appoint Clinical Fellows is as a Title 42 appointee. Other mechanisms are by exception only and must be approved by the Institute or Center (IC) Scientific Director.
Eligibility: Graduates of accredited medical or osteopathic schools. Must have completed their internship, and generally have completed 2 or 3 years of graduate medical training. U.S. citizenship is not required but appropriate visa and work authorization must be in place. Visa Classification Information is available on the NIH Division of International Service website.
Length of Award: 2-3 year initial appointment with 1 year extensions reviewed annually, not to exceed 5 years | | Clinical Electives Program for Medical Students: Endocrinology and Metabolism | Purpose: To provide advanced medical students with an intensive clinical experience in the subspecialty of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism in a research setting.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a student in good standing and the full support of the Dean of the Medical School.
Length of Award: 4 weeks (additional weeks are negotiable)
NIDDK Contacts:
| | Clinical Electives Program: Hepatology | Purpose: Medical residents and students will join of a team consisting of clinical fellows, research nurses, and senior investigators evaluating, monitoring and treating patients on various liver disease research protocols. This elective also includes participation on the inpatient consult team and in outpatient hepatology clinics. Participants will be expected to complete a workup and presentation of several assigned patients weekly as well as participate in daily hepatology rounds. Through this elective, residents and students will have an opportunity to learn about different liver diseases along with aspects of clinical research.
Eligibility: Open to medical students and medical residents
Length of Award: 4 week session
NIDDK Contact:
| | Graduate Medical Education (GME): Endocrinology and Metabolism | Purpose: The fellowship is designed to train physician scientists in the subspecialty of endocrinology for careers in research, academia, pharmaceutical development and clinical practice. This is an ACGME-accredited program.
Eligibility: Applicants must possess an M.D. degree, have sucessfully completed an internship and residency, and be board eligible or certified in internal medicine.
Length of Award: 3 years
| | Graduate Medical Education (GME): Pediatric Endocrinology | Purpose: The fellowship is designed to provide clinical and research exposure that allows for the development of academic pediatric endocrinologists with experience in both clinical and/or bench research. The first year of the fellowship is dedicated to the acquisition of necessary clinical skills from all aspects of the principles and practice of pediatric endocrinology. It is during that year that the fellows rotate through the NIH-Clinical Center and the participating hospitals. The second and third years are focused research years allowing for training in laboratory or clinical research. During these two years, fellows also receive appropriate courses on statistics, biotechnology and laboratory methods, grant and scientific paper writing, and the development and execution of clinical trials.
Eligibility: Qualified candidates must have completed PGY-3 level training prior to initiation of the fellowship, and should be eligible for board certification by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Length of Award: 3 years
NIDDK Contacts:
| | NIDDK Hepatology Fellowship Program | Purpose: This fellowship prepares fellows for a career in academic hepatology. Fellows will participate in a range of clinical, translational, and/or basic science research projects along with acquiring skills in clinical hepatology and the management of patients with liver disease. Basic research projects range from the molecular pathogenesis of hepatitis B and C, mechanisms of action of interferon/ribavirin, viral kinetics, antiviral and HCV vaccine development, noncirrhotic portal hypertension, iron metabolism and immunological responses in viral hepatitis. Clinical research protocols are equally diverse and are ever-expanding from studies of the natural history to treatment trials of HCV, HBV, HDV, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, noncirrhotic portal hypertension, primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis. The Hepatology fellowship also supports the opportunity for earning a concomitant Masters Degree in Clinical Research (MHSc) which is jointly sponsored by the Duke University School of Medicine. This is a non-ACGME-accredited program.
Eligibility: Candidates who are board-eligible in gastroenterology or internal medicine are eligible to apply for this fellowship position.
Length of Award: The fellowship is offered for a period of 2-5 years depending upon the applicant’s career goals and research projects.
NIDDK Contacts:
| | University of Maryland/NIH Clinical Scholars Gastroenterology Fellowship Program | Purpose: This fellowship prepares fellows for a career in academic gastroenterology and is a jointly-sponsored ACGME-accredited program with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Fellows spend the first year at the University of Maryland Medical Center for clinical training in gastroenterology and hepatology. The second and third years of this fellowship are spent at the NIH Clinical Center where fellows will participate in various clinical research projects along with participating in gastroenterology and hepatology consultative services and outpatient clinics. The second and third years at the NIH are designed so that the fellows becomes proficient in aspects of clinical, translational or basic science research along with refining of endoscopic skills required for a successful career in academic gastroenterology.
Eligibility: Must have successfully completed a training program in internal medicine. No residents are taken.
Length of Award: 3 years
NIDDK Contact:
| | Graduate Medical Education (GME): Nephrology Clinical Research Training | Purpose: Physicians in the Kidney Diseases Branch may choose to learn how to conduct high-quality, translational clinical studies in adult patients with various glomerular diseases. To this end, fellows will enroll in the NIH-Duke Clinical Research Training Program, which involves two years of class-work in epidemiology, statistics, and trial design and leads to a Master of Health Sciences degree.
Opportunities are also available in basic research into the pathogenesis of glomerular disease, with a focus on podocytopathies. This is a non-ACGME-accredited program.
Eligibility: Applications will be considered from individuals who have completed an AGME-certified nephrology training program and have a U.S. medical license.
Length of Award: The duration of the fellowship is typically 2-5 years.
NIDDK Contacts:
| | Medical Research Scholars Program | Purpose: Student scholars engage in a mentored basic, clinical, or translational research project on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, or at close by NIH facilities, that matches their professional interests and career goals. The NIH Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) is designed for students who have completed their core clinical rotations but does not exclude students with strong research interests from applying prior to having completed their clinical rotations. Collectively, MRSP student scholars will experience the full continuum of biomedical research—the bench, the bedside, between both and beyond—from crystallography to molecular biology, from computational biology to clinical trials and epidemiology, i.e., all areas of contemporary biomedical science.
Eligibility: Candidates must currently be enrolled in a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, a dental school that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, an osteopathic school that is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association, or a veterinary medical college that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education. Candidates in double degree, e.g., M.D./Ph.D., programs are eligible to apply. The Medical Research Scholars Program is designed for students who have completed their initial clinical rotations, i.e., typically third-year, but does not exclude students with strong research interests from applying prior to having completed these rotations. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Fourth-year students qualify to apply and participate in the Medical Research Scholars Program. However, accepted fourth-year students must defer graduation before participation.
Length of Award: The length of award is 1 year. For a select group of students, an additional year of support may be available to allow continuation of ongoing studies if this is judged to be in the best interests of the scholar and the mentor. | | Senior Clinical Research Fellowships | Purpose: The Senior Clinical Research Fellowships program is built on a solid foundation of the NIH-Duke University Clinical Research Program that offers didactic courses in research design and management, statistical analysis, and bioethics. There is also direct, hands-on practical experience in clinical investigation through an individualized research project as part of the thesis requirement. The combined course of study ultimately leads to the awarding of a Masters Degree in Clinical Research.
Eligibility: Senior Clinical Research Fellowships are tailored to physician-scientists who have already completed two-three years of specialty training in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, pathology, or radiology or subspecialty training in either adult or pediatric endocrinology and metabolism, gastroenterology and hepatology, nephrology, or hematology and are, therefore, board-certified or board-eligible.
Length of Award: 3 years | | Lasker Clinical Research Scholars | Purpose: The Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program aims to grow the diminishing pool of talented physician-scientists by providing the necessary financial support to establish their careers. It combines a five to seven-year period of independent research as an NIH Principal Investigator with the opportunity to then either remain at the NIH becoming eligible to apply for a Senior Investigator position or apply for up to five years of extramural financial support ($500,000 per year plus overhead) at a university or other external research institution.
Eligibility: Candidates must have a clinical doctoral degree (M.D., M.D./Ph.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., R.N./Ph.D. or equivalent) from an accredited domestic or foreign institution and must have a professional license to practice in the United States. The program is intended for investigators at the early stages of their independent careers, and candidates must be no more than 10 years from completion of their core residency training. Applicants who completed their core residency in June 2004 are eligible. Candidates generally will have completed or will be completing a post-residency clinical fellowship and will have demonstrated significant patient-oriented research experience to qualify for a tenure-track level appointment.
Length of Award: This unique program provides Scholars with five to seven years of support as an independent investigator in the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP), followed by the opportunity for additional years of financial support, either at the NIH or at an extramural research institution.
NIDDK Contact: Charles “Chuck” Dearolf |
|
|
| Title | Description |
|---|
| Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) | Purpose: The NIH Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs) Program provides advanced training and research experience to physicians and Ph.D.-level investigators who are at the beginning stages of their professional research careers. Participants will engage in research studies under the direction of preceptors, and will apply their newly gained knowledge and enhance their research skills through participation in ongoing research investigations.
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens in possession of a M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent degree in a biomedical, behavioral, or related science; or certification by a university as meeting all the requirements leading to such a doctorate. Applicants must also have 5 or fewer years of relevant post-doctoral research experience and up to 2 additional years of experience not oriented towards research (i.e., clinical training for physicians).
Length of Award: Post-doctoral IRTA initial appointments may be for 1 or 2 years, with extensions in 1 year increments not to exceed 5 years total. An IRTA trainee may not be part-time for more than an 8 year calendar period. Intermittent schedules are not permitted. | | Visiting Fellowships | Purpose: Visiting Fellowships invite foreign postdoctoral scientists to the NIH for an interchange of scientific information and training. The time here accelerates the fellow’s career and professional development by affording opportunities to use the facilities at NIH and to work in close association with leading authorities in all branches of the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Visiting Fellows are not considered employees of the Federal Government.
Eligibility: Applicants must be non-citizens of the U.S. and have a doctoral or equivalent degree in the biomedical sciences. The Visiting Fellow award period is meant to provide a training period for the junior scientist who has five years or less of relevant postdoctoral research experience. If a degree was earned more than 5 years ago and the candidate has more than 5 years experience, Office of Intramural Research (OIR) approval is needed prior to submission to the NIH Division of International Services (DIS).
Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral degree program at a fully accredited U.S. or foreign university.
Length of Award:
- Postdoctoral - Visiting Fellow initial appointments can be made for two years with a maximum of five years total.
- Predoctoral – Visiting Fellow appointments can be made for one month to two year appointments. NIDDK usually approves a 2 year initial appointment, unless there is a visa issue limiting the length. Appointments normally may not exceed 3 years, or until the student receives a doctoral degree. Pre-doctoral Visiting Fellows must be registered with the NIH Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP).
| | Research Fellowships | Purpose: The Research Fellow position is designed to provide a flexible mechanism for the temporary employment and professional development of promising research scientists who are non-U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.
The time here accelerates the fellow’s career and professional development by affording opportunities to use the facilities at NIH; and to work in close association with leading authorities in all branches of the biomedical and behavioral sciences. This program also provides the opportunity to observe an investigator’s performance for an extended period of time.
Eligibility: Applicants are non-U.S. Citizens, but appropriate visa and work authorization must be in place. Candidates must have been awarded a doctoral degree in a biomedical, behavioral or related science and may have 0-7 years of postdoctoral research experience. Individuals having more than 7 years of postdoctoral research experience may only be appointed by an exception, approved by the Scientific Director, NIDDK.
Length of Award: Initial appointments are for 13 months or 2 years, with 1 year extensions reviewed annually, not to exceed 5 years. Extensions beyond 5 years require exceptional approval of the NIH Institute or Center (IC) Scientific Director. | | Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigators | Purpose: Prior to 2009, the NIH conducted individual, programmatic searches to recruit new investigators. Taking a new approach, the Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigators search seeks to identify talent through a broad search that can focus on specific areas of science or enable the candidates to bring their ideas to us. In short, we ask the applicants to describe their research, and—if we like what we see—we try to create a tenure-track position in one of our Institutes or Centers to match that talent. Each year, we aim to hire upwards of 10 researchers through this prestigious program.
Eligibility: Candidates must have an M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S./D.M.D., D.V.M, D.O., R.N./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree and have an outstanding record of research accomplishments as evidenced by publications in major peer-reviewed journals. Applicants may be in early stages of their research careers or non-tenured early-to-mid career scientists. Appointees may be U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or non-resident aliens with, or eligible to obtain, a valid employment-authorization visa.
Length of Award: 6 years
|
|
|