Faculty Facilitator (Page 2)

Faculty Facilitator

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Navigating NIH Post-Executive Order

This post was written on January 24, 2025. What happened? Since taking office, President Trump has issued a number of Executive Orders, including this one which has lead to the cancelation of NIH study sections and a communications freeze that includes the release of new NOAs. News articles (there are

How and when to contact your NIH program officer

“Talk to your program officer” is an oft-repeated recommendation to scientists engaging with the NIH grants progress, however when and how to engage this person can be confusing. The NIH has an excellent guide to staff available, which I’ll explain along with some additional context. Program Officer or Scientific

NIH Study Sections

Study Sections, also known as Scientific Review Groups or SRGs, are panels of experts that review and score NIH grant applications to recommend funding. Each study section focuses on a specific area of science or methodology. Study sections are composed of scientists with expertise in relevant fields, including basic and

NIH Project Summary/Abstract

The Project Summary/Abstract (called abstract from here forward) gives you 30 lines of text to provide an overview of your proposal. The NIH helpfully provides a clear set of requirements for what to include in the SF424 R&R guide. The abstract should touch on all the major

ORCID: Get One

Starting in May 2025, all senior and key personnel on an NIH grant must have an ORCID linked to their eRA Commons profile. Many publishing groups including Springer Nature, Science Journals, PLoS, and EMBO Press also require ORCIDs when submitting a manuscript. If you don’t already have one, setting

“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson

This book by Mark Manson is designed to impact your outlook and how you view your position in the world. Its central hypothesis is that happiness is not meant to be the default, constant state, and that struggle and the desire to improve are where happiness comes from. It emphasizes

How trainees are paid

Trainees are paid either a “stipend" or a “salary" or a mix of both. While the amount paid is the same regardless of this distinction, things like pay schedule, tax withholdings, and visa eligibility can vary between the two. Why 2 types of funding? Fellowships pay stipends while

Change What You Can

Academics are the nexus of a university. They interact with other academics at all levels, administration, parents, donors, funding agencies, and corporate partners. These interactions can be helpful and productive, or they can be a source of frustration. While the ability to work with (or around) these groups is a

Surviving and Thriving after Switching Labs mid PhD

I switched to a new research group and dissertation project in the 5th year of my basic biomedical research PhD. Three years later I graduated with multiple first authored papers and a much improved resume that included a teaching fellowship. I went on to complete a successful fellowship-funded postdoc in

Types of Research Funding

Academic research is funded through a variety of sources each of which have distinct pros and cons. It's important to understand these, as the funding type determines what it can be spent on and when, and what risks are associated with using it. Many basic biomedical researchers assume