Newsgroups: bit.listserv.psycgrad
Date:         Sun, 22 Nov 1992 15:33:25 -0500
              <PSYCGRAD@UOTTAWA.BITNET>
From:         "Kenneth V. White" <kwhite@WAM.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      NIH GRANT $$$

Todd (and anyone else looking for bucks),

I've recently received an NIH Pre-doc fellowship, and I think you might
be interested in the following info.

First of all, I don't care what the pundits or economists say about the
recession, it hasn't affected federal research grants too much as far
as I can tell.  In fact, there are some labs at NIH *begging* for
doctoral students.

Anyway, here's the poop.  Most psych students receive funding from
NIH through NIMH (National Institutes of Mental Health), NICHD
(Child Health and Human Development), NIAAA (Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism),
or NIDA (Drug Abuse).  My work is in cog neuroscience and kids, and
after doing some checking, I discovered that *all* of the above agencies
have basic and clinical work in my area.  There has been a big push
in the last few years for the Intramural Research Program, whereby
psychologists across all the divisions of NIH get together and collaborate
on various projects.  I didn't realize it until I moved to D.C., but
NIH is freggin' HUGE.  In fact, many here refer to the "NIH Campus" and
I suppose that's a good analogy -- much like a university with all of
its people and departments, sometimes people who work within the same
building doing very similar work have no idea about their neighbor
scientists (or, as the Bush Administration might frame it, much of the
same sorts of basic science was being conducted in many labs, with much
overlap, but due to systemic poor communications, no one knew about it).

I only said all that to say this.  The NIH Intramural Research Training
(IRTA) Pre-docs are currently the most heavily funded and emphasized.
The good part for students is that, for the most part, they're not compet-
itive in the traditional sense.  That is, you don't write an extensive grant
proposal and send it to some nameless, faceless committee and hope for
the best.  Instead, you apply directly to a lab chief within NIH, and
if they are interested, they'll personally extend an offer.  There are
letters of recommendation and paperwork, but most of these are more to
satisfy the administrative higher ups that yes, you are a "real" student,
and that a couple of the nominator's peers (i.e., your professors) think
you're peachy too.  There are no formal GPA requirements, other than
a certification from your registrar that you're in good standing.  And
if I recall, I don't think anyone ever asked me for any test scores
of any kind.

In terms of the requirements, you have to be finished with coursework or
very close, you have to have the full backing of your major professor,
and you have to be willing to name your NIH sponsor ("Preceptor") as
one of your dissertation committee members.

The stipends are pretty nice too -- between $18,000 - 24,000, depending on
how time in graduate school.  You also get full insurance (this is the NIH,
after all).  Moving expenses are also reimbursed, if you are relocating
from outside the D.C. area.  And after the fellowhip begins, at the
discretion of your Preceptor, travel to conventions and conferences
is covered also.

The only rub is that there's no tuition reimbursement (i.e., for dissertion
or laboratory credit).  But at my university, I discovered a little-
publicized fund to cover tuition for just such an award.  It was so
"little" publicized, that my advisor and a few other profs didn't
even know it existed.  I suspect this is true at other instituions, as
well.

So if you're interested, I would talk to your professor, and see if they
have any contacts at NIH.  Or, if you know of someone in particular here,
write or call them.  As I said, the stuff going on here that would
qualify someone for an IRTA varies from doing basic, basic, basic science
to working daily with the Clinical Center patients.

If you do manage to contact someone, the worst they can say is 'no'.
Of course, they just might ask 'When can you start?' ...


I haven't the foggiest clue about extramural funding, but I suspect
that it's much more competitive and regulated than the IRTA Pre-docs.


Good luck!

Kenn "I am lovin life" White
kwhite@wam.umd.edu
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