The NIH is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Services division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is made up of 25 separate Institutes and Centers, each devoted to a different aspect of science or scientific support system. The NIH Web site provides a complete list of links to each institute . The NIH is large to say the least. The environment at the NIH varies within departments.
People walk down the streets in everything from scrubs to suits.
The research centers are relaxed and casual, with schedules centered mainly around experiments and appointments, while the policy and scientific support centers function in a more corporate atmosphere. Corporate Organization One of the main centers, the Office of the Director, concentrates on the NIH as a whole. This center is divided into offices that handle everything from policy and politics to administration and employment. The separate institutes benefit from the Office of the Director, but also have their own administrative and coordinating resources. When applying for a job or research fellowship, you will contact the specific institution s human resources representative directly, instead of going through one massive human resources office.