PMF Application and Instructions

2010 Application Cycle

Application to the PMF class of 2010 will open October 1-15, 2009, via a vacancy announcement available on on www.USAJOBS.gov and accessible through this page. School nominations are due October 31, 2009.

Eligible students are encouraged to create an account on www.USAJOBS.gov to build their online resume. During the application process, applicants will be required to link their USAJOBS online resume to their application.

General information about the process used to recruit incoming PMFs at the NIH may be found below; please note, however, that the exact dates and process apply to the 2009 class, and may be different for the class of 2010.

Applying to the NIH's PMF Program

NIH plans to hire a number of Presidential Management Fellows in 2009. Most interviews will be conducted on-site at the PMF job fair on Wednesday, March 25th and Thursday, March 26th. Finalists who would like to be considered for the first round of interviews should submit their resumes, along with a cover letter specifically expressing reasons for their interest in NIH, to pmfinfo@nih.gov via e-mail no later than Sunday, March 15th. NIH will be recruiting finalists for both at-large and designated positions; more information about the differences between these two types of placements appears below.

PMF Job Fair

Representatives from the Administrative Training Committee, Institute staff members, and current and former PMFs will participate in the PMF job fair. These representatives will be there to answer your questions about the NIH's PMF program, as well as interviewing prospective applicants. While most interviews will be set up in advance, there will be a limited number of interview slots available for walk-ins. PMF finalists who have not submitted their resumes in advance and would like to schedule an interview at the fair are encouraged to visit NIH's table early in the day on Wednesday, March 25th and provide a resume and cover letter at that time. Those finalists who have pre-scheduled an interview should also visit the table to confirm the interview date, time, and location.

Job Fair Interviews

Please note: The deadline for submission of PMF applications for pre-scheduled interviews is March 15th.

NIH will make every effort to interview as many interested finalists as possible, but may not be able to accommodate every candidate. To request an interview for one of NIH's PMF positions, finalists should e-mail a cover letter specifically stating the reason for their interest in NIH, and resume (not to exceed four pages) to pmfinfo@nih.gov no later than Sunday, March 15th. Finalists who submit their information by this date will be notified about the interview schedule on Wednesday, March 18th. After that date, interested finalists should plan to bring a cover letter and resume to the NIH table at the PMF job fair on March 25th.

The cover letter should explain the finalist’s interest in the NIH's programs and mission, and how the finalist’s background, experiences, and skills are well suited for a PMF position and future career with NIH. Finalists will then be contacted by the PMF program manager, either to schedule an interview or to request that the candidate come for an initial meeting at the PMF job fair. Requests for interviews received after March 15th, or those lacking a cover letter or resume, will be held for scheduling at the PMF job fair.

Interviews for all of the at-large positions will be conducted on on Wednesday, March 25th and Thursday, March 26th at the fair. Interviews for the designated positions may take place on Tuesday, March 24th at the NIH campus, or on-site at the job fair. An overview of the differences between these two types of positions appears below.

At-Large Fellows

• Rotate across various positions in any Institute and Center (IC) at the NIH;
• Have an opportunity to take a permanent position at any NIH IC; and
• Receive assistance and support in selecting and securing a final placement at the program's conclusion.

Primary responsibility for at-large fellows rests with the NIH Office of the Director and is overseen by the Administrative Training Committee (ATC).

Designated Fellows

• Rotations are determined by the intern and the hiring Institute or Center (IC);
• May or may not be hired for a specific targeted position at the designated IC; and
• Usually converts to a permanent position with the designated IC.

Primary responsibility for designated interns rests with the hiring IC.

Contacting NIH's Program Manager

For more details about the interview process, please contact the PMF program manager using the information listed below:
Cheronn Collins
Phone: 301-496-6211
Fax: 301-480-3197
E-mail: pmfinfo@nih.gov

For More Information

If you have additional questions about the program, please review the Frequently Asked Questions section of this web site. Finalists may also contact any of the current NIH PMFs using the e-mail addresses provided in their profiles. To learn more about the NIH or individual Institutes and Centers, we suggest you explore the NIH website.

Presidential Management Fellows Program Information

• Program Overview
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Presidential Management Fellow Profiles
• Former PMFs - What They're Doing Now
• Administrative Training Committee (ATC)