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“Is the NIH PMF program right for me?”We’re glad you’re interested in the NIH PMF program! Before you schedule your interview with the NIH, please read the following information to determine if the NIH PMF program is a good fit for you. We know your time at the job fair is limited, so please feel free to contact us at pmfinfo@nih.gov before scheduling an interview if you have any additional questions.
A: There are two types of PMF positions at NIH. The ”at-large” position, and the “designated” positions within a specific Institute and office. The NIH “at-large” position is a two-year rotational experience in which fellows typically rotate through six to eight offices. Fellows in this program have the opportunity to rotate anywhere at NIH, experiencing not only different fields, but numerous different organizational cultures. This program offers the largest selection of opportunities, with hundreds of rotational options. For example, when an NIH “at-large” fellow decides they want to do a legislative rotation, they have 20+ legislative offices to choose from. This program is fast-paced and is well-suited to highly self-motivated and decisive individuals with the ability to adapt to various work settings. Also, the NIH offers “designated” positions within a specific Institute and office. Fellows in this program rotate only within the designated Institute or Center. Like all of the positions, fellows have the opportunity to negotiate one rotation outside of their office, but all of the rotations are structured under the guidance and direction and within the limitations of that IC’s designated PMF program. These opportunities are great for fellows who have a clear picture of their interests and are able to match those interests with a specific position up front. For example, individuals with particular interest in cancer may wish to look into the designated program within the National Cancer Institute (NCI), or individuals with specific interest in infectious diseases may choose to apply to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Because these positions concentrate the rotational options within the organizational culture of a single Institute, they provide a much more consistent and structured opportunity. Additionally, unlike the “at- large” positions, “designated” fellows are given hiring preference by their host Institution at the end of their program, and many “designated” fellows know what their job will be upon completion of the PMF program and therefore are not asked to market themselves and locate a position during the last 6 months of their PMF experience.
A: The NIH is the nation’s top biomedical research agency, hosting innovative scientists on our campus and funding cutting-edge researchers at schools, hospitals, and small businesses across the nation and around the world. Multiple rotations: The NIH program capitalizes on the NIH culture of discovery and collaboration by making rotational developmental assignments the cornerstone of its at-large program. Many agencies hire PMFs for a single position and offer them a single external rotation. However, all “at-large” fellows and many “designated” fellows at NIH create a two-year rotational experience, typically rotating through six to eight offices during their tenure. Additional outside rotation: In addition to the series of rotations within NIH, at-large fellows are also encouraged to complete one rotation outside of NIH. Historically, fellows have used their outside rotation to expand their knowledge of other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, learn more about the legislative process through rotations at the Capitol, or improve their understanding of NIH’s stakeholders by rotating with non-profits and other organizations who work closely with NIH. Training opportunities: NIH provides additional training opportunities beyond the PMF Orientation in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Designated fellows are typically sent to job-specific trainings by their home offices. At-large fellows typically attend Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute’s week-long Congressional Operations seminar and half-week long Budget Process course. Additionally, each at-large fellow is given a budget of $2,500 each year to spend on training at their discretion. In the past, fellows have used their training budget to take college courses on ethics and management, attend leadership conferences and society meetings, and purchase learning tools such as books on management and policy. Mentoring: The NIH values mentoring as an important tool in developing our fellows. Each PMF will choose a mentor that will help guide him or her throughout the 2 year process. Early in the program, NIH provides training for all mentor/protégé pairs to ensure that both individuals can get the most benefit out of the relationship. Community: Just as our scientists collaborate to discover new cures, our fellows collaborate with their peers, PMF alumni, mentors, and supervisors to move the agency (and their careers) forward. NIH was one of the first agencies to participate in the PMF program, and the extensive network of alumni frequently turn to current fellows to help with committees and initiatives above and beyond rotational assignments. While this can lead to an increased workload, many of our fellows view their committee participation as a highlight of their PMF experience. Campus environment: NIH is set on a 300-acre campus where Nobel laureates are not uncommon. The atmosphere at NIH is often as much like an academic environment as it is a government agency. Continuous learning is highly valued at NIH, so fellows have numerous and often free trainings, seminars, and workshops. It is not unusual for a motivated PMF to obtain 200 hours of training annually and still remain within their training budget.  back to top
A: The NIH Office of the Director (OD) offers the NIH “at-large” positions. NIH tries to pre-schedule the majority of its job fair interview times, so finalists interested in the NIH at-large position should submit a cover letter and resume to pmfinfo@nih.gov as soon as possible. During their tenure, at-large fellows have a rotational supervisor for each rotation, in addition to a “supervisor of record” who handles the administrative aspects of the fellows’ internship (i.e., working with the fellow to make sure program components are met, preparing performance evaluations based on the collective feedback from the rotational supervisors, etc.). Prospective fellows are interviewed by a panel of senior-level NIH administrators who are familiar with the PMF program. During the panel interview, all applicants are asked the same basic set of questions, but may follow-up with questions specifically addressing an individual’s background and interests. For Institutes that offer a “designated” position, the direct supervisor of the position will oversee the interview process. Individuals interested in the NCI ”designated” positions should direct all inquiries to Leon Espinoza at espinole@mail.nih.gov. For information about other designated programs, please contact Cheronn Collins at pmfinfo@nih.gov or see the NIH booth at the Job Fair. back to top
A: NIH is located in Bethesda, MD, which is part of the D.C. metro area. In fact, the “Medical Center” stop on the D.C. metro’s red line drops you off at the new NIH Welcome Center. Most of NIH’s offices are located either on the Bethesda campus or in office buildings located in nearby Rockville. While not all of these auxiliary office buildings are accessible by metro, they can all be reached by either NIH shuttles from the main campus or the public bus system. Living car-free and commuting to these office buildings is possible, if not always effortless. The NIH also has one Institute located in Durham, North Carolina, and various research centers in Baltimore and Frederick, Maryland, as well as in Hamilton, Montana. While previous fellows have secured rotations at the Baltimore and North Carolina locations, all fellows begin the program at the Bethesda campus. To help new fellows transition to the area, current PMF fellows serve as “buddies” for incoming fellows. Additionally, a weeklong orientation is designed to help fellows acclimate to the area and to NIH. back to top
A: Experience can be a good thing both in the interview process and on the job. Many of our fellows have had previous careers as teachers, social workers, research scientists, or administrative staff. However, you should be aware that NIH looks for people interested in pursuing new career tracks and stretching themselves. If you see yourself in the same career you held previously and you want to get started in that position right away, the NIH is probably not the best fit for you. However, if you are looking to build on your experience by taking a new direction, we may be the perfect opportunity. back to top
A: The NIH uses the PMF program as an opportunity for future leaders to gain a broad understanding of the organization and career tracks available. While previous experience or an advanced degree may prepare you for one or more of your rotations, it probably will not (and should not) prepare you for all that you will do here. Our philosophy is that our fellows use the PMF program to develop new skills and expertise, so it is unreasonable to expect them to perform those new skills at the GS-11 level initially. Due to this, every fellow in the at-large program, as well as most fellows in designated positions, will begin at the GS-9 pay level. back to top
A: You do not have to be a scientist to work at NIH. As an at-large PMF at the NIH, you will have the opportunity to explore numerous fields. NIH employees in administrative career tracks such as budget, human resources, contracts, IT, and grants management support the scientific mission of the NIH. However, you should be aware that we at NIH feel very strongly about our mission to save lives and improve the nation’s health through scientific discoveries. While you don’t have to be a scientist, your experience at NIH will be far richer if you also feel passionate about the NIH mission. back to top
A: The answer to that question is a qualified maybe. As part of the executive branch, the NIH is not in the business of creating health care policy so much as communicating policies from Congress to our stakeholders. Our mission is to fund and promote the best biomedical research, so our primary stakeholders are often research scientists, and the types of policies that we typically handle concern research conduct, rather than health care delivery for the general public. We will not be one of the major agencies involved in Medicare/Medicaid reform, for example. That said, some NIH PMFs have rotated through offices grappling with important research policy issues such as embryonic stem cell research and public access to research data. If your interest in policy is from an implementation standpoint, (e.g. asking “How do we explain the new stem cell research law to our grantees?” or “How can our scientists at the NIH Clinical Center adapt current practices to meet the new patient privacy laws?”), then there are opportunities for you at NIH. If, however, you are more interested in policy generation (e.g. asking “How can we change the way hospitals and insurance companies charge the elderly for basic care?”) you may want to look for a position in the legislative branch, at an agency such as the Congressional Research Service. back to top
A: The NIH is the component of the Department of Health and Human Services that primarily focuses on research. While the NIH sometimes partners with other agencies such as SAMHSA to carry out public health interventions, to find such opportunities on a rotation are rare. PMFs with social work backgrounds have found fulfilling rotations at NIH completing assignments such as:
A: NIH is a research agency rather than a regulatory or policy agency, so opportunities to pursue litigation are rare. However, there are opportunities to use legal training at NIH such as:
A: While scientific research is being conducted at NIH, fellows in the PMF program are not recruited to work in laboratory research, and opportunities to publish are rare. Although becoming a PMF often means closing the door on an academic scientific career, you will find that your scientific background is valued at NIH, and your experience will open many other doors for you. Several PMFs with science degrees have found fulfilling rotations and careers at the NIH, such as:
A: While PMFs at NIH typically do not have the opportunity to travel abroad as fellows, there are some opportunities to work on global health issues and international scientific collaborations. Some examples of possible rotations include:
Additional Information About the PMF Program
NIH wishes you the best of luck in pursuing your PMF position!
This page was last reviewed on October 10, 2009. |
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