Research Training News offers readers an insight into the intramural research training experience and the possibilities this experience can open. Learn about NIAID trainees’ research, their goals, achievements, inspirational moments, and more.
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In Case You Missed It—The NIAID 18th Annual Fellows Workshop
January 8, 2025
The NIAID 18th Annual Fellows Workshop, held on December 11–12, 2024, celebrated the exceptional research conducted by NIAID's predoctoral, postdoctoral, research, and clinical fellows. The event featured over sixty dynamic presentations, showcasing cutting-edge scientific work.
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Career Pathways—Explore the Possibilities, Transitioning to an Independent Research Position
December 2, 2024
The “Career Pathways—Explore the Possibilities” series highlights different professions pursued by scientists like you. This interview focuses on an independent researcher, someone who leads their own research projects, oversees securing funding, and manages a research team. Portia Gough, Ph.D., was a postdoc at NIAID for three years, where she worked in the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology. Read this interview with Dr. Gough to learn more about her transition from a postdoc to an independent research position.
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Postdoc Spotlight – The 2024 Intramural AIDS Research Fellows
November 29, 2024
The NIAID Office of Research Training & Development celebrates the 2024 NIH Intramural AIDS Research Fellowship NIAID awardees: Sandra Mon, M.S.P.H., Mamta Singh, Ph.D., and Kenneth Ssebambulidde, MBChB, M.Sc. This fellowship opportunity promotes a cross-disciplinary approach to HIV/AIDS research. Learn about the innovative research projects these fellows are engaged in to advance the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Next Generation of Mentors Training the Next Generation of Scientists
November 4, 2024
Tamara Haque, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in the Food Allergy Research Unit of the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases. After receiving this year's Postbac Distinguished Mentor Award, she reflects on her mentoring philosophy and how postdoc mentors can help their mentees make the most of their training experience.
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Day-2 Sessions Announced for the NIAID 18th Annual Fellows Workshop
October 2, 2024
The NIAID 18th Annual Fellows Workshop, taking place in person on December 11 and 12, will provide a forum for intramural NIAID fellows to come together to network as well as share and discuss their research accomplishments. The agenda will feature a poster session on the first day and a series of professional development sessions on the second day.
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Postdoc Spotlight – National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2024
September 16, 2024
In honor of National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2024, the NIAID Office of Research Training and Development is recognizing NIAID postdocs who enrich the NIAID training community through their outstanding mentorship. Read about the research contributions and mentoring philosophies of several NIAID postdocs who were nominated by their postbac mentees for their exemplary mentorship.
In Case You Missed It — Prototype Pathogen Research for Pandemic Preparedness
August 27, 2024
The NIAID Office of Research Training and Development recently held the final seminar in its annual Summer Seminar Series aimed at exposing current postbaccalaureate fellows to research occurring within the Institute. The event featured Ted Pierson, Ph.D., who serves as the director of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) and the chief of the Arbovirus Immunity Section. Postbac Megan Rodgers recaps Dr. Pierson’s unique journey through academia and research and how a current objective of the VRC helped shape the COVID-19 response.
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Graduate Spotlight — Driving Scientific Innovation Through Diverse Disciplines
August 5, 2024
Kelsey Lowman is a graduate student in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program (OxCam). She is completing her Ph.D. research in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge and in the NIAID Laboratory of Infectious Diseases. Read more about Kelsey’s graduate experience and how it has transformed her research trajectory.
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Postbac Spotlight — Patient-Centered Experiences in the NIAID Centralized Sequencing Program
August 5, 2024
Sophie Byers recently completed a postbac in the NIAID Centralized Sequencing Program, an initiative that provides a range of genomic services to patients participating in human subjects research studies at NIAID and other NIH institutes and centers. Read about how her unique postbac experience shaped her decision to pursue a career in genetic counseling.
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NIAID Postbac Kimberly Manalang to Represent NIAID at 2024 NIH Three-minute Talk Competition
June 3, 2024
NIAID postbac Kimberly Manalang received the top score for her talk at the 2024 NIAID TmT Competition last month. She will represent the institute in the NIH-wide TmT Competition on June 27. Learn about her experience participating and her preparation for her winning talk.
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Career Pathways—Explore the Possibilities, Industry Medical Writer
May 3, 2024
Leanne Low, Ph.D., was a postdoc at NIAID for four years, where she worked in the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research. Read this interview with Dr. Low, from the “Career Pathways” series, to learn more about her journey to becoming a medical writer in industry.
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NIAID Grant Writing Training and Mentoring Program 2024 Kickoff
April 30, 2024
NIAID Training kicked off the fifth year of its annual Grant Writing Training and Mentoring Program in March. This course takes fellows through the full life cycle of the grant proposal process, from identifying the right grant mechanism according to one’s career goals to participating in a mock review session to receive expert feedback on their completed proposals. Learn about what some of this year’s participants hope to gain from completing the program.
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In Case You Missed It—Virtual Career Chat With Dr. Christine Hopp
March 5, 2024
The NIAID Office of Research Training and Development recently held a virtual career chat with Dr. Christine Hopp, a NIAID postdoctoral alum. Learn about her transition from NIH to the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Germany and her advice for fellows looking to acquire a position and funding outside of the United States.
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In Case You Missed It – NIAID Postbac Research Spotlight Series
March 5, 2024
Want to learn about the research NIAID’s postbaccalaureate trainees are engaged in? The “NIAID Postbac Research Spotlight Series” aims to highlight the work of postbacs and their contributions to the research being conducted at NIAID. Postbac Emily Youngblood shares what fellows have gained from participating and recaps the fascinating topics discussed during recent sessions including, parasite-bacteria relationships, mechanisms behind HIV vaccines, filoviruses, enteroviruses, and more.
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Postbac Spotlight — Transforming Passion Into Practice
March 1, 2024
Timothy Mehrmann is a postbac in the Medical Virology Section of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at the Vaccine Research Center, where he works under the supervision of Jeffrey Cohen, M.D. Read this interview about Timothy’s experience at NIAID and how it has prepared him to pursue a career in both infectious disease medicine and virology research.
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Postdoc Spotlight — Fostering Collaboration for Scientific Advancement
February 6, 2024
Stephen Lu, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher who recently completed a three-year research project in the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research and the Laboratory of Bacteriology through his participation in the Rocky-Beth Fellowship Program. Learn how this unique collaborative experience prepared him for the next stage of his career.
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Postbac Spotlight — Cutting-Edge Research and Career Exploration in the Rocky Mountains
January 31, 2024
Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana is home to a thriving community of researchers who investigate some of the world's most challenging infectious disease threats. Read about how postbacs at RML contribute to this work and the different ways they get involved in their local communities.
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In Case You Missed It—Winners Announced for Fellows’ Presentations at NIAID 17th Annual Fellows Workshop
December 6, 2023
The NIAID 17th Annual Fellows Workshop occurred on Friday, December 1, 2023, honoring the exceptional contributions of NIAID predoctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical fellows. The event showcased fifty-five engaging presentations by fellows, along with insightful remarks from the NIAID Mentor of the Year, Cathryn Haigh, Ph.D., and NIAID's esteemed Clinical Director, H. Clifford Lane, M.D.
Alumni Connections — Blending Public Health With Pathogen Genetics
November 7, 2023
The “Alumni Connections” series highlights NIAID fellows who have taken the next step on their academic path. This interview features a former NIAID postbac who transitioned to a Ph.D. program in 2021. Read this interview with Emma Rowley to learn about her experience as a postbac in the Malaria Cell Biology Section of the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research and how she made her decision to pursue a Ph.D. in the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Epidemiology and Human Genetics program.
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Speakers Announced for the NIAID 17th Annual Fellows Workshop
November 1, 2023
The NIAID 17th Annual Fellows Workshop will return to an in-person format on December 1 for the first time since 2019. This year, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and clinical fellows will present a range of talk types, spanning quick speed pitches all the way to longer-form oral talks. The agenda will also feature work from the NIAID Outstanding Mentor awardee and a trailblazer in HIV/AIDS research.
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In Case You Missed It — NIAID Alums Return for Science and Health Policy Alumni Panel
September 29, 2023
Over the summer, two postdoc alumni of NIAID’s Laboratory of Immune System Biology returned to NIH (virtually) to share how NIH career development resources shaped their careers. Federica La Russa, Ph.D., and Trisha Tucholski, Ph.D., served as speakers on the Science and Health Policy Alumni Panel organized by the NIH Science Policy Discussion Group (SPDG). Both former co-chairs of the SPDG, Drs. La Russa and Tucholski reflect on how their current careers were positively impacted by their leadership experiences with the policy group.
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In Case You Missed It—NIAID Core Facilities Career Panel
September 5, 2023
Curious about the job opportunities available at the NIH? The NIAID Office of Research Training and Development recently hosted a career panel for summer interns and postbacs featuring NIAID staff from Rocky Mountain Laboratories, the NIH Library, the Research Technologies Branch, and the Visual and Medical Arts Unit. Postbac Taylor McGee recaps the insights and career advice shared by the panelists.
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Postdoc Fellow Ashira Lubkin, M.D., Ph.D., Wins PRAT Award
September 5, 2023
NIAID postdoc Ashira Lubkin, M.D., Ph.D., recently won a NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate Training (PRAT) award. The PRAT program is a three-year competitive fellowship that prepares NIH intramural fellows for leadership positions in biomedical careers by providing them with mentorship and professional development opportunities. In this interview, Dr. Lubkin discusses her research and shares tips for successfully navigating the PRAT application process.
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In Case You Missed It—Postdoc Career Panel
July 31, 2023
By Steve Grugan, Postbac in the Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research (LMVR) As part of the NIAID Summer Career Panels series, the NIAID Office of Research Training and Development recently hosted a Postdoc Career Panel where three NIAID postdoctoral fellows shared their experiences and what they have learned while navigating a career in science. Panelists
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In Case You Missed It—Applying for Graduate Research Fellowships
July 3, 2023
The NIAID Office of Research Training and Development recently hosted a Grant Writing Skill Blitz led by Jennifer West, Ph.D., NIAID Postbac/Summer Intern Program Coordinator, to introduce postbacs to the grant application process and the benefits of honing this skill early. NIAID summer intern Nicole Haderlein reflects on the practical resources and helpful advice shared by Dr. West.
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