A Day Devoted to NICHD Intramural Fellows

The 19th Annual NICHD Fellows' Retreat is officially in the record books! Fourteen fellows delivered oral talks, and forty-two fellows presented posters showcasing research aligning with the NICHD mission to understand human development and improve health across the lifespan. These presentations covered NICHD research areas including developmental biology, neuroscience, molecular signaling, genetics, and public health.

NICHD fellows joined together at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., on October 27, 2023, to attend the 18^th Annual Meeting for Postdoctoral, Clinical, and Visiting Fellows and Graduate Students and Postbacs. During a series of career round table discussions, fellows had the opportunity to visit with career speakers from research programs in academia and government, industry, and science administration.

NICHD fellows joined together virtually on September 29, 2022, to attend the 17^th Annual Meeting for Postdoctoral, Clinical, and Visiting Fellows and Graduate Students. During the career panel break-out sessions, fellows had the opportunity to rotate through career panels on research programs in academia and government, industry, and science administration. We followed up with career panel speakers to capture important information about their career fields, their favorite career features, and the most frequently asked questions during the retreat.

“Medicine is not just a career, it is a life choice,” said Triesta Fowler, MD, Director of Outreach and Communication in the NICHD Office of Education, at the beginning of her seminar on the medical school search and application process. During her presentation on February 2, 2022, Dr. Fowler encouraged fellows to approach medical school using a scientific thought process. "Discover the right formula to have the best results,” she said.

During the fully virtual Intramural Scientific Retreat on September 20, 2022, NICHD Director Diana Bianchi, MD, and Acting Scientific Director Chris McBain, PhD, offered welcoming remarks that emphasized NICHD’s support of all intramural scientists—from early-stage trainees to senior level investigators. This sentiment was echoed throughout the broad array of speakers, including pre- and postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists, and tenure-track and tenured investigators. Below you will find several training-related highlights from the daylong event.

Paula Gregory, PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty & Educational Development at University of North Texas, offers grant writing guidance to NIH fellows through a series of workshops and a full course specifically focusing on the K99/R00 funding opportunity. These programs are highly recommended for trainees who plan to transition into an academic career. Until the next offering, here are Dr. Paula Gregory’s top tips on grant writing according to two NICHD fellows who recently attended one of her workshops.