Let us pause the regular Letter from the Editor to emphasize four important resources available to NIH fellows. If you are feeling overwhelmed by world events or experiences in your personal life, please remember the following offices and programs are here to assist you.

The competitive NIH Pathway to Independence Award is one of the most coveted grants for postdoctoral fellows pursuing an academic research career in the biomedical sciences. The award, which launched in 2006, provides one to two years of mentored training support during the K99 phase, and an additional three years of support for independent research through R00 funding.

“If somebody is going to be [an] expert scientist in years to come, even if they are not going to specialize in bioinformatics, they need to be fluent in it.” This advice was given by former NICHD Director Alan E. Guttmacher, MD, during a 2011 interview about scientific trends and training. Over a decade later, it seems to me that his insight was, and remains, prudent.

Our last “Life Outside Lab” column was in October 2020. That’s much too long ago! I’m pleased to announce that after more than two and a half years, the column has returned with a full spread of photos from last month’s NICHD trainee lunch on the South Lawn of Building 10.

“As it turns out, Francis Collins’ band was performing for a pediatrics group!” said Erin Walsh, PhD, Director of the Office of Education, in an email exchange about the event. “With the farmer’s market and food vendors very active, and the sun shining bright, I think everyone was glad to be out!”

And just like that, the final few months of the year are upon us. The long, humid days of summer morph into shorter—but oh so pleasant—days of fall. Pumpkin products pepper local markets, foreshadowing holiday feasts with friends and family. And in just a few short weeks, everything seems to shift.

In line with this seasonal change, this month’s newsletter highlights some of the transitions that can occur as a science professional.

In this month’s newsletter, Ashley Pratt, postbaccalaureate fellow in the Hoffman lab, begins a multi-part series on how to foster a successful postbac experience. Her first article broaches the topic of interpersonal relationships in the lab and workplace conflict.

I was thrilled to meet so many fellows at the annual fellows’ retreat in October. I heard from several trainees that this was their first in-person retreat since joining NICHD! Three fellows have written beautiful reflections on the day—from the perspectives of a postbac, a graduate student, and a postdoctoral researcher. Their sentiments coalesce on a central theme: the non-linear nature of a career in science.

If you’ve had a chance to meet Megan Bohn, Ph.D., the new deputy director for the NICHD Office of Education, then you’ll know why I’m so excited about her introduction article in this month’s issue. Dr. Bohn joins the office with a skill set honed to the unique needs of biomedical research trainees. Just check out the subtitles of the article she wrote:

The connection between networking, participating in NIH activities, and career success can be abstract—or fuzzy at best. This month, Anna SantaMaria, Ph.D., a former fellow in the Section on Human Iron Metabolism, describes how networking and leading a committee on campus directly led to her new position as an Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs at an American healthcare company.

Fourteen years ago this month, we released the first issue of The NICHD Connection. That June marked the beginning of a publication that has connected hundreds of NICHD fellows, showcased remarkable research and career achievements, and even changed lives—including mine. Through this newsletter, I have met countless investigators and trainees who inspire me every day to share the extraordinary work of NIH scientists.