Dear Fellows,

Have you ever tried to explain the importance of your research to a non-specialist? It’s not an easy task. But next to the research itself, it’s one of the most important skills you can learn as a scientist.

In serving as a science communicator for the past decade or so, I’ve made a fun observation about my interviews with highly specialized researchers. Often, some of the best quotes about their findings happen when the interview is over—after we’ve finished the “shop talk” and start chatting about life and shared interests.

What is the significance of obtaining a grant in the pursuit of a faculty position? This was a popular question at the 2023 fellows’ retreat career discussion led by Natalie Porat-Shliom, PhD, an Earl Stadtman Investigator in NCI’s Center for Cancer Research. Her answer is worth repeating:

As the new cohort of NIH Summer Internship Program trainees enter laboratories across campus, we want to extend a warm welcome to those who will be joining the NICHD family for the summer. We are excited to learn from the diverse perspectives offered by our incoming students, and we anticipate that the summer internship experience will prove to be a meaningful endeavor for all participants.

Last night I volunteered at my local elementary school’s Family Science Night. I was assigned to the simple machines table. Levers, ramps, wheels, and pulleys were prepared for the curious hands of children. There was just one problem. After years of not-so-careful play, some of the simple machines—as simple as they were—were failing.

Your NICHD fellowship is more than skill building and data collection. It’s also a time for exploration. This month, postbac fellow Ashley Pratt shares her thoughts on research ethics —a topic she has enjoyed exploring following a recent ethics training session. And Dr. Cole Malloy, 2021 Mentor of the Year awardee, offers a few words on his appreciation for mentorship. Have you come across a training subject that you've found surprisingly interesting? Let us know!

By now, many of you have heard that Francis Collins, MD, PhD, is stepping down as the director of NIH. If you haven’t, check out the News Release from last month.

One of the most difficult aspects during the pandemic, for me, has been trying to maintain a sense of community. There is a social fabric we all weave for ourselves. A blanket we hug during times of need and dance with during times of celebration. But during the pandemic, distanced in our individual homes, it’s too easy to fold that blanket and place it on a shelf, waiting for a safer time to emerge. To honor the importance of our social network, we focus this month’s newsletter on building and maintaining our community—even during an ongoing pandemic.

One of my favorite activities as The NICHD Connection editor is following up with former NICHD fellows. This month, we check in with Dr. Mengying Li, former postdoctoral fellow of the Zhang lab (Division of Intramural Population Health Research). Dr. Li has extensive epidemiology experience, and she is putting those skills to work as a staff scientist at the National Cancer Institute, where she supports melanoma and lung cancer research.

Eyes to the sky—the Perseid meteor shower peaks this month in the predawn hours of Thursday, August 12. With good visibility and a little luck, you might see nearly 50 to 100 meteors per hour radiating from the constellation Perseus. There is something so satisfying about seeing a bright streak across the sky in between long stretches of waiting. In that way, watching a meteor shower is a bit like research. But boy do those moments of excitement make the waiting worth it.