Postdoctoral Program
Fellows' Career Development
Postdoctoral Program
Fellows' Career Development
Postdoctoral training in the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) provides the opportunity for recent doctoral degree recipients to enhance their research skills in the resource-rich National Institutes of Health (NIH) environment. Trainees come from across the U.S. and around the world to explore areas such as bioinformatics, epidemiology, immunology, cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, developmental biology, structural biology, signal transduction and clinical research.
Resources for Prospective Postdocs
Program Requirements | Application Process | Housing | Stipend
Program Requirements
(Source: Office of Intramural Training and Education)
Eligibility: To be eligible for postdoctoral training in the NIH IRP, individuals must hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., or the equivalent) and have no more than five years of relevant research experience since receipt of their most recent doctoral degree. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are appointed to Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs); citizens of other nations are appointed as Visiting Fellows. Support for international postdocs is provided by the NIH Division of International Services.
Background Check: Please note any fellowship offer is contingent on your ability to successfully pass a federal background check, which is required for logical and physical access to NIH facilities and systems. As part of the clearance process, you will be asked “In the last year, have you used, possessed, supplied, or manufactured illegal drugs?” This question pertains to the use of controlled substances or drugs as defined under federal law. Please be aware that while marijuana may be legal or decriminalized within your home jurisdiction it remains illegal under U.S. federal law. The use, possession, supply, or manufacture of marijuana may preclude you from obtaining the necessary clearances to participate in NIH intramural training programs, even if you were initially offered a position. If you have questions about this policy or would like guidance on the clearance process, please reach out to the Office of Intramural Training & Education (please put eligibility inquiry in the subject line).
For more information: NIH policy on the use of the NIH Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Program.
Application Process
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact NIH investigators directly, there is no formal application. NIH-wide announcements of some currently available postdoctoral positions are posted online. To search for postdoc positions at NIEHS, select "Research Triangle Park, NC" under location pull-down menu.
Housing
NIEHS is located between Raleigh and Durham in the Research Triangle Park. Public transportation is limited to the services provided by RTP Connect, which subsidizes up to $10 per Lyft trip to get from the Regional Transit Center in RTP to NIEHS. As a government agency, we cannot endorse specific housing arrangements or advise on where to live. However, we have put together a guide about moving to the RTP area for informational purposes only.
Moving to RTP
Here you will find a 9-page guide containing a wealth of information about living in and moving to the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina.
Stipend
Postdoctoral IRTA and Visiting Fellow Stipend Levels for NIEHS – effective May 1, 2023
| Experience | Initial Stipend | Second Year | Third Year | Fourth Year | Fifth Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 year | $67,200 | $71,550 | $75,400 | $81,000 | $84,450 |
| 1-2 years | $71,550 | $75,400 | $81,000 | $84,450 | $88,600 |
| 2-3 years | $75,400 | $81,000 | $84,450 | $88,600 | $94,150 |
| 3-4 years | $81,000 | $84,450 | $88,600 | $94,150 | $97,650 |
| 4-5 years | $84,450 | $88,600 | $94,150 | $97,650 | $103,600 |
| 5-6 years* | $88,600 | $94,150 | $97,650 | $103,600 | $107,100 |
| 6-7 years* | $94,150 | $97,650 | 103,600 | $107,100 | $111,050 |
* Used for fellows with an M.D. or similar professional degree to give credit for internship/residency years (for U.S. credentials only).
Resources for Current Postdocs
Handbook
The Postdoc Handbook has important information about the Postdoc Program. Note: some of this information is specific to the Bethesda, Maryland area.
Postdoc Resources
Division of International Services:
Visiting fellows will find the information on the NIH Division of International Services webpage helpful to learn about policies and guidelines specific to visiting fellows at NIH.
Office of Fellows’ Career Development (OFCD):
OFCD staff are located at NIEHS and offer programming and training for NIEHS postdocs. We typically have new fellow orientation the first Thursday of every month, be on the lookout for information in your email. OFCD can help you with your Individual Development Plan, career planning and any NIEHS- specific questions that may come up. The director of the OFCD is Mercedes Arana, Ph.D.
Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE):
OITE staff is primarily located in the Bethesda, Maryland but travel to NIEHS often and offer videocasts and webinars of their programming. In addition, OITE provides an on-site career counselor to NIEHS twice per month.
The NIEHS Trainees Assembly (NTA) is an organization coordinated and governed by NIEHS scientists-in-training and was created through the support of the NIEHS Office of the Scientific Director in order to foster the professional development of NIEHS trainees. The membership is comprised of all non-tenured/non-tenure track, non-permanent scientists training at the institute. Due to the diversity of scientists in training at NIEHS and the broad range of training needs, the NTA organizes and sponsors a variety of activities.
Annual NIEHS Biomedical Career Symposium:
One of the largest assemblies of biomedical organizations and young scientists in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Targeting postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, the Career Symposium provides young scientists with an opportunity to explore a myriad of career options and create a contact network as they plan for their future careers in the biomedical sciences. The symposium features workshops and career panels, featuring a wide variety of career path options available to Ph.D.-holders. The event also features up to 100 CV/resume review sessions, along with time for networking with company representatives in the afternoon.
Involvement, Awards, and Grants:
Learn about the numerous award opportunities and opportunities to get involved within NIH as a whole, and those specific to NIEHS. NIEHS fellows can apply for certain grants and fellowships, and special consideration must be taken when applying. Learn about the policies governing the grant application process, the types of grants and fellowships NIEHS trainees can apply for, and resources to help with grant writing.
NIEHS Career Outcome Dashboard:
Explore career outcomes of 891 NIEHS postdocs on this interactive dashboard. The dashboard contains career outcomes of NIEHS postdocs from 2000-2014 and allows investigation of job sector, job type and job specifics. You can also read about NIEHS career outcomes in Nature Biotechnology.
