Trainees Assembly (NTA)
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 the NIEHS and the broad range of training needs, the NTA organizes and sponsors a variety of activities.
Mission:
- To organize and promote educational activities including training courses and seminars.
- To identify future employment opportunities in both traditional and non-traditional career paths.
- To assist in the orientation of new trainees.
- To provide an atmosphere of intercommunication among members.
- To act as official trainees' liaison to the NIEHS administration.

An important goal of the NTA is to make sure that you are aware of all of these events. The NTA maintains a bulletin board located in the C Mall Area (across from the mailroom) and a Web site which provides information about the current activities organized by the NTA.
These activities include:
- Distinguished Lecturer Luncheon:
Each month, the NIEHS sponsors a seminar by a renowned scientist. Following the presentation, the NTA hosts a lunch with the speaker to discuss issues relevant to science and career development.
- NIEHS/NTA Biomedical Career Fair:
This annual event is one of the largest assemblies of biomedical organizations and young scientists in Research Triangle Park, NC. Targeting postdoctoral fellows and advanced graduate students, the Career Fair provides these young scientists an opportunity to explore a myriad of fields and create a contact network as they plan for their future careers in the biomedical sciences.
- NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00):
The award provides up to five years of support consisting of two phases. The initial award (K99) provides one to two years of mentored, postdoctoral support. The second phase (R00) provides up to three years of independent research support and is activated when the awardee accepts a full time tenure track (or equivalent) faculty position. Applicants must be in postdoctoral positions and may be at nonprofit, for-profit, or governmental agencies, including intramural NIH laboratories. Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens are eligible.
The NTA also holds general assembly meetings twice a year, and all trainees are encouraged to attend. These meetings allow us to update you on current activities, as well as to receive your comments on the training environment at the NIEHS. Our NTA Steering Committee meets every month to discuss NTA issues.
Stories about NTA Activities:
- Trainees reach out to area students for NC DNA Day (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/spotlight-dnaday/index.htm)
- NTA meeting addresses accomplishments and concerns (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/inside-nta/index.htm)
- Postdocs reach out to Durham middle schoolers (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/3/postdocs/index.htm) - March 2012
- Former NIEHS staff fellow named vice chancellor (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/2/spotlight-vice-chancellor/index.htm) - February 2012
- NIEHS postdocs learn the value of options at NC biotech career day (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/1/spotlight-careerday/) - January 2012
- NTA celebrates grand opening of resource room (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/1/inside-nta/) - January 2012
- Winuthayanon presents at NIH Research Festival (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/december/science-winuthayanon/index.cfm) - December 2011
- NIEHS Trainees Conquer Dual-Placement Problem (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/november/spotlight-dual/index.cfm) - November 2011
- Cavanaugh and Wilson group paper highlighted by JBC (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/october/spotlight-jbc/index.cfm) - October 2011
- LSB fellow makes move to private sector (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/october/spotlight-lsb/index.cfm) - October 2011
- NIEHS celebrates Postdoc Appreciation Week (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/october/spotlight-appreciation/index.cfm) - October 2011
- Writer and editor kick off trainees' brown bag lunch series (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/october/spotlight-brownbag/index.cfm) - October 2011
- Trainees form backbone of EHP workshops (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/september/spotlight-trainees/index.cfm) - September 2011
- Postdoctoral fellow launches career as a scientific coordinator (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/september/spotlight-postdoctoral/index.cfm) - September 2011
- NTA showcases private sector career building (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/september/spotlight-nta/index.cfm) - September 2011
- Fellow wins WSA award for research excellence (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/september/science-award/index.cfm) - September 2011
- Postdocs receive Gordon Conference travel awards (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/september/spotlight-postdocs/index.cfm) - September 2011
- NTP fellow wins travel award (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/august/spotlight-fellow/index.cfm) - August 2011
- Fellows fare well in 2012 award competition (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/august/spotlight-farewell/index.cfm) - August 2011
- Biomedical Career Fair Draws Capacity Audience (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/june/spotlight-careerfair/index.cfm) - June 2011
- Fellows urged to nurture careers (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/may/inside-fellows/index.cfm) - May 2011
- Postdoctoral trainee launches career in health care communications (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/april/spotlight-postdoctoral/index.cfm) - April 2011
- Trainees honored for scholarship and service at SOT (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/april/science-trainees-honored/index.cfm) - April 2011
- Interdisciplinary Experience Leads to Academic Position (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/december/spotlight-experience.cfm) - December 2010
- NIEHS/NTP postdocs win at NC SOT meeting (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/november/science-ntp.cfm) - November 2010
- NIEHS scientists at the 2010 NIH Research Festival (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/november/science-niehs.cfm) - November 2010
- Institute Celebrates Postdoctoral Fellows (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/october/spotlight-institute.cfm) - October 2010
- Fellows Enjoy Food and Fellowship at Lake Crabtree Picnic (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/september/inside-fellows.cfm) - September 2010
- Fellows Honored for Research Excellence (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/august/science-fellows.cfm) - August 2010
- Trainees Assembly Holds Spring Meeting (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/may/inside-trainees.cfm) - May 2010
- Trainees Celebrate the Holiday Seasons (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/january/inside-celebrate.cfm) - January 2010
- NIEHS Science Awards Day Celebrates Intramural Research Achievements (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/december/science-ira.cfm) - December 2009
- Trainees Turn Out in Record Number for National Postdoc Appreciation Day (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/november/spotlight-postdoc.cfm) - November 2009
- Standing Room Only at NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/june/fair.cfm) - June 2009
- NIEHS Postdocs Honored with FARE Awards (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/december/fare-awards.cfm) - December 2008
- Postdocs Win SOT Awards (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/november/postdocs-win.cfm) - November 2008
- Trainees Look Ahead to a New Year (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/september/traineeslookahead.cfm) - September 2008
- Research Fellow Reviews Role of Protein Mutations in Mitochondria (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/july/mitochondria.cfm) - July 2008
- NIEHS People at the Biomedical Career Fair (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/june/fair.cfm) - June 2008
- Trainees Prepare for a Changing Job Market at Career Fair (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/june/career.cfm) - June 2008


