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Research

Career Development and Outreach Branch

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Mario Cerritelli, Ph.D.
Chief, Career Development and Outreach Branch
Phone: (301) 402-6924
Fax: (301) 480-4871
E-mail: cerritem@mail.nih.gov

Overview

The NIAMS IRP Career Development and Outreach Branch is an access point, advocate, and resource for intramural trainees and candidates and assists in interpretation of the myriad of educational and training opportunities at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the NIH. Staff assist in the application process — from identifying research laboratories with projects matching the interests of the candidate, arranging interviews with prospective preceptors, relocating and living in the Washington, DC area, and assisting in the transition into the Intramural Research Program. The Office develops educational curricula and training plans and assists fellows in a customized training program. Fellows seeking specialized sources of training are encouraged to contact office staff for assistance.

Headed by Dr. Mario Cerritelli, the Intramural Career Development and Outreach Branch serves as a resource for all NIAMS students, fellows and their sponsors. This office works in partnership with existing NIAMS and NIH entities to ensure that NIAMS continues to attract the best fellows and provides them with a genuine growth experience enhancing their ability to compete for independent research careers within and outside the NIH.

The Intramural Career Development and Outreach Branch can:

  • Assist sponsors by providing guidance on mentoring;
  • Identify, implement, and assess training needs to ensure that the NIAMS provides a broad range of training activities, e.g., how to write research proposals and manuscripts, how to interview, how to manage a lab, research ethics, how to effectively collaborate with others;
  • Serve as a resource for problem resolution and referral to available resources such as the Work and Family Life Center, the Employee Assistance Program, and the NIH Office of the Ombudsman;
  • Create a structure for semi-annual progress evaluations between mentors and fellows;
  • Prepare fellows for independent employment through career development activities;
  • Make opportunities available for formal and informal discussions through seminars, joint group meetings, regular journal clubs, formal courses, etc.;
  • Be used as a recruitment resource and will track alumni;
  • Serve as a link to available grants and awards;
  • Serve as a resource for information about various societies with information on membership, news, upcoming events, etc.;
  • Evaluate progress of the program by utilizing surveys and performing exit interviews;
  • Provide visa information for Visiting Program Participants;
  • Insure pay equity by conducting salary surveys and pay analysis;
  • Coordinate access to the loan repayment program;
  • Provide information on housing, local transportation, banking on campus, etc. and assist in integrating new fellows into the NIH community.

Reviewed January 11, 2013