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Postbac IRTA/CRTA Program FAQs

What is the purpose of this program?
The Postbaccalaureate IRTA/CRTA program is designed to provide an opportunity to spend a year doing biomedical research in the resource-rich environment of the NIH to those who intend to continue their studies in graduate or medical school.

Where are these training opportunities located?
These traineeships are available only in the intramural laboratories of the NIH. Most of the laboratories are located on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. Several Institutes or their laboratories that focus on particular research areas are found at other sites around the country. These include facilities of:

  • The National Cancer Institute in Frederick, MD
  • The National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, MD
  • The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Detroit, MI
  • The National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, MD
  • The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC
  • The Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Phoenix, AZ, which focuses on diabetes among the Pima Indians
  • The Rocky Mountain Laboratories of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Hamilton, MT
  • The Framingham Heart Study of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Framingham, MA

Can this award be used for research training outside of the NIH?
No, this award is intended to provide support for training in the intramural research program at the NIH. It cannot be used for any other purpose.

Are there any eligibility criteria in addition to citizenship?
Yes, you must have received a bachelor's degree within two years of starting the program. In addition, you must intend to apply to graduate or professional school during your tenure in the program. The general expectation is that applicants will have received their bachelor's degrees from accredited colleges or universities in the U.S. U.S. citizens whose degrees are from other nations may apply for a waiver of this requirement. Permanent residents must have received their bachelor's degrees from accredited U.S. institutions to be eligible to participate.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?
You should select references who are able to explain why you would be a good addition to a research group. Anyone who could comment on your skills in the laboratory, creativity, problem solving abilities, motivation, ability to handle complex scientific literature and concepts, etc. would be a good choice. Recommendations from individuals with a science research background are likely to carry more weight than recommendations from those with less understanding of biomedical research. Recommendations from family members are never appropriate. Note that letters from "services" and letters assembled for medical/dental school applicants by the pre-professional offices of their colleges and universities will not be accepted. You may wish to provide your references some information on the program, your resume or CV and a description of what you hope to accomplish during the program so that they can write a highly relevant letter.

Is there a deadline for submission of applications?
There is no deadline; applications are accepted year round.

When should I apply?
We recommend that you apply three to six months prior to the date on which you want to start.

How will I know if my application is complete?
You may, if you wish, submit a partial application initially and complete your application at a later time. Please note, however, that NIH investigators are able to access completed applications only. If you submit a partial application, you will receive an e-mail with directions for completing it. Once you have submitted a completed application, you will receive an e-mail confirming that your application is complete. This message will contain instructions for checking to see whether your letters of reference have been received.

How are applications reviewed?
Investigators in the NIH intramural program have access to the database containing the electronic applications to this program. They can search for applicants with particular interests or specific GPAs or who are enrolled at selected universities. Each investigator decides to whom he/she will offer a position.  The investigator is also responsible for funding the position. The OITE is not involved in the selection process.

How will I be notified if I am selected?
The investigator who has selected you or an administrative officer in his/her Institute or Center will contact you by phone, e-mail or letter.

How soon can I expect to hear that I am selected?
There is no definite answer to this question. You will be selected only if/when an investigator who has a position available visits the database and is impressed with your credentials.

How long will my application remain active?
Your application will remain active for one year from the date you submit it or until you are selected, you withdraw your application, or your eligibility expires, whichever comes first.

What are my chances of receiving a Postbac IRTA/CRTA?
Like many of the research training programs at the NIH, the Postbac IRTA program is highly selective. Over the past calendar year, less than 10% of applicants were selected for the program.

How can I improve my chances of being selected for a Postbac IRTA/CRTA?
After you submit your application you may want to contact investigators with whom you would like to work.  This does not mean that you should send a general e-mail to fifty investigators.  Such an e-mail is likely to be ignored.  Instead, identify four or five investigators whose work interests you.  Learn enough about what they are working on so that you can write focused specific e-mails describing why you would like to work with them.

How can I get information about specific NIH investigators about the research that they are conducting?
You can find information regarding NIH intramural research programs in the Intramural Research Sourcebook. If you have a particular research interest, you can access abstracts by going to the NIH Annual Reports and conducting text searches on the subjects that interest you. Once you identify investigators whose projects interest you, you can e-mail them to refer them to your Postbac IRTA application. You can find contact information for NIH investigators in the NIH Enterprise Directory.

What if I would like to do some research at the NIH but can't afford to spend a whole year?
Depending on your current educational status/level you might consider the Summer Internship Program (SIP). The application period for the SIP is mid-November through March 1, annually.

Are there other NIH research programs for which I might be eligible?
You could consider the Technical IRTA program, which aims to produce a cadre of highly trained laboratory support personnel.  Applications for the Technical IRTA program are also accepted year round.

Is health insurance provided?
Health insurance is required for all Postbac IRTA/CRTA trainees. The NIH will pay for low-option individual or family coverage available through the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES). If you wish to subscribe to an FAES policy with more extensive coverage than that provided by the NIH, you will be required to pay the difference in cost. If you are already insured on another policy, you will be allowed to remain on that policy if you provide evidence of coverage. If the policy is in your name, and you can demonstrate that you are the individual who makes the premium payments, you will be reimbursed by the amount the NIH would have paid for FAES coverage.

Is housing provided by the NIH?
The NIH is unable to provide housing for trainees. We can, however, offer some suggestions that may help you in finding a place to live:

  • The Moving Guide prepared by the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education provides housing suggestions along with information on virtually everything you will need to know about moving to Bethesda, Baltimore, or Frederick, MD.
  • The NIH Recreation & Welfare Association housing list contains information on numerous rentals convenient to the main NIH campus in Bethesda.

It might help you to know as well that the NIH is on the Red Line of the D.C. Metro at the Medical Center stop. Getting around via Metro is generally a good choice.