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FelCom - Bylaws

(Revised January 2011)

General

  • These bylaws and additional policies and procedures will take effect on February 1, 2011.
  • Each current member of the Fellows Committee must be familiar with these bylaws and agree that their activities as members are bound by them.
  • When significant changes are made to the bylaws, all members of the Fellows Committee must have ready access to the revised text.

 

Organization
The NIH Fellows Committee consists of at least two members from each of the Institutes and Centers (ICs) of the NIH. The committee is organized as follows:

FelCom Officers: FelCom officers consist of the basic science co-chair, clinical co-chair, administrative secretary, and membership secretary.

Co-chairpersons:

  • Two co-chairpersons will be elected by the membership of the committee. Only SD-appointed or at-large members who have been active members of FelCom for a minimum of six months are eligible to be elected co-chair. An active member is defined as having attended at least five of the six meetings in the first six months of membership and then abiding by the FelCom attendance policy from that point on. Members wishing to pursue a co-chair position also need to be active participants in their respective subcommittee, so as to better understand the roles that these play in FelCom. It is highly recommended that there be one clinical and one basic science co-chair. In the event that the committee is unable to find an eligible volunteer to run for a co-chair position that would allow for having one clinical and one basic science co-chair, the committee will be permitted to have either two clinical co-chairs or two basic science co-chairs. However, this is strongly discouraged and every attempt should be made to find an eligible volunteer in order to have one clinical and one basic science co-chair in place.
  • Each co-chairperson will serve in that position for a period of 12 months. Therefore, if one of the co-chairs leaves in the middle of his/her term, the replacement would be co-chair for a full year from the month that he/she started.
  • One co-chairperson will serve as chair for each scheduled meeting. The co-chairpersons may share this responsibility equally if they desire.
  • The co-chairs will be either IC-appointed or at-large FelCom representatives. 
  • The co-chairs are strongly advised to attend the monthly OITE fellows orientation every first Tuesday of the month at 9AM in Wilson Hall, (Bldg 1, 3rd floor), to promote FelCom to the new fellows and to recruit new members.

Secretaries:

  • The co-chairpersons shall solicit volunteers to serve as membership and administrative secretaries. If more than one member volunteers, the position will be filled by a simple majority vote by the membership of the committee.
  • The membership and administrative secretaries shall be considered a team and perform the duties of the other when one secretary cannot attend a monthly meeting.
  • FelCom members serving as secretaries are exempt from the requirement of serving on subcommittees, but may still do so if they desire.
  • The secretaries will be reappointed as necessary.
  • The secretaries will be either IC-appointed or at-large FelCom representatives.

 

Membership

All postdoctoral level intramural NIH fellows are eligible for membership on the NIH Fellows Committee.  There are two types of FelCom representatives:

  • IC-appointed representatives are those that are selected and appointed by the Scientific Director, Clinical Director, or Training Director of their IC. Each IC is encouraged to appoint up to two (2) representatives per year, preferably one basic science and one clinical.
  • At-large representatives are those that have volunteered to become involved in a FelCom subcommittee or as a FelCom liaison; their appointment to FelCom will be done through the Postdoctoral Services Director of the Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE). The appointment request must be submitted in writing and individuals must make a one year commitment to FelCom and abide by the same attendance policies as IC-appointed representatives.

Both IC-appointed and at-large FelCom representatives have voting rights if the above terms have been satisfactorily met.

  • Special volunteers or ad-hoc members are fellows that have volunteered to help with a specific FelCom subcommittee only for a defined length of time, but do not have to abide by the one-year commitment and absentee policy. Special volunteers do not have voting privileges. Special volunteers are not required to attend FelCom meetings but are encouraged to do so.

 

Appointment

  • Appointments are for a period of 12 months. Members may have an appointment renewed for an additional year. Members must notify the appropriate SD or OITE, the FelCom membership secretary, and the FelCom Co-chairpersons two months prior to the expiration of a term to allow sufficient time for selection of a replacement. This notification should occur at the time of a scheduled committee meeting. Fellows who are unable to complete their term for any reason should immediately notify the appropriate SD in writing. If a FelCom representative is elected to an officer's position during their time of appointment, their IC may appoint an additional representative during this time. This is to ensure the FelCom officers have sufficient time to devote to their position, yet the IC still has adequate representation on FelCom.
  • Method of Appointment for IC-Appointed Representatives: To ensure that every fellow has the opportunity to serve as his/her IC's representative, the following method of appointment will be followed:
  1. Two months prior to the end of a term or immediately for unexpected vacancies, a standardized memo will be sent to each fellow of the particular IC notifying them of the vacancy. This standardized memo will be forwarded by the current representative with instructions for those interested in filling the position. Interested fellows must respond no later than fifteen working days after the memo is sent.
  2. After all potential members have responded, the current representative(s) from the particular IC will take the list to the SD, who will then appoint a new member. 
  3. If no interested fellows are identified, the appropriate Scientific Director will be notified in writing by the membership secretary and will be asked to appoint a new member within one month following the date of notification.
  • Continued Appointment: To remain in good standing members must attend or be excused from all scheduled monthly meetings. Excused absences (see below) should be coordinated with the membership secretary and co-chairpersons, preferably in advance.
  1. Excused absences include but are not limited to annual, sick, or maternity leave; attendance at scientific meetings, or patient care. Excused absences will not be considered a missed meeting.
  2. If a member has two unexcused absences, he/she will be notified in writing by the membership secretary that he/she is no longer in good standing and is being considered for dismissal from the Committee. If the individual does not respond or provide good reason for the absences, immediate removal from the Committee will be warranted, along with a letter sent to the appropriate SD indicating the need for a replacement.

 

Responsibilities

NIH Administration: All levels of the NIH administration should be accessible to representatives of the Fellows Committee.

Scientific Directors: Ensure that their IC has two (2) representatives appointed to the Committee at all times. Support the IC's representatives to the Fellows Committee as required.

Office of Intramural Training and Education: The Office of Intramural Training and Education should offer logistical support (staff permitting) to Committee-sponsored special events.

Fellows Committee Co-Chairpersons:

  • Communicate with all levels of the NIH administration involved in policy decisions regarding fellows.
  • Ensure that NIH Fellows Committee members are notified of the time and location of monthly meetings.
  • Conduct scheduled monthly meetings of the Fellows Committee in accordance with the guidelines herein.
  • Ensure that information from Fellows Committee meeting is communicated to all NIH fellows. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
  1. Minutes of monthly meetings and subcommittee reports are posted on the FelCom website.
  2. Items of special interest to all NIH fellows such as Fellows Committee sponsored events are distributed via electronic bulletin board, NIH Record, Catalyst and outside the Office of Intramural Training and Education.
  3. Committee members who have two unexcused absences are notified of their dismissal from the committee.
  4. Secretary: Secretarial duties will be divided between the administrative and membership secretaries. The membership secretary shall be responsible for keeping attendance, communicating with members regarding unexcused absences, notifying SDs of vacancies on the committee, welcoming new members, and following-up with members who renew their terms. The administrative secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of meetings, posting the minutes on the FelCom web page, sending out monthly FelCom updates to the FELLOW-L list serve, and keeping the FelCom membership and subcommittee lists updated on the FelCom web page.

Fellows Committee Members:

  • Attend all scheduled meetings.
  • Participate on at least one subcommittee.
  • Ensure that pertinent information is disseminated to the fellows in their IC. 
  • Communicate concerns to the Committee from those fellows whom they represent.
  • Coordinate distribution of information through specific subcommittees.

 

Conduct of Meetings

Time and Place: The regular meetings of the NIH Fellows Committee shall be held on the first Thursday of every month at 4:00 p.m., unless otherwise determined by the NIH Fellows Committee or by the co-chairpersons. If available, videoconferencing will be provided at the monthly meetings.

Quorum: Fifty percent or more of the current eligible voting membership of the committee shall constitute a quorum. A quorum shall be necessary to vote on proposed motions and to amend the Committee's Bylaws.

Order of Business:

  • The chair shall call the meeting to order.
  • Approval of minutes.
  • Announcements from FelCom Officers will be made.
  • Special announcements from the Office of Intramural Training & Education or the Office of Intramural Research.
  • Presentations from other organizations for distribution to NIH fellows will be made when on the agenda.
  • Reports of NIH ICs, as assigned in the annex, will be announced
  • Reports of half of FelCom subcommittees will be announced.
  • General orders or unfinished business will be presented.
  • New business will be addressed. 
  • Adjournment of the meeting will be last.

Motions: A motion may arise as a result of a special representative's or committee's report or under unfinished or new business. The steps to be taken are as follows:

  • A member makes a motion.
  • Another member seconds the motion. 
  • The chair states the question on the motion and presents the motion for consideration by the assembly. 
  • Members debate the motion. 
  • The chair puts the question to a vote. 
  • The chair announces the result of the vote. In cases where no opposition to the motion is expected, the chair may save time by obtaining general or unanimous consent. To obtain general consent, the chair states "If there is no objection . . ." If no member calls out "I object", the chair will announce the action as decided upon.

Debate, Assignment of the Floor: Before a member can make a motion or speak in a debate, he or she must obtain the floor by being recognized by the chair. While a motion is open to debate, the floor should be assigned as follows:

  • The member who made the motion may claim the floor first.
  • No one is entitled to the floor a second time in debate on the same motion, as long as any other member who has not spoken on this motion desires the floor. 
  • If the chair knows that persons seeking the floor have opposite opinions on the question, he or she should let the floor alternate between those favoring and those opposing.

Voting: Motions shall carry if they receive a majority vote. All regular members present who are in good standing may vote. The chair may choose whether or not to vote and can vote (but is not obliged to) whenever their vote will affect the result, such as to break or cause a tie. A motion receiving a tie vote will be rejected.

 

Subcommittees

Subcommittees shall be created by nomination and majority vote of those present at the regular monthly meeting, to investigate and recommend action on matters that concern the NIH Fellows Committee.  The subcommittees will be comprised of volunteers from the NIH Fellows Committee membership and any special volunteers (ad hoc members). Each subcommittee will have at least one chair who is an IC-appointed or at-large representative who will report to the FelCom co-chairs. Subcommittee chair positions will be for a term of one year and upcoming vacancies will be announced at the FelCom meeting one month before the end of the term. Replacement for the co-chair positions will be decided upon by the current subcommittee.  The duties of a subcommittee and its power to act on certain decisions shall be outlined at its formation and shall be approved by the Committee.  There will be two types of subcommittees that may be formed:

Standing subcommittees: Career Development, Clinical Fellows, Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE), Job Fair, Mentoring, Publications & Publicity, Social Activities, Visiting Fellows, Web Page, and Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) committees

Ad hoc subcommittees: At its formation, an ad hoc subcommittee shall be given a specific period of time to complete its task.  If the ad hoc subcommittee cannot complete the task within the appointed time, the co-chairs may consider extending the appointment time or dissolving the subcommittee with the approval of the NIH Fellows Committee "membership".  All subcommittees shall report to the co-chairs during the monthly meeting of the NIH Fellows Committee membership. 

All subcommittees shall submit a written report to the co-chairs before the monthly meeting of the NIH Fellows Committee membership. The written reports will be compiled by the co-chairs and distributed before the NIH Fellows Committee meeting. Time permitting, and depending on the content/impact of the progress report, the subcommittees shall give an oral report to the NIH Fellows Committee membership.

Current standing subcommittees include the following:

Career Development Committee: The goal of the Career Development Subcommittee is to educate NIH fellows regarding the career opportunities that are available within and outside of the NIH system. Through a year long seminar series, this subcommittee provides fellows with information regarding survival skills for their post-graduate work as well as skills needed for making the transition from training positions to various professional areas of interest. It is also the intent of the subcommittee to provide extensive information regarding varied career options that include the pursuit of academic tenure-track positions, industrial positions, administrative positions, and alternative careers. This subcommittee also assists other subcommittees and NIH entities that involve or require career development for NIH fellows.

Clinical Fellows Committee: The Clinical Fellows Committee (ClinFelCom) is co-chaired by the Clinical Chair of FelCom and the FelCom MEC representative. In the event that there are two FelCom basic science co-chairs, ClinFelCom may elect a co-chair from the pool of ClinFelCom members in addition to the FelCom MEC representative. The other members of ClinFelCom include all of the clinical fellows on FelCom and a clinical fellow representative appointed by each program director, who would be added as an ad hoc member of FelCom without the responsibilities of full membership. ClinFelCom holds quarterly meetings with the Director of the Clinical Center to address issues of concern related to Clinical Fellows, clinical fellowships, patient care, and clinical research at the Clinical Center. Prior to each meeting, the co-chairs solicit agenda items from the Clinical Fellows community at large. All clinical fellows are invited to attend Quarterly meetings, and attendance is required for clinical fellows on FelCom and the program director appointed representatives.

Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) Committee: FARE began in 1995 to provide recognition for the outstanding scientific research performed by intramural postdoctoral fellows. The award is sponsored by the NIH Fellows Committee, the Scientific Directors, the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health, and the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education, and is funded by the Scientific Directors and the Office of Research on Women's Health. Fellows submit an abstract of their research, which is peer reviewed in a blind study section competition. Winners of FARE awards will each receive a $1000 stipend to attend a scientific meeting at which they will present their abstract, either as a poster or a seminar. FARE winners are asked to present their work at the NIH Research Festival and serve as judges for the following year's FARE competition. FelCom members are required to serve as judges each year. FARE applications are accepted every year in March.

Job Networking Committee: The Job Networking subcommittee is responsible for planning and publicizing events that network NIH fellows with hiring organizations. The Job Networking subcommittee, with the aid of the NIH fellows' community, pursues organizations that they would like to have visit the NIH campus. Monthly networking events act as venues for fellows to learn about career opportunities at these organizations and network with company representatives. The Office of Intramural Training and Education provides essential support during the planning process for these events. Organizations unable to attend these events post job opportunities on an online repository available to the NIH community year round. The subcommittee also sends liaisons to sit on local job fair planning committees for the purpose of communicating the details of these events to the subcommittee and NIH fellows.

Mentoring Committee: The mission of the Mentoring subcommittee is to provide support to fellows to successfully complete their fellowship and receive the best possible training at NIH. The Mentoring subcommittee is committed to ensuring that the mentoring system at NIH provides assistance to strengthen mentor-mentee relationships, allowing fellows to successfully conduct independent research, improve their scientific and personal communication skills, and develop and achieve their career and training goals throughout their fellowship at NIH. To achieve this mission, the mentoring subcommittee conducts a series of seminars on mentoring experiences and expectations. The subcommittee also gathers information on mentoring experiences of fellows at NIH in order to identify areas for improvement.

Publications & Publicity Committee: The Publicity and Publications subcommittee disseminates FelCom information to NIH fellows through flyers, announcements in the NIH press (Catalyst and Record) and online resources (DDIR bulletin) and listserv postings as described below.

  • The subcommittee will maintain a supply of FelCom informational flyers or brochures. The content and design of the informational flyer/brochure will be determined by the subcommittee in conjunction with OITE with final approval from all FelCom representatives. Copies of the flyers will be available to FelCom representatives for distribution to their respective ICs.
  • The subcommittee will maintain the inventory of FelCom promotional materials (pens, notepads, etc.) as funding permits. The design of these items will be determined by the subcommittee and OITE, with final approval from all FelCom representatives. These items will be available to FelCom representatives for distribution to their respective ICs (funding and inventory permitting).
  • The Publicity and Publications subcommittee will submit FelCom articles for inclusion in each issue of the NIH Catalyst. The articles will provide information concerning upcoming FelCom events or topics relevant to NIH fellows. These articles will be written by subcommittee members or representatives from the subcommittee sponsoring the described event.
  • The subcommittee will submit announcements of major events (FARE, DCTA, etc.) for inclusion in the appropriate issues of the NIH Record and the DDIR bulletin. 
  • The Publicity and Publications subcommittee will advertise individual FelCom events at the request of the appropriate subcommittee chairperson.
  • The subcommittee will contribute to the maintenance of the Fellow-L listserv by designating at least one member to act as a moderator/owner of Fellow-L.

Service and Outreach Subcommittee (SOS): The goal of the Service and Outreach Subcommittee (SOS) is to provide an opportunity for NIH fellows to work together with a common mission of giving back to the NIH and greater Washington DC communities. This subcommittee organizes group service activities that members of FelCom and other fellows can volunteer for on a regular basis, with a minimum of six activities per year. The subcommittee also seeks outreach opportunities for fellows to be involved in, such as scientific judging or involvement in high school science clubs, etc. The subcommittee provides information to fellows regarding non-group service activities that may be of interest.

Social Activities Committee: The Social subcommittee strives to enhance the growth of the NIH community, and is responsible for promoting the social interaction of NIH fellows through organizing a wide variety of events:

  • FelCom Happy Hour: This monthly social networking event is held at local bars and restaurants in Bethesda. The party room or a section of the bar is usually reserved exclusively for NIH fellows and special deals on food and beverages are offered. FelCom Happy Hours generally start at 6 p.m. and are open to all NIH fellows, other fellows, co-workers, friends, and family. Flyers are distributed by email on Fellow-L and individual IC email lists and are also posted on the FelCom website.
  • FelCom Holiday Party: The biggest social event of the year is the Holiday Party which is held in December at the FAES House. It is open to all NIH fellows, other fellows, faculty, co-workers, friends, and family. A minimal admission fee is typically charged to cover expenses. 
  • FelCom Social Weekend: During the weekends throughout the year, the social subcommittee organizes cultural activities such as visits to museums and tours of temporary exhibitions and outdoor activities such as bike rides, canoeing and picnics. We are always open to new suggestions from NIH fellows!
  • On occasion, the FelCom Social subcommittee also collaborates with the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education to organize networking events in conjunction with the National Graduate Student Research Festival, the NIH Career Symposium, and other special events.

Visiting Fellows Committee: The NIH Visiting Fellows Committee (NIH VFC) is composed of NIH post-doctoral visiting fellows (VFs) from all around the world. It is a self-governing body serving the interest of visiting fellows in their transition to life at the NIH, by working to make their experience here worthwhile, as well as creating the opportunities for visiting fellows to maintain continuity in their research upon returning to their home countries. NIH VFC also plans to encourage the establishment and maintenance of strong institutional links of VFs with NIH after they complete their training and go back to their home countries.

Web Page Committee: The Web Page subcommittee ensures that the FelCom web page is accurate and updated regularly so that the NIH fellows' community will have access to all the information gathered by FelCom subcommittees and liaisons.

Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) Committee: The WALS subcommittee was formed to improve fellow participation in the nomination and quality of nominations of WALS speakers and to increase fellow opportunity to interact with WALS speakers. The WALS subcommittee is not responsible for arrangement of the visits by fellow-nominated WALS speakers; this responsibility lies with the sponsoring IC.

 

Other Policies and Procedures
Committee membership will also include representation on NIH-wide committees. Liaisons to these committees will serve a term of two years and will notify FelCom one month before the end of their term at the monthly meeting. Replacement liaisons will be open to all NIH fellows and will be voted on at the FelCom meeting by the voting representatives. The NIH-wide committees are as follows:

Animal Research Advisory Committee (ARAC) Liaison: The Animal Research Advisory Committee meets monthly to discuss trans-NIH topics and to provide advice to the NIH Deputy Director for Intramural Research who serves as the institutional official for the NIH Intramural Research Program (24 out of the 30 NIH components use animals in their intramural research program). ARAC provides guidelines on every aspect of animal research within the NIH Intramural Program, which are accessible via the website of the Office of Animal Care and Use (OACU).  The FelCom Liaison to ARAC attends all ARAC meetings and communicates information from topics discussed to the NIH fellows by reporting at the monthly FelCom meeting, via the FelCom website and e-mail using the Fellow-L listserv, if necessary. Also, the liaison represents the fellow's interests within ARAC meetings where he/she advocates that new or changed guidelines and policies do not interfere unreasonably with the practical bench work. The ARAC Liaison should be a fellow with substantial experience in animal research.

Child Care Board Liaison: The NIH Child Care Board is charged with promoting affordable, accessible, quality day care for NIH employees and advises the NIH regarding child care services and policies. The FelCom liaison provides a conduit between the board and FelCom to make sure the board is aware of issues pertaining to NIH fellows, and to keep fellows abreast of the child care situation at NIH.

Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics Liaison: The Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics is composed of a broad spectrum of scientists from the ICs. The committee was established in September, 1995 with three charges:

  • To develop and/or refine existing guidelines for the conduct of research, to develop procedures to protect both whistle blowers and scientists accused of scientific misconduct, and to develop a model for binding arbitration.
  • To develop effective mechanisms for research ethics training for the NIH scientific community, including the ethics column in The NIH Catalyst http://catalyst.cit.nih.gov/catalyst/.
  • To develop a course to train principal investigators in leadership, mentoring, and handling of conflict skills.

Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) Board Liaison: The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences will include an ad hoc member representing FelCom. Duties will include the following:

  • Report on the two annual board meetings regarding issues pertinent to FelCom and the post-doctoral community.
  • Communicate any issues raised in ad hoc FAES meetings pertinent to FelCom.
  • Communicate any issues raised at FelCom meetings to the FAES Executive Director and/or Board.

Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) Liaison: The NIH Fellows Committee clinical co-chair will submit a nomination to the Graduate Medical Education Committee Chair for one [two] members of the Fellows Committee to serve as the fellows' representative on the Graduate Medical Education Committee.

  • This representative will be a Clinical Fellow.
  • Member will serve in the position for a period of 12 months.
  • In general, the chair will request a volunteer to serve in this position 1-2 months prior to the end of the current representative's term.
  • The GMEC FelCom representative(s) will attend all GMEC meetings and will provide reports to FelCom detailing relevant content of meetings.
  • The GMEC FelCom representative(s) will administer the Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award conferred annually. The following process will occur:
  1. In June of each year notices will be placed in the NIH Catalyst and NIH Record, posted on bulletin boards throughout the NIH campus, and emails will be sent via the FELCOM list serve to all fellows soliciting nominations for the award.
  2. Nominations will be no more than a single page in length detailing the nominees' contributions to clinical teaching. These should be typed, signed by the submitting fellow, and submitted to OITE.
  3. Nominations for the award will be accepted for 4 to 6 weeks following the solicitation. Nominations will be accepted from the following individuals: All NIH Clinical fellows, NIH basic science fellows who have direct patient care responsibilities at the NIH, and former NIH Clinical Fellows who have completed their patient care roles at the NIH within the past 6 months.
  4. The co-chairpersons will review the submissions and present their findings to all clinical FELCOM subcommittee representatives (this includes: appointed clinical fellow representatives from FELCOM, liaison members to clinical FELCOM such as GMEC/MEC/Child Care Liaisons and members of the DCTA committee). The co-chairpersons may suggest an overwhelming choice or may suggest a vote by the membership if several nominees appear equally deserving.
  5. Following selection, OITE will notify the recipient regarding the details of the presentation. 
  6. The award will be presented by the GMEC FelCom representative(s).

Human Subjects Research Advisory Committee (HSRAC) Liaison: The Human Subjects Research Advisory Committee (HSRAC) meets every other month on Friday at 3:00. The HSRAC is responsible for advising the NIH Deputy Director for Intramural Research on the policies and procedures regarding the conduct of human subjects research in the NIH Intramural Research Program. The HSRAC is comprised of the Deputy Director for Intramural Research, who is the chair, the Director of the Office for Human Subjects Research, the 14 NIH IRB Chairs, the Director of the Clinical Center, and the Chief of the Clinical Center Department of Bioethics. The FelCom representative to the HSRAC must attend all meetings and report back any issues/concerns that are relevant to fellows at NIH.

Medical Executive Committee (MEC) Liaison: The NIH Fellows Committee clinical co-chair will submit a nomination to the Medical Executive Committee Chair for one [two] members of the Fellows Committee to serve as the fellows' representative on the Medical Executive Committee.

  • This representative will be a Clinical Fellow.
  • Member will serve in the position for a period of 12 months.
  • In general, the chair will request a volunteer to serve in this position 1 to 2 months prior to the end of the current representative's term.
  • The MEC FelCom representative(s) will attend all MEC meetings and will provide reports to FelCom detailing relevant content of meetings.

NIH Training Directors Committee Liaison: The NIH Training Directors Committee representative duties will include the following:

  • Attend the monthly NIH Training Directors' Committee Meetings and report on their discussions to FelCom.
  • Represent the interests of FelCom and the NIH fellows community.
  • Be part of the Postdoc Training Subcommittee and attend the monthly subcommittee meeting

National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Liaison: The duties of the liaison to the National Postdoctoral Association will include the following:

  • Provide a report regarding upcoming NPA activities.
  • Advertise major NPA events (i.e., Annual Meeting and receptions at various scientific meetings).
  • Communicate with the NPA Executive Director on a regular basis regarding any information he/she would like to have communicated to the NIH fellows (i.e., quarterly NPA newsletter).
  • Join the NPA and serve on an NPA Committee.

Women Scientist Advisors Committee Liaison: In 1991, Dr. Bernadine Healy, then Director of NIH, established a Task Force to examine the status of intramural women scientists. The Task Force, which included 15 intramural scientists and was chaired by Dr. Hindi Kleinman, issued a final report in November 1992. Among the recommendations was that each IC should have a Woman Scientist Advisor (WSA). These recommendations were unanimously approved by the Scientific Directors at their meeting of November 4, 1992. The activities of the IC-specific WSA (http://www1.od.nih.gov/oir/sourcebook/comm-adv/wsa.htm) include holding regular meetings with the Scientific Director in order to advise him/her about issues relevant to women scientists; attending Lab/Branch Chief meetings to serve as a representative of women scientists; informing the Institute's women scientists on issues which will affect them and soliciting their opinions; organizing meetings for the women scientists to discuss issues of general concern or to present programs of general interest; serving on IC tenure-track, tenured scientist, or lab/branch chief search committees; and attending monthly WSA committee meetings where issues of concern to all NIH women scientists are discussed. Additionally, the WSA Committee organizes and promotes a lecture series featuring NIH intramural women scientists.

 

Review of Bylaws

  • Co-chairpersons of the Fellows Committee shall review these bylaws at least annually to ensure currency.
  • Co-chairpersons will announce the review period to committee members to allow input from all members.
  • Proposed changes to the bylaws can be made at any time following discussion at a regularly scheduled committee meeting pending the vote of the committee membership.
  • Proposed changes should be submitted in writing to the co-chairpersons and presented for discussion at the next scheduled committee meeting.
  • All proposed changes will be discussed and approved by the majority of a quorum of members of the Fellows Committee.

 

ANNEX: Institute-center presentation schedule

  • January - NIMH
  • February - NIAID, NICHD
  • March - NCI-CCR 
  • April - NCI-DCEG, NIDDK
  • May - NIAMS 
  • June - NHGRI, GPP
  • July - NIAAA 
  • August - NHLBI, FDA
  • September - NLM-NCBI 
  • October - NEI 
  • November - NIDCD, NIDCR
  • December - NINDS