GOVERNMENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OFFICER Rebecca Wagenaar-Miller, PhD Scientific Review Officer National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research NIH
WHAT IS AN SRO? Scientific Review Officer (SRO) Designated Federal Official for review meetings Extramural Scientist Administrator (ESA) Health Scientist Administrator (HSA)
WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY? Over 80,000 applications reviewed at NIH every year Almost 18,000 reviewers During the stimulus package over 20,000 RC1 applications were reviewed in the space of 2 months
THE NIH PEER REVIEW PROCESS Initial peer review Recommendations on scientific and technical merit Scientific Review Groups (SRGs, Study Sections ) or Special Emphasis Panels (SEPs) Advisory Council or Board Second level of review Recommendations to the ICs on funding, appeals, program priorities Final funding decisions IC Director
SRO JOB DUTIES Point of contact for applicants during the review process Performs administrative review of applications Determines scientific expertise required Identifies and recruits reviewers Assigns reviewers to each application Arranges meeting logistics Manages conflicts of interest Presides at review committee meetings Writes and edits summary statements to provide an accurate summary of the evaluation for National Advisory Councils and Institute Directors Applicants
JOB REQUIREMENTS Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent) Post-doctoral research or independent research Publication record Administrative background American Citizenship
HOW DO YOU GET AN SRO JOB? Check for jobs at www.usajobs.gov health scientist administrator 601 Check websites of individual id NIH institutes t for postings Check Center for Scientific Review (CSR) website Network, network, network Consider applying to contracting company (such as Kelly Scientific) Try to find an internship program (e.g., NHLBI http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/sro/srointernship.htm)
JOB APPLICATION PROCESS Application Resume or CV KSA (knowledge, skills, and abilities) Knowledge of principles, theories, and practices applicable to biomedical research in the areas of dental and craniofacial research. Knowledge of Federal grants, review procedures, administrative requirements and management of a scientific review group. Ability to organize and orally communicate scientific and administrative information to a diverse scientific and non-scientific audience. Skill and experience in writing and editing reports and correspondence of a scientific and technical nature. Interview
SRO SALARY AND BENEFITS Positions range from GS12-14 GS12: $74,872 $97,333 GS13: $89,033 - $115,742 GS14: $105,211 - $136,771 Vacation plus 10 Federal Holidays 13 days per year (less than 3 years) 20 days per year (between 3 and 15 years) 26 days per year (greater than 15 years)
SRO CAREER PATH AT NIH Limited in promotion at NIH to GS14 Branch chief (GS15) CSR for management of larger standing study sections Division Chief at CSR CSR Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR) Program Officer Policy Analyst Detail to try out other positions at NIH (policy, research misconduct, education, etc.)
CAREER OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF NIH Foundation or non-profit Howard Hughes University office of sponsored research Journal Federal government FDA NSF
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES Quality of life Exposure to cutting edge research Interactions with scientists Sense of accomplishment Not at the bench Not at the bench Individual work can be isolating Regulation driven, not very flexible Over time, less challenging Over time, less challenging Career advancement can be limiting
JOB PROSPECTS: GOOD Stability of federal government job Federal government oldest workforce Average age government employee in 2008 was 46 Will experience the baby boom retirement wave earlier and faster than any of the other sectors 2008 study by Partnership for Public Service estimated federal agencies will lose 530,000 employees (1/3 of workforce) by 2012 Brain drain" or "retirement tsunami" Do not anticipate reduction in number of grant applications
TIPS FOR JOB GETTING AN SRO JOB Start looking EARLY! If job open for 7 days don t waste too much time applying someone slated for position Try various contracting companies Try internships (paid or unpaid) Try institutes first rather than CSR
TIPS FOR GENERAL JOB SEARCH Informational interviews Network Look on web Career sites USAjobs Online newspaper classifieds Journals Foundation and Association websites Do a detail
Call or email before applying Send cover letter Research the people that t will be interviewing i i you Know what the job entails Send a thank you letter
OTHER NIH EXPERIENCE Intramural postdoctoral fellow NIDCR 2003-2007 NIH loan repayment Intramural loan repayment application and award process