Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellowship (IRTA)

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Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellowship (IRTA)

Program Description

This program is for recent college graduates considering graduate or professional school in healthcare and STEM fields. These are full-time research positions within one of the NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) in the NIH Intramural Research Program. Research groups are located on many NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD.

Postbacs train in research groups directed by a Principal Investigator (PI). We offer research opportunities in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences with opportunities to explore basic, translational, and clinical research. Students with experience in biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, physics, computer science, bioinformatics, and other health-related fields are invited to apply. Postbacs may not work in administrative offices or outside of the NIH Intramural Research Program.

In addition to an intensive research experience, our postbacs have access to:

All NIH postbacs are eligible to participate in the NIH Academy on Health Disparities.

Application Due Date
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Eligibility

You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. In addition, you must be:

  • A college graduate who received a bachelor’s degree within three years of beginning the program

OR

  • Have received a master’s degree within six months before beginning the program

You must also be able to pass a federal background check. We strongly encourage you to carefully read the full terms and conditions. Ignoring this information could prevent you from taking part in the program.

Applicants with a family member working at NIH should be aware of the strict nepotism policy, which may limit your ability to work in certain NIH institutes, centers, or research groups.

Length
One to two years

Award Benefits

Stipends for postbacs are adjusted annually and are based on relevant research experience gained after completion of the bachelor's degree.

NIH also offers fully-paid health insurance for individuals and families. This includes coverage for medical, dental, and vision needs.

There is free parking on each NIH campus. Postbacs on some campuses may be eligible to participate in the Transhare program.

How to Apply

Before you begin your application, we encourage you to:

Watch this video before applying. It talks about expectations of the program and provides a framework for deciding if the program is right for you. It also discusses the application process and provides information on finding appropriate research groups.

The decision to come to the NIH as a postbac is an important one. These are full-time research positions where you will be expected to master a variety of techniques, present your research, and work on complex teams. While a postbac you should focus on developing scientific, professional, career, and resilience skills critical for your long-term success; finding a mentor who supports that is an important part of the application process.

Visit the OITE website for information on completing your application.
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Last Reviewed on
March 2024