Thanks for talking to us today.
The landscape for biomedical research is changing rapidly.
The traditional career progression with the end result of a trainee running their
independent laboratory in an academic setting is no longer the normal outcome, but maybe
more the exception to that rule.
So what is NIH doing to address this?
Well...first we've acknowledged the reality, which I think is a major step forward.
And as you know we're launched this BEST Program...
Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training.
And what this program does is it provides institutions with some resources to facilitate
their exposing graduate students to a much broader array of career opportunities.
Things in business, the law, government...obviously in industry,
both pharma and bio...as well as media and public policy.
All of these areas are very rich and important domains for scientists
to consider career options in.
Very importantly, this program...which currently consist of I think its 17 sites...is having
the results of the efforts analyzed.
So we'll have a sense of what works and what doesn't work.
And in so of figuring that out, we'll be able to report
best practices across the country.
I think it's really a major step forward.
What does the NIH hope to achieve after all of this?
I mean there are five year programs that end and that's the end of it.
What does NIH think will come out of that?
Well...so this really is like an enzyme.
I need just a little bit to catalyze significant things.
And in this case what we're attempting to catalyze is cultural change...
non-trivial to be sure.
But it really is crucially important to get institutions...and I guess at the end of the
day, faculty...to appreciate that times have changed and that we really do need to provide
a broader set of opportunities to our graduate students.
I appreciate that many faculty are a bit uncomfortable when contemplating that their
students may take careers outside of what they themselves are engaged in.
But all the more reason to have the institution take a leadership role in this to match
their students with experts in the various fields that I outlined before.
What would your advice be to a trainee or a grad student or a
postdoc right now in this climate?
Well...OK...with the caveat that my own son who's a postdoc doesn't necessarily listen to me
so there's no reason why anybody else should.
So first I would say...you know, "Congratulations."
Because really this is a spectacular time to be entering the biomedical workforce.
And so no matter what career path you undertake, its critical that you become the very
best scientist you're capable of and continue to function at the very highest level.
NIH feels very strongly that both research intensive as well as research related
scientific careers are equally important.
And we have to really look at them as being equivalent in the way we measure...for
example...success of training grants or other opportunities.
I would urge young people to explore their career options, because everybody is going to
find one that fits them.
And it will be different for each person.
And we're committed as an agency to try and affect the cultural changes that are required
so that all career paths ultimately are respected and valued in an equivalent way.