Scientific Program Analysts

My time at NHGRI ended up having a dramatic impact on my future in that I was exposed to people from such diverse training backgrounds, which made me reconsider my medical school plans. It was here that I realized I could combine my love for genetics and cancer into the field of molecular epidemiology, which I really only became exposed to after having candid conversations with several program advisors through the brown bag lunch opportunities.

The skill sets I developed and uncovered during my time as a Program Analyst at NHGRI have proved invaluable for my career. Interacting with different research groups spread across the globe, each with competing interests and timelines, taught me lessons in time management, organization, and most importantly communication. Learning how to adapt to different communication styles, while managing deadlines and acquiring the new "language" of scientific research gave me an incredible foundation for becoming a peer leader who can see the big picture, identify how to synthesize and prioritize tasks, and effectively set and achieve team goals.

One of the most valuable parts of the PA experience is that it put me in direct contact with leaders in the field of genomics, both inside NIH and outside. By working with my different programs, I not only gained a range of knowledge about current research directions in genomics, but was also given access to multiple mentors that helped shape my career path. 

You see firsthand how a science funding agency works, and how that institute interacts within the greater bureaucracy. The value of being a young person with some intimate knowledge of these processes is valuable, regardless of whether one transitions into government and policy, or aims for academic pursuits. There is also a degree of access to very interesting people, from NHGRI staff to broader NIH community and community of grantees, that is hard to find in a more traditional first job.

These things will change the way you think about the world and approach problems. I had thought very little of computational biology and bioinformatics, let alone the alphabet soup of government agencies. For a few years, I got to explore the terrain of both. This has been immensely valuable in graduate school as I work on genomics and science diplomacy — I certainly couldn't have done either without a few years at NHGRI.

NHGRI is full of wonderfully dedicated, passionate people and it was inspiring to work at an institution that not only strives to advance research in human health and disease but next to the people that make it happen. The two years that you will spend at the institution will be formative in your professional career where you’ll learn what it means to be a young professional while taking the time to explore your career interests with people that are there to help you achieve your goals, whether it be graduate or medical school or getting a new job. You’ll also learn an incredible amount about genetics and genomics, while working alongside those at the forefront of their field!

This job has been invaluable to my personal and professional maturity before applying to medical school. It helped me explore my interests and decide with more certainty what my career goals are and how to achieve them.

Some of the things I appreciate about this job:

1. National (and often global) perspective on scientific research, healthcare and implementation;
2. Sweeping but comprehensive perspective on the process of incorporating scientific discovery into medicine and ultimately tangible changes in people’s health;
3. Opportunities for growth and learning with supportive staff willing to connect you to people who can help with your interests (physicians, scientists, genetic counselors, policy, communications, design, management, history, teaching, the possibilities are endless!);
4. Opportunities to interact with prominent researchers in the field, from a variety of institutions and perspectives.

I think that the PA role gives the applicant the opportunity to learn about science and also become a better writer . . . the NIH affords PAs the opportunity to take classes and learn more about human medicine and biology.

It was through my PA experience at NHGRI that I discovered the world of genomics beyond basic science research. I worked on NHGRI-funded genomic medicine implementation and ELSI programs that helped me realize exactly what I wanted to pursue for my PhD . . . In addition to these experiences, I was able to considerably improve my management skills through organizing large-scale program meetings (domestic and international) as well as monitoring the progress of extramural NHGRI consortia. These skills are useful in my current role as research assistant and study coordinator for research projects at my university.