NIH funds new Genomics and Public Service Fellowship Program
Program to support emerging genomics leaders in policy, education, communications and scientific program management.
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) a five-year, $7.1 million contract to support a new Genomics and Public Service Fellowship Program, which will provide early-stage professionals with experience in a range of genomics careers.
“Careers in genomics extend well beyond the laboratory now. There is an entire rainbow of opportunities to advance genomics in research, medicine and society,” said NHGRI Director Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D. “Future advances in genomics will need the next generation of minds working in the education, communications, policy and scientific program areas. This new ASHG-NHGRI fellowship program will provide novel training opportunities to foster such experts.”
Through the Genomics and Public Service Fellowship Program, participants will embark on experiences at ASHG, NHGRI and/or additional locations to gain valuable skills related to genomics careers. The program includes two main groups, one at the graduate level and one at the postbaccalaureate level.
Careers in genomics extend well beyond the laboratory now. There is an entire rainbow of opportunities to advance genomics in research, medicine and society. Future advances in genomics will need the next generation of minds working in the education, communications, policy and scientific program areas. This new ASHG-NHGRI fellowship program will provide novel training opportunities to foster such experts.
The graduate-level group will build upon an existing partnership with ASHG, the Genetics and Public Policy and the Genetics Education and Engagement fellowships which have already trained dozens of fellows. Now, a new fellowship, the Genomics Communications Fellowship, will offer experiences in the swiftly changing science media landscape.
The postbaccalaureate group will participate in the new ASHG-NHGRI Postbaccalaureate Genomics Analyst Fellowship, which will provide 14 recent college graduates with training in the oversight and administration of research-funding programs at the forefront of genomics.
“This fellowship program will foster a more dynamic, diverse and experienced community of people who have a heart for genomics and genetics,” said ASHG President Brendan Lee, M.D., Ph.D. “It’s exciting to see a partnership between two like-minded organizations with a shared vision focused on investing in people passionate about using genomics and genetics to benefit others equitably.”
The Genomics and Public Service Fellowship Program will begin accepting applications in fall 2023 and selected fellows will begin in spring 2024. NHGRI and ASHG will share more details about the application process in the coming months.
About NHGRI and NIH
About the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI): At NHGRI, we are focused on advances in genomics research. Building on our leadership role in the initial sequencing of the human genome, we collaborate with the world's scientific and medical communities to enhance genomic technologies that accelerate breakthroughs and improve lives. By empowering and expanding the field of genomics, we can benefit all of humankind. For more information about NHGRI and its programs, visit www.genome.gov.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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Last updated: June 20, 2023