Big Data training and symposium

The Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) and Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) programs, both initiatives of the NIH Common Fund, announce their 2018 Summer Research Training Program in Biomedical Big Data Science. This is a research intensive, ten-week training for undergraduate and graduate students starting June 4, 2018. Applications are due on February 1st. For more information on how to apply, and to see past training fellows and their research projects, see the Training and Outreach page of the BD2K-LINCS website.

BD2K-LINCS also announces the 2018 Data Science Symposium, January 31-February 2, 2018, in sunny Miami, Florida. This year's topic is "Studying Systems Biology by Cellular Perturbations". For more information on the symposium, see their News and Events page.

Individual Development Plans - Introducing myIDP

Back in August we posted about NIH encouraging institutions to create Individual Development Plans with their graduate students and postdocs supported by NIH awards beginning on October 1, 2014. To assist in this process, respected journal Science has created myIDP, an in-depth and interactive website that helps grad students and postdocs explore their skills, strengths and interests, learn more about recommended careers in science, and discuss and share information with their mentors. They can also download their summary IDP as well as a certificate upon completing the website.

As of now, NIH PIs will be required to complete a section within their progress reports discussing the use of IDPs with any graduate students or postdocs included in the "List of Participants". The actual IDPs themselves need not be included in the report. The Office of Sponsored Programs suggests the use of myIDP to assist you in your reporting.

image from myIDP site

NIH will require eRA Commons IDs for students starting 10/1

For the purposes of project reporting, the NIH will be requiring that any graduate or undergraduate student participating on an NIH-funded project for one month or longer must have an eRA Commons username. Please contact our office to set up usernames for any students appearing in your report that need them.

Please also advise your students that since they'll potentially have these accounts for the entirety of their research careers, they may not want to use irreverent handles such as "labrat4lyfe" or "I_can_haz_neuroscience?"

NIH encouraging Individual Development Plans for grad students and postdocs

Starting October 1, 2014, "annual progress reports... must include a section to describe how individual development plans are used to identify and promote the career goals of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers associated with the award." At least initially, you will not need to include any specific plan in your progress report, but rather state whether or not you are using an individual development plan to help provide a structured training experience for the grad students and postdocs on your award. As the NIH is allowing institutions to decide whether to implement this encouraged practice and the management of such, Fordham's Office of Research and Office of Sponsored Programs are currently exploring options for the best approach to this. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, for more information on the Individual Development Plans, you may want to review:
The original notice NOT-OD-13-093;
The revised notice NOT-OD-14-113

NSF seeks reviewers for their fellowship program

The NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program, now in its 62nd year, needs reviewers. Interested? Please see their 'Dear Colleague' letter on the subject.

Grad students petition Congress for more research $

Yesterday, MIT students presented Congress with a petition asking for more "indispensable investments in science and engineering research". The petition currently has more than 10,300 signatures; you can add yours here.

More information about the petition, and the Stand with Science project: