NIH Postbac IRTA

[CornellMan]

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Hi all,

Heading into my senior year of college, and I am trying to plan my gap year. I am interested in the NIH Postbac IRTA program, particularly with the National Eye Institute (am fascinated with ophthalmic research and want to go into ophthalmology). My one question is how influential will it be for my future career? I have been doing research for several years now, but I have never really come close to getting a publication (also the research at my school is more basic sciences as opposed to translational stuff). Is it possible to get published working for a year with the NIH or is one year simply just not long enough? I really want to get at least one publication during my career...

Also, how difficult is it to get a position with the NIH? Is finding a lab similar to what goes on in undergrad where you send out emails to whichever PI has research interests that match mine? If it helps, I spent last summer doing research on visual diseases (different institution than my undergrad school).

Thanks!

 

[Deel323]

Hey, 2nd year Postbac IRTA here. For your question on pubs: I got three in my first year, including one first author, but I got extremely lucky with my lab. If publishing is important to you, ask about it when you interview with PIs (they can't promise anything but you'll get a sense of where their research is at).

As for the application process, you have to complete the online application on the NIH OITE website (cover letter, recommendations, etc.) and then email many, many PIs. I highly recommend watching the video/reading the application tips on the OITE website. Start emailing PIs in January if you want a job by graduation.

 

[FutureOncologist]

The only thing I know about the program (I've done 4 years of research, 3 years were meaningful with publications, so I have looked into it during undergrad) is that, after 1 or 2 years, they help you get placed into a Graduate School (Medical, Dental, etc.)

As far as publications? That depends on the PI and the research he/she is doing. You could luck out and publish in your first year, do a few poster presentations, or just join in the middle of a study and not see it to finish (though that's highly unlikely.)

 

[JackieChanFan]

For most IRTAs 1 year is not long enough . You are far more likely to get a publication by staying 2 years.

 

[ecolik-12]

I was a postbac IRTA for a year and 6 months. I was able to get a high impact publication within my first year but it was more due to being at the right place at the right time rather than talent. Try to join a lab that is run my MDs and focuses on translational research rather than basic science.

 

[hola123456]

I was a postbac IRTA for a year and 6 months. I was able to get a high impact publication within my first year but it was more due to being at the right place at the right time rather than talent. Try to join a lab that is run my MDs and focuses on translational research rather than basic science.

Hi there i would like to receive some recomendation for aplying specially when is the best time if there is? I am having a little of hard time finding a position this time, most of them are filled or there is no money. How many letter in your experience did you send? What tips in your experience could you provide me? I will really appreciate your suggestions thank you !!! Please help!!

 

[ecolik-12]

Hi there i would like to receive some recomendation for aplying specially when is the best time if there is? I am having a little of hard time finding a position this time, most of them are filled or there is no money. How many letter in your experience did you send? What tips in your experience could you provide me? I will really appreciate your suggestions thank you !!! Please help!!

pmed

 

[Cytokine2014]

I was a postbac IRTA for a year and 6 months. I was able to get a high impact publication within my first year but it was more due to being at the right place at the right time rather than talent. Try to join a lab that is run my MDs and focuses on translational research rather than basic science.

Getting publications has so little to do with talent (or even hard work) most of the time. Does anyone know if adcoms realize this?

I did 3 years in an undergrad lab (year round) and was never published despite all my work helping grad students and post docs. Seems like it depends on whether your labs care about giving you credit more than anything. And also if they're successful labs of course.

 

[ecolik-12]

Getting publications has so little to do with talent (or even hard work) most of the time. Does anyone know if adcoms realize this?

I did 3 years in an undergrad lab (year round) and was never published despite all my work helping grad students and post docs. Seems like it depends on whether your labs care about giving you credit more than anything. And also if they're successful labs of course.

Well, I wouldn't say thats completely true. Hard work def counts... I worked about 70 hrs a week on an individual project and ended up getting a first author paper in Nature. Granted, I was lucky to find myself in a lab that had a lot of funding and at the NIH where you see a lot of unique medical cases.

 

[Cytokine2014]

Well, I wouldn't say thats completely true. Hard work def counts... I worked about 70 hrs a week on an individual project and ended up getting a first author paper in Nature. Granted, I was lucky to find myself in a lab that had a lot of funding and at the NIH where you see a lot of unique medical cases.

Sure, it counts but it isn't a guarantee either. If your lab doesn't want to include you on publications, they're not really obligated. So sure, you have an exceptional situation. But it's lucky to be in a lab that cares about advancing your career and that has funding and that actually publishes. More than just hard work went into that, you know? Not everyone can enter a publishing lab at the right time.

 

[ecolik-12]

Sure, it counts but it isn't a guarantee either. If your lab doesn't want to include you on publications, they're not really obligated. So sure, you have an exceptional situation. But it's lucky to be in a lab that cares about advancing your career and that has funding and that actually publishes. More than just hard work went into that, you know? Not everyone can enter a publishing lab at the right time.

I def agree with what you are saying. It always helps to enter a lab and let your intentions be known. If the lab is not willing to advance your career and not willing to make you an author even if they are publishing your work, then in my opinion, you should leave the lab immediately or let someone higher up known. Usually PIs are not unreasonable. If you generate figures for the paper using your data, then yes, you should get authorship. If you helped grad students/postdocs run gels etc... then its iffy to argue for a publication

 

[manray]

Hi all,

Heading into my senior year of college, and I am trying to plan my gap year. I am interested in the NIH Postbac IRTA program, particularly with the National Eye Institute (am fascinated with ophthalmic research and want to go into ophthalmology). My one question is how influential will it be for my future career? I have been doing research for several years now, but I have never really come close to getting a publication (also the research at my school is more basic sciences as opposed to translational stuff). Is it possible to get published working for a year with the NIH or is one year simply just not long enough? I really want to get at least one publication during my career...

Also, how difficult is it to get a position with the NIH? Is finding a lab similar to what goes on in undergrad where you send out emails to whichever PI has research interests that match mine? If it helps, I spent last summer doing research on visual diseases (different institution than my undergrad school).

Thanks!

Cornellman,


I'm completing my 2-year postbac fellowship at the Eye Institute, out of the SERPD/OSCTR. For the past year and a half, I have been part of an amazing project involving ophthalmologists, pathologists, geneticists, biologists, and engineers. I am helping develop an iPS-derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Transplant therapy for management of Age-related Macular Degeneration. This entails preparing for an upcoming Investigation Drug Application, which has many components.

I recommend this position for the exposure to ophthalmology and pathology. Furthermore, the networking with doctors on our study’s protocol, like NEI clinician Dr. Henry Wiley and Dr. Steve Charles (just search up his name) is very valuable. and can give you more information on my position if you are interested!