Should I keep trying to email NIH PI's to try to get into the SIP?

[shindotp]

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It's so late already, I kind of just gave up on trying to contact PI's.

About what % of the summer positions are filled by this point?

I've contacted around 20 PI's so far (should have contacted more earlier ughh) to no avail.

 

[scarletgirl777]

It's so late already, I kind of just gave up on trying to contact PI's.

About what % of the summer positions are filled by this point?

I've contacted around 20 PI's so far (should have contacted more earlier ughh) to no avail.

I don't know antying about the SIP, BUT do you contact them cold or do you try to read a few papers first? When trying to hook up with a PI from my home institution I found it was better to have read some papers first so that you have a real idea of what they are researching. It comes through. The PI I finally hooked up with said he was very impressed with that initiative.

 

[shindotp]

I don't know antying about the SIP, BUT do you contact them cold or do you try to read a few papers first? When trying to hook up with a PI from my home institution I found it was better to have read some papers first so that you have a real idea of what they are researching. It comes through. The PI I finally hooked up with said he was very impressed with that initiative.

I read the descriptions of their research and look up some of the publications, but there's no way I could find the time to read the papers... I'm sure it wouldn't be worth it now since most research positions are filled (it would suck to spend a couple hours reading papers of a PI whose positions have already been filled).

I think maybe I'll try this strategy next year. Thanks for the advice - I was wondering whether or not I was looking into their research enough. Did you actually read the papers and ask questions about them??

 

[scarletgirl777]

I read the descriptions of their research and look up some of the publications, but there's no way I could find the time to read the papers... I'm sure it wouldn't be worth it now since most research positions are filled (it would suck to spend a couple hours reading papers of a PI whose positions have already been filled).

I think maybe I'll try this strategy next year. Thanks for the advice - I was wondering whether or not I was looking into their research enough. Did you actually read the papers and ask questions about them??

Yes. I also did not reach out to 20 people though, more like 6? I also found it necessary myself to read the papers to figure out if I would even be interested in the research. But yeah, definitely don't need to read them all! Just maybe the most recent ones, maybe one that they seem pretty psyched about or published in a high impact journal.

 

[dualityim]

I got into NIH SIP about a month ago. With the economic climate, returning NIH students, and the fact that most senior investigators decided not to take students, it is pretty tough to get into the program nowadays (as the NIH woman STRESSED). I didn't contact anybody until after getting accepted, though I imagine that it would make more sense to contact the research scientist you would be working with instead of the PI directly (this probably isn't possible in all circumstances). Calling the PI might be a good idea anyways unless he is already inundated with hundreds of phone calls from resume-building high schoolers and post-bacs, which may be the case at this stage. In any case, I would most recommend that you prepare a detailed CV that outlines your previous research experiences/scholarships/awards and explains your professional plans (i.e. graduate school, med. school, etc.). I would send this CV to everybody and anybody that might be interested in hiring you.

 

[shindotp]

Hahah maybe that would be more effective at this time.. Email bombing a bunch of researchers with my CV.

Next year I'm definitely going to start reading papers and contact a minimal number of researchers.

 

[waiting08]

SIP is super hard to get into - I know a ton of highly qualified people who couldn't get one. Also, a lot of people will do more than one summer, holding up spots (sorry!).

I think that the PI's review of your resume and your interview will pretty much decide it. If you're pre-interview, making some calls and sending emails may help, but I think that unless you know someone at NIH or someone who knows someone to make a call for you, there isn't much to do.

Good luck!

 

[redlight]

SIP is super hard to get into - I know a ton of highly qualified people who couldn't get one. Also, a lot of people will do more than one summer, holding up spots (sorry!).

I think that the PI's review of your resume and your interview will pretty much decide it. If you're pre-interview, making some calls and sending emails may help, but I think that unless you know someone at NIH or someone who knows someone to make a call for you, there isn't much to do.

Good luck!

i had to check out the list to see if there were that many high schoolers... there were a ton of them last summer... and there were ppl i know from my uni, too.. hmm.

 

[ninetynine]

I've contacted around 20 PI's so far (should have contacted more earlier ughh) to no avail.

My friend contacted 100 (haha cuz I told her to). I contacted around 50. But we did that early. If no response, there's always the phone call, and then there's the in-person visit... it's really hit and miss, depending on who has funding and who doesn't, who wants an intern, who already has a space filled, etc., so there's no harm in trying. Also, have faith. There's no harm in having faith, and not having faith will only hurt you. Then there's also a million other summer things you can apply to, so if not SIP, you're not at a loss. That said, keep trying

 

[shindotp]

My friend contacted 100 (haha cuz I told her to). I contacted around 50. But we did that early. If no response, there's always the phone call, and then there's the in-person visit... it's really hit and miss, depending on who has funding and who doesn't, who wants an intern, who already has a space filled, etc., so there's no harm in trying. Also, have faith. There's no harm in having faith, and not having faith will only hurt you. Then there's also a million other summer things you can apply to, so if not SIP, you're not at a loss. That said, keep trying

That was the exact kind of response I was hoping for. Thanks a lot!

 

[orangespiral]

Agree completely with shindotp. I was part of the SIP as a high school junior with two previous summer research experiences under my belt. I was originally promised a mentor, but due to some red tape, it didn't work out. With nearly 2 weeks to go until I had planned to be in Bethesda, I started e-mailing as many PIs and staff scientists as I could find. I did some research on their work, and would reference it in about 2-3 sentences in my e-mails, but only rarely did I look at any of their publications. I e-mailed close to 70 people there (as a tip, e-mail people who work in administration as well, they may have contacts) asking if they had a spot or knew of a spot for me. Almost everyone replied saying they had already finalized positions for the summer, but in the end, I got 2 positive responses and got to go.

The real key here is perseverance. It will be a really stressful period, but if you have some research experience, you're more than likely to get a spot. Afterwards, just communicate with the SIP at your institute that you were offered a position and they will be able to include you in their orientation (but you won't get paid). Good luck!