NCI Communications Fellowship

NCI Communications Fellowship

The NCI Communications Fellowship (NCF), formerly known as the Health Communications Internship Program (HCIP), gives highly-qualified graduate students and recent graduate degree recipients the opportunity to participate in vital communications projects across the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

NCF fellows are offered one-year fellowships in various communications and science-focused offices at NCI. The NCF highly encourages individuals from underrepresented populations to apply.

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Fellowship Requirements

NCF Fellows are required to attend and engage in the following during their fellowship to successfully graduate from the NCF:

• NCF Orientation
• Brown Bags
• Professional Development Trainings
• One-on-One Check-ins with NCF Program Manager
• Fellowship Project Presentation

More information about the above requirements are discussed during NCF Orientation on July 6, 2021.

Host Office & Work Assignments

All NCF Fellows are placed in an NCI host office. NCI host offices vary each year. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the 30 NCI divisions, offices, and centers, many of which have previously hosted NCF Fellows.

All NCF Fellows are assigned a Mentor. The Mentor is the Fellow's day-to-day contact, assigns work and assesses performance, and works with the Fellow to develop the NCF Training Plan and outline projects and goals the Fellow will work on.

Past NCF Fellows have worked on the following:

• Social media management
• Create content for newsletters, blog posts, flyers, and websites
• Web analytics
• Produce videos
• Design interactive graphics
• Develop SOPs
• Data analysis and transfer
• Conference and exhibit management
• Internal communications
• Liaise and benchmark with patients, physicians, and other NIH Institutes
• Create and implement strategic communication plans

An NCF Fellow's assignments and projects will vary based on their host office.

Stipends

NCF Fellows are paid a monthly training stipend through a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA). The amount of your monthly stipend will be based on your undergraduate GPA, your highest earned degree, and your relevant post-degree experience. Stipends are prorated, meaning you will earn exactly 1/12 of your annual stipend rate per month. You can expect to receive between $34,300 and $49,500 per year depending on your education level and experience. Your official stipend will be calculated by your host office and will be communicated to you prior to your arrival at NCI.

Health Insurance

You are eligible to receive health insurance at no cost through the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES). NCI will pay your monthly premium. If you already hold a health insurance policy in your own name that you would like to keep, NCI will reimburse you for the cost of your policy up to the amount that NCI would have otherwise paid for your insurance. For more information about health insurance, visit www.faes.org/health_insurance.

Taxes

Your stipend is taxable even though no taxes will be deducted. You will receive reference materials at orientation which will assist you in filing quarterly estimated tax payments to federal and state taxing authorities. You will owe taxes to the state you live in during your fellowship.

Work Hours

NCF Fellows work full-time (40-hours per week), generally from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with a lunch break. The tour of duty is determined during your first week. Changes in schedule must be approved by your Mentor. Leave is determined by the host office as Fellows do not accrue vacation or sick leave.

Housing

NCF Fellows are responsible for their own housing. The following websites provide information about available and affordable housing. This list does not imply endorsement by NCI or NIH.

NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE)
https://www.training.nih.gov/resources/justarrived/
OITE has a moving guide available for NIH trainees. In it you will find information on housing and many other relocation resources.

Craig's List - Washington DC/ Maryland/ Northern Virginia
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/about/safety

Montgomery County Apartment Finder
http://www.apartmentfinder.com/Maryland/Montgomery-County-Apartments
County run website offering complete listings of apartment rental communities and search capabilities

Washington Post Apartment Listings
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/realestate/rent/
Metro area listings from the classifieds and sponsors, the site offers detailed searching capabilities.

Transportation

The NCI is located in three locations: the NCI Shady Grove Campus, in Rockville, MD; the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, MD; and, the NCI Frederick Campus in Frederick, MD. Transportation information for each campus is located here.

Getting around the D.C. metropolitan area is easy using public transportation. Visit www.wmata.com for Metrorail and Metrobus schedules and fare information.

For more information visit https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/visit

Training Resources

NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education - http://www.training.nih.gov/trainees
OITE's programs complement the training activities of the NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs). While primarily a resource for biomedical research trainees in NIH's Intramural Research Program, OITE offers many career development workshops which are of benefit to the entire trainee community.

CIT Training - http://training.cit.nih.gov/
The CIT Computer Training Program provided by the Center for Information Technology offers a wide variety of courses and seminars that enable users to make efficient and effective use of computers, networks, and information systems in their work at NIH. Examples of courses include: SPSS Basics, Useful Tools and Utilities for Web Developers and Designers, Windows XP Tips and Tricks, and Office 2007 - What's New? The trainings are free and open to NIH employees and to all users of CIT computing facilities.

NIH Office of Human Resources - http://hr.od.nih.gov/
TThis is a public site for the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and is the primary source of Human Resources information for people outside of the NIH (i.e., job-seekers, former employees, public). This site provides OHR information on strategic programs, client services, and workforce relations support to the NIH. In addition, important information is given on OHR news and events, employment, and inclement weather.

NIH Library Training - http://nihlibrary.nih.gov/ResourceTraining/ 
The NIH Library trains users how to effectively find, appraise and manage information using an array of electronic library resources. Topics include how to search the biomedical literature, access online journals, order and receive articles via email, set up a research update service, and use bibliographic management software to manage a personal library collection and format bibliographies. Trainings are free and restricted to NIH staff.

Graduate School (formerly USDA Graduate School) http://graduateschool.edu/
The Graduate School is an independent, educational, not-for-profit institution headquartered in the nation's capital with additional sites strategically located throughout the U.S. The School engages a diverse student population through innovative, as well as proven, approaches to teaching and learning that take advantage of its locations, its network of public and corporate leaders and practitioners, state-of-the-art technologies and connections with major employers. The School provides a broad array of learning opportunities in formats accessible to adult learners everywhere through affordable training programs, continuing education courses, executive and leadership development programs, and credit offerings at the certificate and associate degree levels. Tuition must be paid at time of registration.

FAES Graduate School at NIH - http://www.faes.org/grad/
FAES offers nearly 200 courses each year at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. FAES courses are certified by the Maryland Higher Education Committee and accepted for credit at most universities. The majority of FAES Graduate School courses are in the biomedical field. Tuition must be paid at time of registration.

The Capitol Net Research - http://www.thecapitol.net/PublicPrograms/
Offers legislative, communication and advocacy training, and media relations focused courses. Media relations courses provide training on how to work with the media as part of ongoing education and advocacy. Communications and advocacy courses show participants how to effectively develop, write, and deliver a message. Examples of media relations and communication and advocacy courses include: Public Affairs and the Internet: Advanced Techniques and Strategies; Strategies for Working with Congress and Its Staff: Communicating Effectively with Capitol Hill; Using Grassroots, Coalitions, and the Media to Get Your Message Heard: Advocacy and Education Campaigns in Washington; and Crisis Communications Training. Tuition must be paid at time of registration.

NIH Office of Extramural Training Opportunities - http://nih-extramural-intranet.od.nih.gov/d/nih/training/step/step.htm
OER links you to myriad NIH and federally-sponsored training programs and opportunities. You may find the Staff Training in Extramural Programs Training Programs (STEP) link on this website of particular interest. These free seminars are open to NIH staff, require no advanced registration, but are on a first come, first serve basis.

Young Government Leaders - http://www.younggovernmentleaders.org
Young Government Leaders (YGL) is a professional organization of young men and women employed by the Federal government. Its mission is to educate, inspire, and transform the current and future leaders of the government. YGL offers seminars on a variety of professional and personal development topics and sponsors monthly social activities.

YGL-Bethesda - http://yglbethesda.org/
This is the Bethesda chapter of YGL; many of this chapter's members are NIH interns

Other Benefits

• Paid Federal government holidays
• Flexible work schedules
• Professional development seminars
• Public transportation subsidy
• Housing database
• On-site fitness center
• Recreation and Welfare Association
• Loan deferment for eligible federal loans

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following qualifications to be considered eligible for the NCF:

US Citizen or US permanent resident (Alien Registration number is required for US permanent residents)

Currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, graduate school. If a recent graduate, graduate degree must have been awarded no more than two years prior to application deadline

Current or final (if recent graduate) cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

Communications experience/education. Some science writing, public health, or health communications experience is encouraged but not required

NOTE: In order to be approved for logical and physical access to NIH facilities and systems, candidates must be able to pass a Federal background check, using Standard Form-85 (read SF-85). Note: Section 14 of the form asks, “In the last year, have you used, possessed, supplied, or manufactured illegal drugs?” The question pertains to the illegal use of drugs or controlled substances in accordance with Federal laws, even though permissible under state laws.

Application Process

Applications are due by midnight EST on

February 26, 2021

In your application you will be asked to provide the following:

A current resume/CV

Three work samples

Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Official transcripts are not required.

A Personal Statement that addresses:

Why you are interested in the NCF

Your career aspirations

Your teamwork experience(s)

Why you should be selected for the NCF

A Diversity Statement explaining how your participation would further the goal of the NCF to encourage diversity in NCI's workforce, consistent with NIH's Notice of Interest and Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031). NCI encourages individuals from underrepresented populations and disadvantaged backgrounds to apply.

Name and contact information of two references able to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Your references will receive an electronic request to submit a letter of recommendation. They will not receive this request until your application has been submitted. They can prepare the letter in advance if they wish and then copy and paste it into the web form provided in the reference request email.

We take reasonable precautions to maintain the security, confidentiality, and integrity of the information submitted in your application. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact NCF-Contact@mail.nih.gov.

Selection Process

The selection process takes six to eight weeks from the application deadline.

The NCF reviews applications to ensure eligibility requirements are met.

A selection committee will evaluate and select eligible applications on the following basis:

Personal and Diversity Statements

Relevant experience

Two letters of reference

The NCF makes available all eligible applications to the NCI program offices seeking to host a Fellow.

Program offices review applications and contact applicants whose interests and background fit the needs of the office. Program offices conduct telephone interviews with applicants.

Program offices submit names of applicants who they are interested in hiring to the NCF.

Applicants are notified via email of the selection decision.