NCCIH Research Blog

Have you considered an administrative scientific career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)? At NCCIH, you can impact research in diverse areas, such as nonpharmacologic management of pain, the neurobiological effects and mechanisms of complementary and integrative therapies, exploration of innovative approaches for establishing biological signatures of natural products, disease prevention and health promotion across the lifespan, or clinical trials utilizing innovative study designs to assess complementary health approaches and their integration into health care? The peer review process is one of the cornerstones that allows NIH to accomplish its extramural mission by ensuring that applications submitted to NIH are evaluated by scientific experts in a manner that is free from inappropriate influences. Are you interested in bringing your research experience to NIH and managing the peer review of applications submitted in response to NCCIH-issued funding opportunity announcements as a Scientific Review Officer (SRO)?

NCCIH is seeking an experienced researcher to join our staff as an SRO. As part of NCCIH’s scientific staff the SRO is responsible for organizing and managing the comprehensive scientific and technical merit review of applications submitted in response to NCCIH-issued funding opportunity announcements (FOAs). This includes a variety of grant mechanisms like research project applications, program project applications, and training grant applications. As part of their duties, SRO’s identify qualified reviewers to evaluate applications submitted to NCCIH for review. The SRO creates a summary of the discussion of an application and provides summary statements giving appropriate and accurate feedback and advice to Institute and Center Directors, council members, NIH program officers, and applicants regarding the adequacy of research being conducted and proposed to identify gaps in existing knowledge in a given scientific area. The SRO communicates orally and in writing with applicants, institutions, reviewers, and NIH staff to obtain information essential to efficiently resolve any issues that may arise before, during, and after the review meeting in accordance with review policy. An important part of the SRO’s responsibilities at NCCIH resides in outreach activities familiarizing applicants with the NIH peer review system and its principles as well as orienting and guiding reviewers on the specific goals and requirements of NCCIH-issued FOAs.

An ideal candidate for this position would have a rank comparable to that of an assistant professor or higher, and would have successfully applied for NIH grant funding and participated as a reviewer in NIH review meetings. A research background in NCCIH research priority areas is desirable especially as it relates to the fields of neuroscience, pain, inflammatory diseases, and clinical research design.

NCCIH is the Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. Its mission is to define, through rigorous scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and integrative health interventions and their roles in improving health and health care.

If you are interested, view the job listing on USAJOBS and apply by February 7, 2018:

• Health Scientist Administrator (Scientific Review Officer) - Open to the Public – if you’re a U.S. Citizen or National, you can apply to jobs that are open to the public.
• Health Scientist Administrator (Scientific Review Officer) - Status Candidates- Open to Federal Employees - If you are a current or former federal employee you may qualify to apply for a position under merit promotion consideration.