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ISO:
A Bigger Group to Steer NIH SS/SC Organization
The
NIH Staff
Scientists/Staff Clinicians (SS/SC) Organization is seeking to expand
its newly formed Steering Committee.
Currently comprised
of at least one representative from each of the 22 NIH institutes and
centers (ICs) with intramural research programs, the Steering Committee
is now aiming to recruit a total of two representatives for each IC—one
staff scientist and one staff clinician—to ensure that the needs
of both positions are addressed. Each representative will serve as the
point of contact for their institute colleagues and as the liaison between
their institute and the Steering Committee.
The idea of creating
an NIH SS/SC organization to address the interests of the more than 1,000
staff scientists and staff clinicians dispersed across NIH arose in 2004.
SS/SC employed through the GS-scale, Commissioned Corps, or Title 42,
or as contractors are included.
Early discussions
centered on the general structure of this pan-NIH organization, as some
ICs already had their own SS/SC organization, and identifying areas of
common concern that could be addressed through the NIH leadership. Toward
that end, Joan
Schwartz, assistant OIR director, continues to provide support and
guidance.
The Steering Committee
seeks to foster the development within each IC of its own Institute SS/SC
Organization. This would facilitate better dialogue between staff scientists
and staff clinicians and their respective leadership and administration.
As such, the NIH
SS/SC Organization would serve as an umbrella organization that
Represents all NIH staff scientists and staff clinicians
Provides a forum for the discussion of policies and practices across NIH
Offers working models of how things are done at different ICs to facilitate
implementation in ICs that wish to adopt similar strategies
Organizes seminars and workshops on cutting-edge or emerging technologies
Fosters career development through seminars and workshops on such topics
as management, mentoring, and lab organization
Promotes networking and interinstitute collaborations through the creation
of a database of resources and areas of expertise of individual SS/SC
organizations.
For more information,
visit the webpage,
which includes the
names of IC representatives serving on the Steering Committee, as well
as agendas and minutes of past meetings.
Individuals are
strongly encouraged to contact their IC representative to volunteer to
serve as a representative, to help organize their IC SS/SC Organization,
or to suggest concerns that should be raised before the committee.
—Michael
Difilippantonio
&
Ofelia Olivero
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