Notice2024-16649
Request for Information (RFI) on Recommendations on Re-Envisioning U.S. Postdoctoral Research Training and Career Progression Within the Biomedical Research Enterprise
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Published
July 29, 2024
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentNational Institutes of Health
Abstract
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is issuing a follow-up Request for Information (RFI) as part of its effort to gauge feedback from the biomedical research community to inform the implementation of recommendations from the Advisory Committee to the Director Working Group on Re-envisioning NIH-Supported Postdoctoral Training.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 145 (Monday, July 29, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 145 (Monday, July 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60907-60909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16649]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Request for Information (RFI) on Recommendations on Re-
Envisioning U.S. Postdoctoral Research Training and Career Progression
Within the Biomedical Research Enterprise
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is issuing a follow-up
Request for Information (RFI) as part of its effort to gauge feedback
from the biomedical research community to inform the implementation of
recommendations from the Advisory Committee to the Director Working
Group on Re-envisioning NIH-Supported Postdoctoral Training.
DATES: The RFI is open for public comment for a period of 90 days and
will close at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on October 23, 2024. Please ensure
prompt response to this RFI to ensure consideration.
ADDRESSES: Submissions can be sent electronically to: (<a href="https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=6660cc1aa1264f88920cf122">https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=6660cc1aa1264f88920cf122</a>). Responses to this RFI
are voluntary and may be submitted anonymously. You may voluntarily
include your name and contact information with your response. If you
choose to provide NIH with this information, NIH will not share your
name and contact information outside of NIH unless required by law.
Responses must be received by October 23, 2024, 11:59 p.m. to ensure
consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about this request for
information should be directed to: Ericka M. Boone, Director, Division
of Biomedical Research Workforce, at (301) 496-0180 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90e2f5f5fee6f9e3f9fffee0ffe3e4f4fff3d0fef9f8bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c5b7a0a0abb3acb6acaaabb5aab6b1a1aaa685abacadeba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is
seeking feedback from the biomedical research community on the
implementation of specific recommendations proposed by the Advisory
Committee to the Director (ACD) in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 217a,
section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, for Re-envisioning NIH-
supported Postdoctoral Training. This Request for Information (RFI)
aims to gather insights and suggestions to inform the effective
implementation of recommendations across NIH-funded research
institutions.
Background Information
NIH established an Advisory Committee to the Director Working Group
on Re-Envisioning NIH-Supported Postdoctoral Training (<a href="https://acd.od.nih.gov/working-groups/postdocs.html">https://acd.od.nih.gov/working-groups/postdocs.html</a>) (ACD Postdoctoral WG) to
explore the status of the postdoctoral training system, identify and
understand critical factors and issues relating to the perceived
decline in the number of postdoctoral scholars, and to provide
recommendations to address these factors. As part of this ACD-led
effort, community input on the status of the postdoctoral training
system was encouraged through four listening sessions and through a
February 2023 RFI: Re-envisioning U.S. Postdoctoral Research Training
and Career Progression within the Biomedical Research Enterprise
(<a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-23-084.html">https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-23-084.html</a>).
Input was received from various members of the biomedical research
community, including early-stage investigators, biomedical faculty,
training directors, postdoctoral and graduate student office leaders,
biotech/biopharma industry scientists, and research education program
advocates. Results from the public listening sessions (<a href="https://acd.od.nih.gov/documents/IMOD_Postdoc_Listening_Sessions_summary.pdf">https://acd.od.nih.gov/documents/IMOD_Postdoc_Listening_Sessions_summary.pdf</a>)
and the previously published RFI on Re-envisioning U.S. Postdoctoral
Research Training and Career Progression within the Biomedical Research
Enterprise released on February 14, 2023, and the follow-up report
(<a href="https://acd.od.nih.gov/documents/RFI_Postdocs_Report_2023.pdf">https://acd.od.nih.gov/documents/RFI_Postdocs_Report_2023.pdf</a>)
captured a wide range of topics related to postdoctoral scholar issues
and challenges, including lack of adequate salary and standard
benefits, poor job satisfaction, lack of opportunities in academic
careers, negative work culture and the need for high-quality
mentorship. Additionally, respondents provided diverse suggestions for
changes to existing NIH policies, resources, and programs, including
those expansion of NIH funding opportunities that can address
postdoctoral scholar research and career development goals. Based on
feedback, the ACD Postdoctoral WG issued six (6) high-level
recommendations:
<bullet> Recommendation 1: Increase pay and benefits for all NIH-
supported postdoctoral scholars.
<bullet> Recommendation 2: Create and expand mechanisms to support
the full talent pool of postdoctoral scholars.
<bullet> Recommendation 3: Facilitate the transition of
postdoctoral scholars into the next career stage, including roles
beyond academic faculty.
<bullet> Recommendation 4: Promote training and professional
development of postdoctoral scholars and their mentors.
<bullet> Recommendation 5: Support safe and diverse perspectives
and research environments within institutional research programs.
<bullet> Recommendation 6: Improve means to measure and share
postdoctoral scholars' career progression.
Please see the full ACD Postdoctoral Scholar WG report at--<a href="https://acd.od.nih.gov/documents/presentations/12152023_Postdoc_Working_Group_Report.pdf">https://acd.od.nih.gov/documents/presentations/12152023_Postdoc_Working_Group_Report.pdf</a>.
Information Requested
As a part of NIH's ongoing efforts to better support the
postdoctoral scholar workforce, the purpose of this RFI is to solicit
public input on how NIH might most effectively implement certain
recommendations developed by the ACD WG to address current challenges
affecting the postdoctoral trainee community. NIH is particularly
interested in receiving input from trainees (e.g., graduate students,
postdocs), as well as early-stage investigators, biomedical faculty,
training directors, postdoctoral and graduate student office leaders,
biotech/biopharma industry scientists, and research education program
advocates. NIH encourages organizations (e.g., patient advocacy groups,
professional societies) to submit a single response reflective of the
views of the
[[Page 60908]]
organization or its membership. While NIH is requesting input on the
specific recommendations listed below, we continue to explore the
implementation of all other recommendations submitted as a part of the
ACD WG Report. Where possible, responses should include specific
suggestions, evidence-based strategies, and any relevant data or
experiences that can inform the implementation process.
Recommendation 1.3: Limit the total number of years a person can be
supported by NIH funds in a postdoctoral position to no more than 5
years.
Description: Input received by the ACD WG, via public comment and
listening sessions, identified that ill-defined, excessively long
postdoctoral appointments are a key career development obstacle
delaying career progression for postdoctoral scholars. While current
NIH policy states that individuals may receive no more than 3 years of
aggregate National Research Service Award (NRSA) support at the
postdoctoral level, there is no limitation on aggregate support for
postdoctoral scholars supported on other types of NIH grants. To
further support NIH's continued efforts to promote greater structure to
the postdoctoral training process and promote more timely transition of
postdoctoral scholars into their next career stages, the ACD WG has
recommended that NIH funding should not be used to support postdoctoral
scholars beyond five years, including time spent in different host
institutions and any changes in funding support. Beyond five years,
postdoctoral scholars must be transitioned to new positions, with
defined roles, responsibilities and compensation that are beyond the
role of postdoctoral scholar. While research project timelines differ
across fields, setting a uniform upper limit on years of support is
intended to reduce the time that postdoctoral scholars spend in the
postdoc phase and encourage a more timely career transition.
Input Requested:
<bullet> Describe any potential benefits, opportunities, challenges
and/or consequences to the postdoctoral workforce or the extramural
research community if NIH were to limit total years of NIH-supported
funding support for postdoctoral scholars.
<bullet> Please describe any existing NIH or extramural
institutional policies that could pose challenges to the implementation
of a policy to limit aggregate NIH funding support for postdoctoral
scholars.
<bullet> Please describe any key NIH or extramural institutional
policies, processes, or resources that should be developed, improved,
or expanded to address any potential challenges associated with
limiting aggregate funding support for postdoctoral scholars.
<bullet> What mechanisms should be put into place by extramural
institutions to support transitions for postdoctoral scholars nearing
the end of the five-year period?
Recommendation 2.2: Revise the K99/R00 mechanism to focus on ideas
and creativity over productivity.
Description: The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) was
created to assist postdoctoral researchers to complete needed, mentored
training and promote the timely transition to independent tenure-track
(or equivalent) faculty positions while also providing research funding
to support to the launch of their independent research careers.
Currently, K99 applicants can have no more than 4 years postdoctoral
research experience at the time of application to be eligible to apply.
The research community expressed concern that K99 applications
containing more evidence of demonstrated research accomplishment and
productivity (lots of research results and publications) score better
in review and are more likely to be funded. This perception may drive
early career investigators to remain in the postdoctoral phase longer
in order to generate more data. To facilitate more rapid transition of
postdoctoral scholars that do not require more extended periods of
mentored research training and focus review of K99 applications on
creative ideas and research potential (vs productivity) of applicants,
the ACD WG recommended that the K99/R00 eligibility window be limited
to the first 2 years of postdoctoral experience and that NIH should
adapt review and award processes and policies to ensure a broader range
of early career investigators benefit from the award.
Input Requested:
<bullet> Describe any potential short- and long-term benefits and/
or challenges to the postdoctoral workforce that may result from
limiting the K99/R00 eligibility timeframe to no more than 2 years of
postdoctoral experience.
<bullet> How should the K99/R00 mechanism and review criteria be
revised to better emphasize creative ideas and innovation over research
productivity? What specific criteria or metrics should be used to
evaluate creativity and potential impact of applicants' research
proposals?
<bullet> Provide input on key NIH and extramural institutional
policies, processes or resources that may need to be developed or
revised to ensure that changes to K99/R00 program eligibility do not
negatively impact access to these awards to a broader range of
postdoctoral scholars.
Recommendation 4: Promote training and professional development of
postdoctoral scholars and their mentors.
Description: Career and professional development training (which
can include leadership, teaching, mentorship, grant writing, lab
management and other skills) are critical components of the
postdoctoral experience and are defining elements of academic science
training. Public comments received by the ACD postdoc RFI and listening
sessions indicate that postdoc scholars have difficulty pursuing these
training opportunities due to pressure to focus solely on research
during work hours. Based on this feedback, the NIH ACD WG recommended
that institutions should: (1) ensure that postdoctoral scholars receive
career and professional development opportunities as an integrated,
measured component of the postdoctoral experience that occupies a
minimum average of 10% of a postdoctoral scholar's effort, (2) create
policies and resources to ensure equitable access to this training and
(3) require regular training and for individuals serving in the mentor
role to postdoctoral scholars mentor (and for postdocs themselves).
Input Requested:
<bullet> Provide suggestions/strategies for how NIH and extramural
institutions can ensure that career and professional development
training becomes an integrated and measured component of the
postdoctoral experience. What policies and resources should
institutions establish to ensure equitable access to career and
professional development training for all postdoctoral scholars? How
can institutions address barriers to participation, such as limited
availability of training programs or conflicts with research
obligations?
<bullet> What specific skills and competencies are essential for
individuals serving in the mentor role for postdoctoral scholars? How
should institutions require and support mentor training to ensure the
effective mentorship of postdoctoral scholars? Describe any necessary
resources required by investigators and institutions to support the
implementation of required training opportunities for mentors
<bullet> Are there opportunities for collaboration between
institutions, funding agencies, and professional organizations to
enhance career and
[[Page 60909]]
professional development opportunities for postdoctoral scholars? How
can partnerships with industry, government agencies, and non-profit
organizations contribute to the enrichment of postdoctoral training
experiences?
Submitting a Response
Comments should be submitted electronically to the following web
page: (<a href="https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=6660cc1aa1264f88920cf122">https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=6660cc1aa1264f88920cf122</a>).
This RFI is for planning purposes only and should not be construed
as a policy, solicitation for applications, or as an obligation on the
part of the Government to provide support for any ideas identified in
response to it. Please note that the Government will not pay for the
preparation of any information submitted or for its use of that
information.
Please do not include any proprietary, classified, confidential, or
sensitive information in your response. Responses will be compiled, and
a content analysis will be shared publicly after the close of the
comment period. The NIH may use information gathered by this Notice to
inform future policy development.
Dated: July 19, 2024.
Lawrence Tabak,
Principal Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2024-16649 Filed 7-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
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