I’m pleased to tell you that Dorit Zuk has agreed to serve as acting deputy director of NIGMS upon Judith Greenberg’s retirement at the end of the month.

Dorit has served in several leadership roles at both NIGMS and NIH. She’s been the director of our Division of Genetics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (GMCDB) since early 2016. Before joining NIGMS, she was director of the former Office of Policy, Communications and Strategic Alliances at NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Prior to that, she was the science policy advisor to the NIH deputy director for extramural research.

I’d like to share with you the bittersweet news that our deputy director, Judith H. Greenberg, is retiring at the end of the month after 45 years of service to NIH, most of which was spent right here at NIGMS. Judith has been a vital part of the NIGMS leadership team and an invaluable advisor to me since I came on board as NIGMS director.

At the September meeting of our National Advisory Council, I presented a concept clearance for our next step in response to the recommendations of the working group on sepsis. The videocast of the presentation is now available.

Watch the sepsis concept clearance at the September Advisory Council meeting.

UPDATE: This position is now closed.

We’re recruiting for an accomplished scientist with interest and experience in computational biology to join the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) Branch of the Division of Biophysics, Biomedical Technology, and Computational Biosciences (BBCB). The successful applicant will be responsible for scientific and administrative management of a portfolio of research and training grants.

UPDATE: This position is now closed.

We’re recruiting for an accomplished scientist with interest and experience in sepsis, critical illness, and/or polytraumatic injury to join the Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences (PPS) Branch of the Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry (PPBC). The successful applicant will be responsible for scientific and administrative management of a portfolio of research, career development, and training grants. Opportunities also exist for Small Business Innovation and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) grants.

UPDATE: This position is now closed.

We’re recruiting for an accomplished scientist with expertise in strategies and methodologies to design and operate productive research, outreach networks, and development programs to join our Division for Research Capacity Building (DRCB). The successful applicant will be responsible for scientific and administrative management of a diverse research portfolio of faculty development, research training, and research infrastructure improvement grants.  

The Networks and Development Programs Branch of DRCB leads the Division’s efforts in developing and implementing innovative ideas to enhance research and technology transfer infrastructure and the workforce pipeline. The Branch also shares in managing the grant portfolios supported by all funding initiatives of the Division. 

NIGMS is committed to supporting safety in the nation’s biomedical research and training environments. Last April, we shared with you resources for enhancing lab safety in biomedical research training environments. Now, in a perspective in the current issue of Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC), we focus on strategies for improving laboratory safety. Some of these strategies are also applicable to other forms of safety including the prevention of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination. We frame the problem of laboratory safety using a number of recent examples of tragic accidents, highlight some of the lessons that have been learned from these and other events, discuss what NIGMS is doing to address problems related to laboratory safety, and outline steps that institutions can take to improve their safety cultures.

Our Northeast IDeA State Technology Transfer Accelerator Hub, which supports biomedical entrepreneurship, is hosting a workshop for research core directors, postdoctoral fellows, and others supported by NIGMS grants who are interested in learning more about the business side of academic research facility management: 

Monday, October 5, 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET

The workshop will introduce helpful business skills to ease management and improve the top and bottom lines of IDeA research core facilities.

Registration for this free event is required by October 1. For more information, visit the meeting website.

UPDATE: The position is now closed.

We’re recruiting for an accomplished scientist with interest and experience in computational biology to join the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) Branch of the Division of Biophysics, Biomedical Technology, and Computational Biosciences (BBCB). The successful applicant will be responsible for scientific and administrative management of a portfolio of research and training grants.

The BCB Branch of BBCB supports bioinformatics and computational approaches that join biology with the computer sciences, engineering, mathematics, biostatistics, and physics as well as general approaches that have the potential for broad applicability and use by investigators with support from across NIH and other agencies. The Branch collaborates with other parts of NIH on the Big Data to Knowledge​ and Smart and Connected Health initiatives, and with the National Science Foundation to support a program in mathematical biology.

UPDATE: The position is now closed.

We’re recruiting for an accomplished scientist with expertise in strategies and methodologies to design and operate productive research, outreach networks, and development programs to join our Division for Research Capacity Building (DRCB). The successful applicant will be responsible for scientific and administrative management of a diverse research portfolio of faculty development, research training, and research infrastructure improvement grants.  

The Networks and Development Programs Branch of DRCB leads the Division’s efforts in developing and implementing innovative ideas to enhance research and technology transfer infrastructure and the workforce pipeline. The Branch also shares in managing the grant portfolios supported by all funding initiatives of the Division.