Under its newly relaunched Stetten Scholars program, the Office of NIH History and Stetten Museum (ONHM) seeks candidates for two 12-month post-doctoral positions.
These opportunities to research significant aspects of the history of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are open to US Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents who have earned a doctorate within the last five years. Although ABD applicants are welcome to apply, all requirements for the degree must be completed before the selectee can take up the position. Scholars selected in this round are expected to begin their tenure in the summer of 2027.
The position carries a stipend of approximately $70,000 per year plus health, dental, and vision insurance. Reimbursement for training-related travel and conference attendance may be provided if program funding allows.
Project scope: One of the opportunities will support a project that addresses any aspect of NIH history. The second, sponsored by NIH’s Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) in celebration of its 35th anniversary, must focus on the history of research on women’s health. Both positions will be administered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), a program of the Department of Energy.
You can find the ORISE opportunity posting and application portal here.
The core of the application is a brief research proposal (up to 1200 words, not counting citations) that includes an outline of NIH’s role as an essential component of the research. The proposal must demonstrate mastery of standard historical methods as well as readiness to expand and deepen your expertise. Each application will be assessed by a panel of historians and subject-matter experts drawn from relevant NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices, using standard NIH review criteria:
- Importance of the Research (in this case, of both the proposed historical work and its scientific subject)
- Rigor and Feasibility
- Expertise and Resources
Scholars selected for this opportunity will likewise receive mentorship from at least one biomedical researcher in a relevant NIH Institute, Center, or Office as well as from ONHM’s professional historians. Your project should be designed to take full advantage of this dual learning opportunity.
For questions: Our downloadable FAQ sheet is here.
You are welcome to email us at [email protected] with questions about our holdings. You can explore our archives and other historical resources via this website. However, since we are always getting new donations, we may also have relevant material that has not yet been catalogued and posted.
You are also strongly encouraged to contact ONHM’s Dr. Kristin Heitman, Deputy Director and Senior Historian, to discuss other resources that might strengthen your application.
We will be delighted to help you pursue your research about NIH and its history, even if you decide not apply for one of the Stetten Scholar positions.