Pilot NIH Science of Science Scholars Program

Purpose

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) pilot Science of Science Scholars Program provides an opportunity for experienced “science of science” researchers to analyze internal NIH administrative data. This opportunity allows researchers with experience in science of science to access NIH internal administrative data to conduct in-depth analyses.

As stewards of public funds, NIH has a vibrant analytic and evaluation community that develops training, methods, and tools to facilitate assessments of NIH impacts. By inviting science of science scholars to work with NIH, the agency is hoping to bolster its own capabilities while providing researchers with a unique research opportunity. Selected scholars will work closely with senior staff at NIH to apply rigorous and empirical analysis to NIH processes, programs and outcomes.

Program Details

The pilot NIH Science of Science Scholars Program will provide selected researchers access to NIH administrative data as a special volunteer¹ for a one-year term (potentially renewable). Scholars may work remotely. Scholars must perform their research on government furnished equipment, conform to all government privacy and security standards, complete a data use agreement, and complete any relevant training. For the initial year, NIH expects to sponsor two Science of Science Scholars.

Science of Science Scholars will:

• Leverage NIH administrative data to study and evaluate NIH policies, procedures, and aspects of NIH-funded biomedical research.
• Directly communicate and collaborate with senior staff at NIH about projects and topics of importance for the biomedical research community.
• Engage with the NIH analytic and evaluation community to develop methods and tools for NIH.

Projects for Science of Science Scholars

Researchers should outline their proposed project and justify their need for access to NIH administrative data.  Depending on their area of focus, NIH Science of Science Scholars would be sponsored by the Office of Extramural Research (OER) or potentially in collaboration with a specific NIH Institute, Center, or Office (ICO). The proposed research efforts should focus on strengthening the agency’s evidence-based capabilities and address aspects of one or more of the following questions:

Understanding NIH's contributions to biomedical research:

• How can NIH assess the economic impact across its portfolios, including contributions to treatments and interventions?
• What methods can better predict and identify scientific opportunities?
• How can NIH trace the uptake of clinical research into patient care, and what evidence can guide a re-envisioning of the clinical trials system for maximum quality, accessibility, and impact?

Optimizing NIH’s investment in the biomedical research workforce:

• What data and methods can capture trainee career outcomes, and what are the indicators of success beyond bibliometric measures?
• How can NIH determine the effectiveness of NIH-wide policies such as the Next Generation Researchers Initiative to support a sustainable biomedical workforce?

Ensuring scientific quality, rigor, and reproducibility:

• What measures can capture impactful scientific strategies, and how can these be scaled to support more breakthrough research?
• How can NIH leverage its administrative data and publication data to assess the rigor of NIH-funded research and/or evaluate policies that aim to enhance the rigor and reproducibility of NIH-funded research?

Deliverables

Scholars may have the opportunity to publish papers describing their analyses and findings. Manuscripts will be subject to NIH’s standard internal clearance process.

Benefits

Salary support will not be provided, and the scholars may work remotely.

Application Information

To apply, please email a current CV and a 3-page research statement to [email protected] no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on January 31.

The research statement could include any or all topics listed below, as well as other relevant topics, for NIH’s consideration.

• Proposed Research Objectives and Methodology
  • Selected research question(s)
  • Identification of research gap and how the proposed project addresses the gap
  • Description of research approach
• Relevant experience/expertise
  • Description of technical skills relevant to the proposed project area
  • Estimated time commitment
  • Whether any other research personnel are needed and why
• Anticipated impact of the work
  • Description of how findings might be utilized by NIH, the research community, or other constituents
  • Description of broader impacts on the field of ‘science of science’ and / or the biomedical research enterprise

Eligibility

Science of Science Scholars should have a proven record of expertise in their proposed project area. Applicants should possess technical skills in one or more of the following areas, as relevant to their proposed project area(s): evaluation research methods/design (e.g., mixed methods, experimental/quasi-experimental design); and/or Science of Science (defined as the use of scientific methodology to study science itself). Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status). Eligibility is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation.