Scientist Administrators

What are Scientist Administrators (SA's) at the NIH

The Public Health Service (PHS), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, consists of several agencies, each responsible for administering programs of essential importance to the Nation's health. One of these agencies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has major responsibilities for conduct and support of state-of-the-art research and associated research training in biomedical, social, and behavioral sciences. Areas of interest include basic research focused on the development of new knowledge in such fields as genetics, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry and biomedical engineering, as well as more targeted research studies focused on the development of new and more effective methods to diagnose, treat, and prevent a host of human health problems ranging from cancer, AIDS, arthritis and heart disease to alcoholism, drug abuse, osteoporosis and psychiatric disorders.

Although a small amount of research training supported by the NIH is performed intramurally, a much larger portion is conducted at universities, medical schools, and other research organizations located throughout the country. Indeed, the NIH devotes more than 80 percent of its annual budget to activities performed by non-Federal Government institutions under grants, fellowships, and R&D contracts.

Responsibility within the NIH for planning, directing, and managing the evaluation for these extramural activities rests with subject matter experts designated as Scientist Administrators (SA's). These individuals, most of whom have had doctorate (Ph.D., M.D., or D.D.S., for example) level training and independent research experience, use their knowledge to assure that Federal funds are used well and wisely. SA’s at NIH are made up of Health Scientist Administrators (HSA’s) and Social and Behavioral Scientist Administrators (SBSA’s). These positions are filled in the 0101 and 0601 occupational series and can serve as either Program Officers or Scientific Review Officers.

What are Program Officers (PO)  

Program Officers support extramural grants, contracts, and training with the goal of improving national health.

Duties include:

  • Advise grant applicants/grantees
  • Attend scientific review meetings
  • Make funding recommendations
  • Monitor awarded grants
  • Foster specific science through initiatives and meetings
  • Engage the public/scientific communities
  • Maintain own area of scientific expertise

What are Scientific Review Officers (SRO)

Scientific Review Officers work in partnership with the scientific community to ensure that the scientific review groups (study sections) identify the most meritorious science for funding by NIH Institutes and Centers.

Duties include:

  • Refer and review applications
  • Order review based on grant mechanism
  • Identify and recruit reviewers
  • Record scores and produce summary statements
  • Convene study section meetings and ensure policies are followed
  • Attend Council meetings and handle appeals

Desired Characteristics of SA’s

  • Competence in science
  • Recognizable accomplishment and career progression in a research activity related to health or biomedical/behavioral sciences; competence in management.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, to plan, to initiate, to administer, and to evaluate a scientific program successfully; familiarity with the dynamics of health-related research.
  • Understanding not only the internal relationships of the organization with which the research is identified and conducted but also the practices and policies affecting national health research efforts; and ability to work effectively and cooperatively with others.
  • Developing and maintaining good working relationships with Initial Review Groups, members of National Advisory Councils and Boards, representatives of academic institutions, the scientific community, public, and private organizations and agencies, and the general public, as well as supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates.

Comparison Chart

0101 Social and Behavioral Scientist Administrator (SBSA) 0601 Health Scientist Administrator (HSA)
Series 0101 0601
Grade Levels  GS-12 to GS-15 – Supervisory and Non-Supervisory
Roles Program Officer or Scientific Review Officer
Research/Experience Background

Social or behavioral science research/experience backgrounds based on the social determinants of health.

Medical, healthcare, or life science research/experience backgrounds.
Basic Education/Experience Requirement

Must have a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in the behavioral or social sciences, or related disciplines appropriate to this position;

OR,

have a combination of education and experience that provided the knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field;

OR,

have four years of appropriate experience demonstrating that you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Successful completion of a bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position.
For each grade level there are two paths to qualify: Direct/Independent Research and Research Administration/Extramural experience. Applicants need only meet one of the two experience paths to qualify.
Specialized Experience Requirements in the GS-12

Direct/Independent Research Qualifying Experience 
Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

  • independent health-related research, as evidenced by the development of research projects that are competitively or internally funded;
  • primary authorship of one of the following: a) internal (i.e., within the company or organization) research report, b) patent, or c) research publication in peer reviewed journal; and
  • responsibility for significant aspects of a laboratory/research unit (e.g., establishing processes and procedures, ensuring regulatory/legal compliance, monitoring budgets). 

Typical qualifying positions include Instructor, Assistant Professor, Adjunct Professor, Staff Fellow, Senior Staff Fellow, Research Associate, and Research Scientist.

OR

Research Administration/Extramural Qualifying Experience
Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

  • reviewed grant applications, contract proposals, or other research-related works and materials for compliance with requirements and appropriateness;
  • applied scientific knowledge to place the proposed research project in its relation to the current state of research being done in the subject matter area and the organization’s priorities; and
  • responded to issues and concerns about specific applications or proposals pertaining to assigned program areas
     
Specialized Experience Requirements in the GS-13

Direct/Independent Research Qualifying Experience 
Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

  • management of independent health-related research projects (e.g., R01 grant, R01 equivalent grant or contract, or comparable project) with a defined budget and staff; 
  • supervised or led graduate researchers/technicians;
  • served as primary or corresponding author on publications in refereed journals, presenting published work to scientific organizations, and/or teaching graduate-level courses in biomedical or health-related disciplines; and
  • served as a reviewer on peer-reviewed panels or journals.

Typical qualifying positions include principal investigator (or equivalent), Assistant or Associate Professor, Project Manager, Senior Research Scientist, Section Chief.

OR

Research Administration/Extramural Qualifying Experience
Applicants must meet at least three (3) experience requirements in this section.

  • summarized the results of the scientific or technical merit review of grant applications or contract proposals;
  • assessed the scientific and/or technical progress of awarded grants and/or contracts to determine effectiveness of support and achievement of objectives;
  • evaluated assigned program portfolios to identify new concepts, programs, or initiatives to support program planning and administrative functioning in relation to an organization’s priorities;
  • formulated and developed new Funding Opportunity Announcements or Program Announcements (e.g., RFAs, RFPs, or a combination of these) to achieve objectives;
  • administered the review of grant applications, contract proposals, research project applications or research reports submitted in response to requests for applications, multicenter clinical trial applications, and contract proposals. 
Specialized Experience Requirements in the GS-14

Direct/Independent Research Qualifying Experience 
Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

  • directed at least two concurrent health-related research projects (e.g., R01 grant, R01 equivalent grant or contract, or comparable project) with separate staff and budgets;
  • experience demonstrating extensive scientific expertise by providing leadership, guidance, and direction to researchers; 
  • coordinated committee and teaching activities and organized and presented sessions at national scientific meetings/conferences; and
  • served as an appointed member of a scientific peer review panel or editorial board, or similar private sector leadership position

Typical qualifying positions include principal investigator (or equivalent), Associate Professor, Professor, Project Manager, Senior Research Scientist, Section Chief.

OR

Research Administration/Extramural Qualifying Experience
Applicants must meet at least three (3) experience requirements in this section.

  • organized and conducted workshops, conferences, symposia, or similar activities to foster the aims of the program, to facilitate communication among investigators, or to advise on the status of progress and emerging directions of research in the assigned program area; 
  • evaluated program activities for a portfolio of research projects, research programs, other grants/awards, cooperative agreements, and/or contracts in the assigned program area to support an organization’s program planning and priority setting;
  • recommended funding plans for initiatives and/or establish the criteria and standards for a review panel;
  • managed the initial scientific and administrative review of grant applications and/or center grant, program project grant, and training grant applications;
  • appointed and managed review panels to include identifying qualified expert Reviewers; 
  • established the evaluation criteria used to assess all applications and proposals.
Specialized Experience Requirements in the GS-15

Direct/Independent Research Qualifying Experience 
Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

  • responsible for managing large and diverse health-related research programs having national or international collaborations, scope, and impact; 
  •  responsible for the development of plans to resolve major organizational and operational problems, and the allocation of funds among competing programs; 
  • recognized as a distinguished scientist with major research experience and accomplishments, including membership in prestigious national professional organizations or societies;
  • served as an organization's representative on permanent and ad-hoc committees established to evaluate research issues; and
  • published extensively in leading scientific journals.

Typical qualifying positions include principal investigator (or equivalent), Associate Typical qualifying positions include Professor and/or Department Chair, Laboratory Chief, Director of Research or equivalent.

OR

Research Administration/Extramural Qualifying Experience
Applicants must meet at least three (3) experience requirements in this section.

  • established criteria and standards for others to follow in planning and evaluating research projects;
  • evaluated the significance of emerging fields, trends and the quality of research within the field in meeting an organization's mission and objectives related to program planning or review administration;
  • initiated action among a variety of governmental or nongovernmental interests to bring research and research administration deficiencies, inadequacies, and new developments into sharper focus to redirect research programs and/or review efforts; 
  • managed a unit focused on scientific programs or scientific review to include leading or supervising staff.

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