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. 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. SAs are filled in the 0101, 0401, 0601, 0801, 1301 and 1560 occupational series and can serve as either Program Officers or Scientific Review Officers.

What are Program Officers (PO)  

Program Officers are scientists who provide the scientific expertise for the programmatic aspects of assigned applications and grants and are responsible for overseeing portfolios of research grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. 

Duties include:

• Using expert knowledge of relevant scientific fields to identify research needs and recommend or facilitate the development of program initiatives and funding opportunities. 
• Providing input on the scientific, technical, and/or programmatic suitability of applications for funding.
• Monitoring awards to ensure satisfactory progress and compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Advising prospective applicants on suitability of proposed work for funding opportunities. 
• Communicating agency priorities to public. 

What are Scientific Review Officers (SRO)

Scientific Review Officers are scientists who serve as stewards of the NIH’s peer review process to ensure fair, expert, informed, and unbiased scientific and technical evaluations of grant applications and contract proposals. They are the designated federal officials with responsibility for managing scientific review groups. As such, they play a pivotal role in identifying the most meritorious science for funding consideration by NIH Institutes and Centers.

Duties include:

• Use expert scientific knowledge to identify and appoint groups of scientists with balanced expertise appropriate to the applications under review.
• Train reviewers and actively manage review meetings to ensure effective review. 
• Ensure that peer review laws, regulations, and policies are appropriately implemented across the course of the peer review process.  
• Communicate to the scientific community and NIH staff on review policies and procedures.
• Effectively communicate the deliberations and recommendations of peer review panels to IC Advisory Councils

Provide advisory input on improvements to the NIH peer review process

Desired Characteristics of SA’s

• Competence in science.
• Recognizable accomplishment and career progression in a research activity related to health; 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 the internal relationships of the organization with which the research is identified and conducted and 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.

Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience Requirements

Scientist Administrators are required to meet both basic and specialized experience requirements. The basic requirements vary as SAs are announced in several occupational series to allow for a variety of education and experience backgrounds to qualify: 0101, 0401, 0601, 0801, 1301, 1560. Please review the individual occupational requirements at the links above to learn more about the basic requirements for the positions. 

Degrees must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. For information on qualifications based on foreign education, visit https://hr.nih.gov/jobs/announcement-links/instructions-qualifications-based-foreign-education. 

Click here for Specialized Experience Requirements.