IRB Training Program

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IRB Training Program

National Institutes of Health/University of Bergen IRB Internship Program Fall 2018

Members of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), IRB administrators, research ethics committees, tribal governance bodies, and others who are currently employed in positions related to research participant protections are invited to apply for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/University of Bergen (UiB) IRB Internship Program.

The Department of Bioethics, NIH, offers an IRB internship each fall. Selected interns will observe meetings of intramural IRBs, shadow IRB staff, attend the NIH human subjects research ethics course, attend IRB training courses and staff meetings, and take part in various seminars offered by the Department of Bioethics. Interns may also participate in elective activities, such as visiting the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) or serving as ad hoc reviewers of IRB protocols, depending on interest and expertise. Interns will be given a workspace in the Department of Bioethics within the NIH Clinical Center. The internship program is administered by the Department of Philosophy, University of Bergen, Norway.

Participants will be presented with a Certificate upon successful completion of the internship. The program runs from early-September to mid-December.

Program Requirements

1. Completion of the application packet. The application deadline is April 22, 2018.
    
2. An interest in learning more about U.S. Federal human subjects protections, IRB administration and function, and bioethics, with the goal of enhancing involvement in these activities at the applicant's home institution. There are no specific educational prerequisites. International candidates are welcome to apply.
    
3. Institutional or community endorsement of the application, including a statement describing how the applicant is involved in, or will be involved in, IRB review or research ethics oversight at their institution and/or within their community; and how participation in the NIH internship program will enhance involvement in these activities. Such involvement might be as a member of an IRB or research committee, having a role in setting human subjects protection policy, or as an IRB administrator.
    
4. Proficiency in English
   
   There is no charge for the program. The Department offers a stipend to cover round trip economy class travel expenses from the intern's home city to Bethesda, MD, as well as living expenses for the approximately 3½ month duration of the internship, up to a total of USD 15,000 for international trainees. Up to USD 12,000 is for travel and accommodation expenses and interns have the option to apply for an additional USD 3000 to cover relevant travel in the US during the internship period. The Department does not have accommodations to offer; interns typically find short-term rentals in the local/Bethesda area near NIH.

Application Packet

To apply, please submit the following:

1. Statement of interest in the program, including a description of current position related to research participant protections, how the internship will be useful for that work in the home institution or community, and what one hopes to learn from participation.
    
2. Institutional, community, or tribe endorsement letter from an official or community leader. The endorsement should include a statement on how the internship relates to the applicant's duties or responsibilities within their home institution or community.
    
3. Curriculum vitae.
    
4. If your native language is not English, evidence of English proficiency, such as TOEFL score, IELTS score, or previous education at English-speaking institutions.

Preferred File Format: We prefer receiving documents as PDF (.pdf) formatted documents.

Applications for the Fall 2018 session will be accepted between March 15 - April 22, 2018.

Applications should be submitted electronically via the following link: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/149551/national-institutes-of-health-university-of-bergen-irb-internship-program-fall-2018

Alternatively, applications may be emailed to the following address: reidar.lie@uib.no

Please note that emailed applications need to be received by the 22 April 2018 deadline in order to be considered.

Applicants will be notified on or before May 25, 2018, by letter or e-mail.

Additional information can be obtained from:

• Professor Reidar K. Lie at the Department of Philosophy, UiB: reidar.lie@uib.no
• or Ms. Renee Goodman at, renee.goodman@nih.gov

Application deadline: 22 April 2018