Tomorrow’s Scientists

Although we learn science from teachers, scientific facts come from researchers working in labs and in the field. Acquiring the skills and knowledge to conduct research takes time, and given the unpredictable nature of scientific inquiry, requires freedom and tools to explore over many years.

Part of the NIH mission is supporting the next generation of scientists, funding thousands of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across the United States. This support helps to launch the future careers of highly talented women and men who are thrilled by discovery and driven to help people. NIH puts a major focus on these early-career scientists just starting their labs. NIH’s Next Generation Researchers Initiative, launched in 2017, ensures that sufficient resources will be available to provide support over time for these individuals as their careers progress.

NIH also follows closely specific areas of biomedical research in which workforce training must adapt to meet growing needs, including revitalizing physician-scientist training, fostering recruitment to expand the datascience workforce, and promoting cross-training of basic scientists, clinical scientists, and physician-scientists to maximize opportunities for discovery that lead to health advances.

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