NIEHS trainees were honored for their commitment to scientific excellence and hard work during the institute’s 15th annual Fellow Appreciation Week, Sept. 16-20. Postdoctoral, predoctoral, and visiting researchers — early-career scientists who are critical to helping NIEHS advance its mission — enjoyed a week of networking, lectures, trivia challenges, and good food. The institute’s Office of Fellows’ Career Development (OFCD) organized and hosted the events. Each year, NIEHS Fellow Appreciation Week coincides with National Postdoc Appreciation Week.

“Our annual celebration provides an opportunity for NIEHS scientists, staff, and leadership to thank our fellows for all that they do to enhance and drive forward the cutting-edge research in support of the institute’s mission,” said NIEHS Scientific Director Darryl Zeldin, M.D. “Day in and day out, our fellows bring a collaborative energy that enriches our institute in numerous ways.”

“Fellows across our institute are working on research projects involving clinical research, epidemiology, toxicology, computational analyses, and basic scientific research encompassing a plethora of topics,” noted NIEHS Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D. “We are very fortunate to attract such a world-class group of early-career scientists.”

‘The heart of our institute’

Fellow Appreciation Week kicked off with coffee, donuts, and tea in the cafeteria. Trainees noted that they enjoyed the change of pace and camaraderie.

“This builds a sense of community outside of our labs,” said Anastasia Robinson, Ph.D., a visiting postdoctoral fellow in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory. “We stay so busy conducting research and trying to get our work published, so this is a wonderful time to see and feel that we are appreciated.”

At NIEHS, principal investigators — senior scientists who run their own labs — play a pivotal role in mentoring fellows. But just as mentors contribute to the professional development of trainees, the trainees themselves contribute significantly to their labs’ research efforts and to the life of the institute.

“I enjoy seeing our trainees being acknowledged for all the expertise they bring to the table,” said Robin Stanley, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Nucleolar Integrity Group. “They are the heart of our institute, so it is always a pleasure to be able to recognize them for their dedication.”

Pizza and bake-off with leadership

The week ended with a fellow and mentor bake-off as well as a pizza party on the patio. The pizza get-together was full of energy as NIEHS leaders and principal investigators served slices to the fellows.

“I like the pizza event most,” said Logan Schuck, Ph.D., an Intramural Research Training Award fellow in the Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory. “It’s a great opportunity to unwind with other fellows, learn more about the research my peers are working on, and get to know one another outside of our traditional lab settings.”

Mercedes Arana, Ph.D., director of OFCD, ended the week by reminding the fellows how much they mean to NIEHS.

“You all are the next generation of scientific leadership,” she said. “We appreciate you not just today but every day. Our office provides a platform where we prioritize your career and professional development.”