Senior Clinical Fellow

A Senior Clinical Fellow is a NIH employee who intends to pursue advanced clinical research training and is not quite ready for tenure-track progression. Individuals must qualify as a PGY-9 equivalent or higher, and must be competitively selected by an NIH clinical program (nationally advertised, formal application and review process). Senior Clinical Fellows are more senior and do not serve in the same capacity as Clinical Fellows, who are paid under Intramural (Clinical), Band I. While they are on a different career track than Staff Clinicians, they are generally comparable in terms of qualifications and experience, and therefore appropriately paid under the same pay band, Intramural (Clinical), Band II. For additional information regarding Title 42 Pay Bands, please consult the Title 42 Pay Model.

Approvals (Process)

Senior Clinical Fellows are appointed using Title 42(g) and approved by the delegated authority in each IC. Depending on salary level and other pay components proposed, review and approval is required from both the IC Title 42 Standing Committee and the NIH Compensation Committee (NCC). Please consult the Title 42 Pay Model for additional information.

Initial Senior Clinical Fellow appointments may be made in increments up to 2-3 years. The Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR) must approve any appointment that extends beyond eight years.

For Senior Clinical Fellows that require clinical credentialing, an additional approval must be received from the Director, CC after recommendation by the Office of Credentialing Services, Clinical Center (OCS/CC) and the Medical Executive Committee (MEC).

Check Sheets / Checklists

There is currently no Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR) -approved check sheet or checklist for the Senior Clinical Fellow designation. Individual ICs may have additional requirements and check sheets. Please contact your Administrative Officer (AO) or HR Specialist for additional guidance.

Ethics

Intramural scientists at the NIH, as is true for all scientists, should be committed to the responsible use of scientific tools and methods to seek new knowledge. While the general principles of scientific methodologies are universal, their detailed application may differ in various scientific disciplines and circumstances. All research staff in the Intramural Research Program should maintain exemplary standards of intellectual honesty in formulating, conducting, presenting, and reviewing research, as befits the leadership role of the NIH.

Within the NIH IRP, the ethical conduct of researchers is governed by the following three disciplines:

• Research Ethics
• Government Ethics
• Bioethics

Ethics information may also be available through your specific IC. Please contact your Ethics Counselor for additional guidance.

Pay / Compensation

Pay and compensation for Title 42 appointed Senior Clinical Fellows is based on the Title 42 Pay Model. Individuals must qualify as a PGY-9 equivalent or higher, and must be participating in a competitively selected NIH clinical program (nationally advertised, formal application and review process).

In most situations, a Senior Clinical Fellow will be paid at the entry-level rate; for additional clinical training experience, higher salaries within the band may apply for specially qualified fellows who are also Board-Eligible or Board-Certified.

Recruitment Process / Appointment Mechanisms

Recruitment of a Senior Clinical Fellow is made via Title 42. Individuals must be participating in a competitively selected NIH clinical program (nationally advertised, formal application and review process).

Renewals

Senior Clinical Fellow appointments are made via Title 42(g) and renewed in increments of one to five years, according to the 5/8 Year Duration Policy. The maximum length of this fellowship is 8 years, and the duration is determined by the length of time spent at NIH in all fellowship capacities, unless the scientist is approved for tenure-track or another staff NIH appointment.

Resources

A Senior Clinical Fellow is not granted independent resources by their Institute.

Termination

Senior Clinical Fellow appointments may be terminated before their expiration date for cause (e.g., personal or scientific misconduct), unsatisfactory performance, or administrative reasons, including but not limited to, programmatic changes and/or budgetary considerations. Termination of a Senior Clinical Fellow must follow the policies and processes appropriate to the Title 42(g) appointment mechanism.