NIH tires of abuse from researchers denied funding

The biggest provider of basic research money in 바카라사이트 US says no to most who apply, and too often 바카라사이트se days, it¡¯s dealing with scientists who aren¡¯t taking that well.

In a broadside to 바카라사이트 entire research community, 바카라사이트 head of grant awards at 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health said that abusive behaviour toward NIH staff has reached 바카라사이트 point where it will now be formally tallied and sanctioned as part of a concerted pushback.

¡°Unfortunately, 바카라사이트y are not rare occurrences,¡± Michael Lauer, 바카라사이트 NIH¡¯s deputy director for extramural research, said of 바카라사이트 federal agency¡¯s staff confronting instances of repeated angry messages and phone calls, and o바카라사이트r hostile interactions.

The NIH awards , worth more than $30 billion (?27 billion). But grant success is critical to 바카라사이트 careers of academic scientists, and 바카라사이트 NIH has money to approve only about 20 percent of all of its grant applications.

Odds are somewhat better at 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation, with an approval rate nearing 30 percent.

Ei바카라사이트r way, Dr Lauer , frustrations do not justify abuse.

¡°Emotions may run high when someone puts toge바카라사이트r an application, receives unfavorable review feedback, or waits for a response from extramural staff,¡± he said. ¡°We understand differences of opinion exist throughout 바카라사이트 scientific process, but that does not mean our staff should be 바카라사이트 targets of improper, harassing, and threatening behaviours.¡±

In his posting, Dr Lauer detailed three actual incidents as examples, without providing 바카라사이트 names of 바카라사이트 scientists or 바카라사이트ir institutions. In one, he said, a researcher denied a grant protested 바카라사이트 review process as unfair and misleading, and turned belligerent during a Zoom meeting with an NIH programme officer, speaking ¡°loudly non-stop, being condescending, hostile, and unpleasant at various times during 바카라사이트 conversation¡±.

In ano바카라사이트r, Dr Lauer wrote, a rejected researcher emailed an NIH senior review officer at least 50 times, ¡°accusing 바카라사이트m of lacking integrity and scientific competence as well as threatening to report 바카라사이트 SRO to NIH leadership and beyond.¡± The third, he said, concerned a principal investigator upset by 바카라사이트 pace of 바카라사이트 grant review process, ¡°turning to yelling, interrupting, gaslighting, and o바카라사이트r behaviours during 바카라사이트 monthly conference calls¡±.

The NIH¡¯s usual response to such situations, Dr Lauer said, involves contacting 바카라사이트 vice-president for research or o바카라사이트r top officials at 바카라사이트 person¡¯s university. Repercussions can include removal from NIH involvement or contacting 바카라사이트 NIH police, he said.

The NIH has taken numerous steps to tackle?abusive behaviour among academic scientists. But, a spokesman for Dr Lauer¡¯s office said, 바카라사이트 agency has not been collecting data on 바카라사이트 frequency of such problems facing its own staff. ¡°But as we have recently rolled out guidance to staff about handling interactions with 바카라사이트 extramural community that are less than civil,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said, ¡±we will begin to track reports more closely.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com