The National Cancer Institute at Frederick What is it? Where is it? Story on page 20. Outstanding Mentors WINTER 2006–2007 What Makes an Outstanding Mentor? IN THIS ISSUE by Maritta Perry Grau Encouraging Young Scientists 4 “The day you accept a student or postdoc, you become a mentor,” Science Today 6 said Dr. Andrew Byrd, chief of the Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Platinum Publications 8 Center for Cancer Research Poster People Profi le 10 (CCR), at NCI-Frederick. Dr. Byrd and two other CCR Christopher J. Michejda 11 colleagues were among 11 scientists that NCI recently Science Communications 12 recognized for their excellent mentoring skills. Dr. William Outreach and Special Programs 13 Farrar, head of the Cancer Stem Second from right, Dr. William Farrar, Head, Cell Section, Laboratory of Cancer Stem Cell Section, Laboratory of Protective Services 14 Cancer Prevention, received Cancer Prevention, CCR, with mentees. an Outstanding Mentor Award. Open Houses 15 Dr. Byrd and Dr. Alexander for their commitment to fostering the Wlodawer, chief, Macromolecular independent careers of their fellows, Books for Mongolia 16 Crystallography Laboratory, received students, and trainees. According to Frederick Employee Diversity Mentor of Merit awards. Dr. John Niederhuber, NCI director, Team 17 Created in 2001, the Mentoring “Each of this year’s Mentor honorees Awards recognize NCI investigators continued on page 2 New Faces at NCI-Frederick 18 Employee Assistance Program NCI-Frederick People 19 The Poster Puzzler 20 Employee Assistance Program Now Offers Legal and Poster Puzzler Winner 21 Financial Consultation and 24/7 Coverage PALS’ Celebrations 22 by Nancy Parrish Technology Transfer Branch 23 The new Employee Assistance employee assistance plans, the new Program, introduced in September, program offers a network of more than Charles River Laboratories 24 offers all NCI-Frederick government 7,000 licensed counselors to assist and contractor employees a new employees and dependents with issues Data Management Services 25 network of counselors as well as legal that may affect their ability to work to and fi nancial consultation. full potential. In addition to counseling SAIC-Frederick, Inc. 26 Administered by Business Health on personal and work-related issues, Wilson Information Services Services (BHS), a nationally the program now offers assistance on Corporation 27 recognized company with over issues related to personal fi nance and 20 years’ experience in providing legal matters. Employment Opportunities 28 continued on page 3 Outstanding Mentors continued from page 1 exemplifi es the excellent leadership recommendation, and nominates the independent work and who taught me and staff that make up NCI, and I trainee for awards or other recognition. a lot about how to mentor others.” congratulate them for this recognition Dr. Farrar explained, “Generally, Dr. Byrd said that both high school and for the key roles they play in I establish research goals, provide and university teachers encouraged his creating the well-trained, highly the means, and design experiments. interest in science. “Professors Don motivated scientists of our future.” I help with writing. In turn, I expect Kubler and William Harris [Furman responsibility and accountability. I ask University] instilled in me a respect PI Expected to Mentor [post-docs/students] what they wish for research and an excitement in All principal investigators are to achieve and in what employment truly enjoying research and science…. expected to mentor, although there is sector they wish to have a career. I In graduate school, professors Paul no formal training. Dr. Byrd explained, think it is important that they work Ellis, Jerry Odom, and Bruce Dunlap on something that makes them highly [University of South Carolina] were eligible for the next step in their so enthusiastic and involved… that it careers. My goal is to minimize their was impossible not to be enthusiastic weaknesses and expand their strengths and motivated to achieve. They also to make them highly competitive at enabled me to meet… future Nobel their next career stop.” Prize winners Richard Ernst and Kurt Dr. Byrd observed, “Mentoring is not a scheduled activity, it is the activity of science... Every interaction with a group member is mentoring. A natural outgrowth of this interaction is the discussion and development of their career plans, [encouraging] the person to become involved with the scientifi c Dr. Andrew Byrd, Chief, Structural community and to be aware of the Biophysics, CCR [excitement in learning about] that fi eld. The reward for this investment “How well you do is directly related in time with each person is watching to how well you establish mutual them mature scientifi cally.” respect and use your experience to Mentors Learned from foster the relationship, to encourage Dr. Alexander Wlodawer, Chief, the person, and to take pride in their Their Own Mentors Macromolecular Crystallography accomplishment rather than dwelling These mentors themselves were once Laboratory, CCR only on how the work benefi ts you.” trainees. Dr. Farrar said that one of his While an intern may be mentored earliest mentors had “great integrity Wüthrich, as well as to interact with for only one summer, a postdoctoral and made science a fun adventure.” other scientists who have helped me fellow might work with his mentor Dr. Wlodawer noted that he had since coming to the NIH, e.g., Drs. Ira fi ve or more years. Dr. Farrar learned much from his graduate Levin and Ted Becker [NIDDK, NIH].” commented, “Many have gone on to advisor, Dr. David Eisenberg, Dr. Farrar, Dr. Byrd, and Dr. be departmental chairs; these are my Associate Director of the Institute for Wlodawer all strongly advocate greatest career accomplishments.” Genomics and Proteomics at UCLA, mentoring as an important part of the one of the best known structural principal investigator’s work ethic. “It Mentoring: the Activity biologists in the United States; and is my duty to help them in establishing of Science from another mentor, Dr. David themselves as fully independent, The mentor suggests research topics, Davies, Chief, Section on Molecular tenured investigators,” Dr. Wlodawer reviews results, helps in writing Structure, Laboratory of Molecular commented. Dr. Byrd concluded, “I papers and posters, encourages the Biology, the National Institute of strongly feel that the success we have trainee to attend conferences, advises Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney as scientists is infl uenced by the people about job prospects, writes letters of Diseases [NIDDK], “in whose we work with as well as the physical laboratory I started my own fully opportunities that we have.” Ø The NCI-Frederick Poster 2 Winter 2006–2007 Employee Assistance Program continued from page 1 Services are available by calling 1- Telephone counseling is available For More Information 800-765-3277, 24 hours a day, 7 days through TTY and in 130 languages a week. The call will be answered through a translation service. For more information, call by a Masters’-level clinician, or Counseling is free and confi dential. Occupational Health Services at care coordinator, who can assess Counseling services are available at 301-846-1096 or the Business Health needs, monitor progress of the case, no charge to all employees and their Solutions toll-free number, 1-800-765- and ensure that appropriate help is dependents. Callers will be treated 3277. Or, you may visit the NCI- received. The care coordinator then with the same confi dentiality as they Frederick Web site (http://web.ncifcrf. handles all future calls. would fi nd at their doctor’s offi ce: no gov/news/NCIF%20Premier%20New Legal consultations cover any information will be released without sletter2.pdf), or log on to the Business legal issue you or your dependents written consent. Health Solutions Web site, www. may be facing. Examples include bhsonline.com, and enter NCIF as the estate planning, domestic/family Other Services Available user name. Ø matters, motor vehicle violations, The new program provides access real estate concerns, landlord/tenant to the BHS Web site, with its on-line New EAP Services disputes, IRS and business matters, resource library containing thousands at a Glance even criminal charges. You and of articles related to health and well- your dependents may speak with a being, legal, fi nancial, small business • Free and confi dential qualifi ed legal professional by phone and personal growth issues. The Web • Available 24 hours a day, or in person, for up to 30 minutes at site also includes Solution Centers, 7 days a week, 365 days a year no charge, per problem episode, per which are designed to lead you or • Offers counseling for personal year. If additional legal consultation your dependents through problems and work-related issues is needed, it may be continued at a related to specifi c life issues, such as • Includes legal and fi nancial discounted rate. adoption, buying a home or car, elder consultation Financial consultations are care, creating a will, and many more. • TTY accessible; 130 languages available on such issues as budgeting, spoken college funding, retirement funding, On-site Counselor Will Remain • Available to all NCI-Frederick credit counseling, debt management/ The on-site counselor, Selden government and contractor consolidation, estate planning, Cooper, will continue to be available employees, legal spouses, and and tax preparation. You and your for counseling sessions on Tuesdays, dependent children dependents may speak with a BHS- Wednesdays, and Fridays. You may qualifi ed fi nancial specialist for up to request an appointment with him when Call 1-800-765-3277 60 minutes at no charge, per problem you call the BHS toll-free number, Log on to www.bhsonline.com Ø episode, per year. If further advice is 1-800-765-3277. [User name: NCIF] necessary, a referral may be made to a local resource. The NCI-Frederick Poster 3 Winter 2006–2007 Encouraging Young Scientists Education Summit: quoting Nelson Mandela: “Education org/pisa), one section of which tested Greater Science is the most powerful weapon we can problem-solving skills among students Training Needed use to change the world.” from 40 countries.