Trainee Frequently Asked Questions

11 months of stipend support, research funds, emergency evacuation insurance for U.S. trainees, and reimbursement for medical and visa expenses.

Any proposed change to your official start date must be discussed with your mentorship team and in most cases will be approved.

Yes. NIH requires that all trainees spend 11 consecutive months abroad.

You must notify your in-country mentor and the Support Center. You receive 10 days of vacation during the fellowship.

Trainees will have the opportunity to meet in-person at the Orientation at NIH offices in the summer. They will also have opportunities to interact as alumni at the CUGH Conference and via online Adobe Connect sessions.

The Support Center will assist trainees in selecting housing as needed but it is the responsibility of the trainee to secure housing.

Talk to your mentorship team and fellow trainees! Each country will have a country-specific handbook for trainees, which includes information on housing.

No, your stipend is expected to cover your housing arrangements.

No, only emergency travel and evacuation assistance is provided. Trainees should maintain their own primary health insurance.

Yes, all trainees will be invited to Orientation in the summer.

No, the schedule for orientation is extremely busy and we encourage trainees to focus on their fellowship during this time.
Hotel accommodations are booked so that trainees will share a room. If a trainee brings their family, they will be required to pay the higher fee for a single room.

Yes, there will be time for trainees to be a tourist in DC. Trainees also have the option of arriving or departing DC earlier or later so that they may see the city. Hotel accommodations for additional days in DC will be at the expense of the trainee.

Business attire. You will be meeting with NIH Directors and will want to look your best.

We have many methods of administering research funds. Including: field advances (cash that is sent to the field), direct purchases in the US or from a foreign vendor, and subcontracts.

Your primary site administrator is the first person to contact for assistance. If you have additional questions about shipping and procurement, Nicole Hobbs at the Support Center also has expertise and is happy to assist you.

We often send supplies with PI’s and staff that will be traveling to your site and who offer to carry the supplies as excess luggage. If a traveler cannot carry your items we can order items directly from a vendor or you can purchase them in country using field advance funds or by being reimbursed.

Yes. However, you should check with your primary administer about the reimbursement process at your domestic institution because policies vary.

In most cases you will need to return your laptop to the program so that future trainees can use the equipment.

A commercial invoice is a document used in customs clearance to determine the rate of duties charged to your shipment. Nicole Hobbs at the Support Center can help you with Commercial Invoices and other customs documents.

All expenses related to the purchase of your supplies should come from your research expenses. The Support Center does not have a special budget for shipping and customs clearance. Additionally, please check with the Support Center to determine if duties and VAT are allowable expenses per NIH guidelines.

It depends on what you are ordering but you should plan ahead to ensure that your research is not delayed due to the purchasing process.

Yes, you can hire field staff, nurses, and other personnel to assist you. Their salaries should be paid from your research funds.

Stipend disbursement depends on the payroll practices of your home institution. Most institutions disperse stipend payments on a monthly basis and trainees will have the option to have the funds directly deposited into their bank accounts.

Stipends will begin two weeks after your start date but may vary slightly based on your home institution.

Housing, telecom (internet, cell phone), daily transportation and any other personal expenses (medications, cosmetics, etc.)

Travel will be purchased by the US institution and will be purchased once a trainee has an official start date.
Funds for ground transportation to get to/from airport to the training site may be reimbursed.
Flights should be booked at least one month in advance of travel.

Due to regulations, we cannot directly purchase travel for anyone other than the trainee. However, the travel agency that the Support Center utilizes can split payment and charge your personal card for the travel expenses of your family.

We can only pay for direct flights between your US affiliated site/orientation and your training site. Therefore, if you plan to take personal time at another location before arriving at your site you will only be reimbursed for the amount that a direct flight would cost.

The Support Center will arrange for visas for international trainees to attend Orientation.

You are expected to secure your own visas but the Support Center will provide guidance on the application process.

Many projects have a study vehicle and a driver that trainees will be allowed to utilize and previous trainees have hired personal taxis for site visits or commuted via public transit.

Due to laws within country purchasing a vehicle is very difficult and the Support Center will not help you with the paperwork or legal process to purchase a vehicle.

During the previous Fogarty training program a trainee was killed while operating a motorcycle and we would like to prevent future tragedy. Driving and road conditions in country are different than in the United States and accidents are common.

Trainees should use their discretion to determine a definition of a motorcycle and safe transit based on their surroundings.