ELITE Consortium

Fellows' Career Development

Career Symposium Planning

ELITE Consortium

NIEHS Trainees Assembly (NTA)

Upcoming ELITE Site Visits

TBD

Overview

NIEHS initiated and formed the Enhancing Local Industry Transitions Through Exploration (ELITE) Consortium* in 2015 as a partnership between the institute, Duke University Office of Postdoctoral Services , and the Training Initiatives in Biomedical & Biological Sciences (TIBBS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who, prior to joining the Consortium, had been operating a "Program for Industry Exploration" (PIE). The ELITE Consortium works with leading life-science companies within Research Triangle Park to connect industry leadership with fellows from NIEHS, UNC, and Duke. ELITE creates opportunities by setting up unique visits with local companies to enhance networking exposure.

Collins TRL, Hoff K, Starback M et al. Creating and sustaining collaborative multi-institutional industry site visit programs: a toolkit. F1000Research 2020, 9:1317. [ AbstractCollins TRL, Hoff K, Starback M et al. Creating and sustaining collaborative multi-institutional industry site visit programs: a toolkit. F1000Research 2020, 9:1317. ]

Program Goals

ELITE helps fellows explore industry career options through site-visits with industry partners. Exploring different corporate atmospheres allows fellows to develop an appreciation for the different types of industry jobs open to Ph.D.s and how best to prepare for them. This experience offers an excellent opportunity to network with industry professionals. ELITE also benefits participating companies, who can gain exposure, influence perceptions of industry and their companies, and identify talent for future consideration.

How to Apply for ELITE

Fellows must apply for each site visit individually by writing a cover letter addressed to the company being visited. The letter must outline fellows’ background, fit, and interest in the company. Cover letters must be submitted to the appropriate address corresponding to the institution the fellow is applying from (NIEHS: ELITE.NTA@niehs.nih.gov | UNC: ELITE@unc.edu | Duke: molly.starback@duke.edu )

*This program was modeled after successful programs in San Francisco, Boston, and Seattle that have been featured in publications such as Nature: Testing the Waters .