Graduate Education: NIOSH Education & Research Center

What is NIOSH Education? 

NIOSH is the primary federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illness and injury. NIOSH provides leadership to avert workplace illness, injury, disability, and death and supports programs to improve the health and safety of workers.

                                                 NIOSH Education and Research Centers Locations on Map from CDC

Mission 

The goal of the Northern California Education Research Center (ERC), a consortium of programs within the University of California, is to train professionals as practitioners and research leaders in occupational safety and health by offering graduate degrees, residency training, clinical experiences, and research mentorship to trainees.

The aim of the ERC is to provide a broad, multidisciplinary educational experience involving student and faculty collaborations in the classroom and on research and service projects. Activities are grounded in multi-campus, interactive teaching programs that translate knowledge into information that can be used to improve worker safety and health. In addition, through the Continuing Education Program and the Outreach components of the Labor Occupational Health Program, the ERC provides continuing education courses and outreach activities to other health professionals.

The Center aims to provide an educational bridge from the University to external constituencies to ensure that practicing professionals, workers, their representatives, supervisors, and other educators benefit from the University’s occupational health and safety expertise. The ERC strives to integrate an occupational safety and health perspective in all of its activities, including such activities as the summer internship program funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, which is designed to encourage students to consider further study in one of the ERC programs.

The Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH) is one of 18 regional Education and Research Centers, funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The Education Research Center (ERC) supports traineeships at three campuses: UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC San Francisco.

Academic Programs

Agricultural Safety and Health Program (UCD)

The ASH program produces effective agricultural safety and health specialists who will serve California, Region IX, and US agriculture. The program’s objective is to train trainees with interdisciplinary skills in agricultural safety and health for application in both research and practice.

Human Factors and Ergonomics Program (UCB / UCSF)

The HFE program provides specialized training in an HFE-related discipline like Environmental Health Sciences or Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Bioengineering), and trains tomorrow’s experts in exposure assessment and human-centered design to optimize performance and health.

Industrial Hygiene Program (UCB)

The IH program trains technical professionals and scientists committed to preventing job-related disease and injury. The program’s goal is to educate committed and passionate industrial hygienists with both a firm theoretical background to enable growth and flexibility in our rapidly changing world.

Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Program (UCB)

The Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology program provides training in the specific analytical tools needed to study health risks concerning workplace exposures. Trainees learn how to analyze quantitative data on a variety of chemical and physical exposures in relation to health outcomes.

Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Program (UCSF)

The OEHN program prepares graduates to identify work environment health hazards and propose appropriate control strategies; design, implement and evaluate work health programs; identify research questions from OEHN practice; and other work central to OEHN service activities.

Occupational, Environmental, and Climate Medicine Program (UCSF)

The OEM residency training program prepares physicians for Board Certification in the OEM specialty. The OEM Residency prepares physicians for OEM practice and leadership roles in clinical, academic, government, non-governmental organizations, consulting, or corporate settings.

Targeted Research Training Program (UCB / UCSF / UCD)

The TRT program offers competitive fellowships and seminars intended to promote interdisciplinary research training in occupational health and safety. TRT trainees receive one-on-one mentorship from the Program Director and participate in group meetings.

NIOSH Traineeships FAQs

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Does NIOSH fund international travel for trainees?

All proposed international travel using NIOSH funds require a pre-approval request and subsequent approval from our sponsor, NIOSH/CDC prior to any purchases intended to be paid with NIOSH funds. To request an international travel exception from NIOSH/CDC, you must provide a complete budget breakdown, narrative of reason for traveling, what, where and when you will be presenting, along with Program PI and COEH leadership approval. If trainees have questions regarding travel logistics once approval has been secured, please contact the COEH Business...

Does NIOSH provide travel funds for trainees? (UC Berkeley Trainees*)

For UC Berkeley Trainees Specifically: Travel funds may be awarded through the NIOSH training grant but must be discussed and approved by the NIOSH Program PI and COEH leadership. Flights purchased independently, and not through the UC travel system following approval from all necessary parties will not be reimbursed per university travel policies. For more information visit the 2023-2024 NIOSH Trainee Guidebook.

Can a part-time student receive NIOSH support?

Part-time students, as defined by the institution in which they are enrolled, can receive Tuition and Fees from a NIOSH traineeship, but not a stipend.

Will NIOSH pay the fees for adding and dropping courses?

No. NIOSH will only pay fees to which all students are subject.

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Is income from a NIOSH traineeship taxable?

The stipend portion of a traineeship award may be taxable, depending on trainee’s tax situation and other school expenses. It is advisable for trainees to obtain IRS Publication 4, Student’s Guide to Federal Income Tax and IRS Publication 520 on gift aid and tax requirements. The University does not issue a W-2 or 1099 and does not withhold taxes on traineeships.

Can a student receive funding from two federal sources?

Generally, trainees cannot be supported simultaneously on two federal funding sources, except in certain instances. The rule is: compensation may not be paid from a (federal) research grant which supports the same research that is part of the trainee’s planned training experience as approved in the training grant application. (NIH Guide for Contracts and Grants, Vol. 13, No. 1, 1/6/84). However, if both sources are federal training grants, and the combined support from both does not exceed the stipend ceiling, a student can receive funding from two federal sources.

How much support does a student receive from a NIOSH traineeship?

It varies, depending upon how much money each NIOSH-approved program receives in a given year, and how many students are enrolled. Support can include out-of-state tuition (first year only), fees, health insurance, travel, and a maximum stipend set by the federal government. Appointments for stipends can be made only to full-time students.

Is there a maximum number of years allowed for receiving federal support?

Yes. The maximum number of years an individual can receive NRSA (National Research Service Award) support (including NIOSH traineeships and NIH Fellowships from all schools attended) is: five years pre-doctoral and three years post-doctoral (for both institutional and individual awards), unless a waiver is granted.

Can a student be employed by the university while receiving a traineeship?

Yes, but students receiving a stipend (plus T&F) during the academic year may be limited to how much they can work. In the summer, employment will be supplemented only up to a GSR appointment at 100% (Northern California ERC policy).

When should the online eRA Commons platform be completed by NIOSH Trainees?

The Appointment of Trainee form (PHS # 2271) should be completed by each trainee on the online eRA Commons platform (online interface governed by the National Institutes of Health) and the program in which trainee is enrolled no later than 30 days after the beginning of the appointment. Information and Instructions for Completing Statement of Appointment is available at the following link: http://grants.nih.gov/training/phs2271.pdf.

For what length and period of time can traineeship appointments be made?

The minimum trainee appointment time is nine months for MPH and MS trainees. The minimum trainee appointment time is twelve months for PhD trainees. Exceptions are possible–for example, when a trainee graduates mid-year. The student’s appointment period does not have to coincide with the time period of the grant. It is possible to appoint a PhD trainee for 12 months beginning in any month of the grant year as long as the appointment ends within the 5-year grant period. Only the beginning date must fall within the grant period.

Who is eligible for a NIOSH traineeship?

Must be a US citizen or permanent resident alien (green card holder). The Northern California ERC is currently funded to support students in Industrial Hygiene, Ergonomics, and Epidemiology at UC Berkeley, Agricultural Safety and Health at UC Davis and Occupational Health Nursing and Occupational Medicine at UC San Francisco.

Is there any advantage to becoming a California resident?

Yes. Because of limited funding, the Northern California ERC will pay for out-of-state fees only for the first year. Therefore, it is important for out-of-state students to begin establishing California residency as soon as possible in their first year. It takes about one year to complete. Reach out to your NIOSH affiliated university of attendance who handles student affairs within your program for further details.