Education and Research Center Trainees–Frequently Asked Questions

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) funds the Harvard Chan Education and Research Center (ERC). NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Department of Health and Human Services. NIOSH functions as a research agency focused on the study of worker safety and health, and it empowers employers and workers in building safe and healthy workplaces. ERC trainees are funded by NIOSH, with support from Harvard Chan and other sources.

Education occurs at the master, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels. U.S. citizens and permanent residents enrolled in a full-time, graduate-level academic program at Harvard Chan are eligible for ERC traineeship. Proof of permanent residency must be provided before the trainee’s appointment, per NIOSH guidelines.

ERC trainees’ support may vary from year to year based on federal budget appropriations, although many students receive tuition, health insurance, and NRSA-level stipend support. Additionally, trainees receive mentoring and access to exceptional education and research opportunities.

Appointments are generally made for a 12-month period starting at the beginning of the trainee’s first semester. No individual trainee may receive more than 5 years of aggregate support at the predoctoral level and 3 years of aggregate support at the postdoctoral level.

ERC trainee appointments and terminations are made through the xTrain application in eRA Commons. Incoming trainees will be guided through the process of creating their eRA Commons account or changing their affiliation to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They are responsible for filling out the required information in their profile and maintaining it up to date. Trainees are expected to complete their Statement of Appointment (Form PHS 2271) in xTrain as soon as possible at the beginning of each new appointment period.

ERC trainees are required to devote their full-time efforts to the ERC training program. Employment with additional compensation may be allowed, but it requires prior approval from both the Harvard Chan ERC Director and NIOSH/CDC. Compensation may not be paid from a federal grant that supports the same research that is part of the planned ERC training. ERC trainees may serve as teaching assistants (TAs).

The stipend portion of a traineeship award is taxable, depending on your individual tax situation. Click here for more information about Harvard graduate stipends. It is advisable to obtain the IRS Tax Guide for Students Publication 970.

Please contact the University Student Financial Services if you have additional questions.

Trainees are required to participate in periodic trainee meetings and fulfill the responsible conduct of research requirements. There are specific required courses that must be completed. There are no payback obligations associated with the ERC traineeship.

Please contact Mr. Mircea Filimon, ERC Administrator at mlfilimon@hsph.harvard.edu.