Life in Washington D.C.
The NIH main campus is located in Bethesda, M.D. and most students will be working in or near the main campus. Bethesda is a relatively small community that sits just far enough outside of Washington, D.C. to let you get away without being so far out that access to the city’s resources are limited. Shopping is never a problem with numerous stores and malls located within a 15 minute drive of downtown. During the summer, nearly every weekend involves some sort of street activity such as an arts festival or the “Taste of Bethesda” where you can sample the best dishes from all the local restaurants. There are a few good sports bars in town but the greatest asset is the selection of food. There are dozens of incredible, sometimes pricey, restaurants within walking distance from one of the free downtown parking garages. Traffic can get a little crazy so living near a Metro stop is essential. The subway system (the “Metro”) is surprisingly clean and easy to navigate making a car unnecessary for travel throughout the D.C. area.
Of course there are all of the free downtown attractions like the Smithsonian museums and monuments. If you’re up for a night on the town, Adam’s Morgan and Dupont Circle provide a wide variety of party environments and both are close to Metro stops. Georgetown is also a good spot for nightlife, but it is a bit of a hike from the closest Metro stop, Farragut West. For outdoor/athletic activities, many people at the NIH participate in pickup games for several sports (basketball, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, flag football, etc.), and they are always looking for more people to join them. Kickball has exploded in the D.C. area over the last decade and the NIH has a couple of dominate teams (GO Lab Rats!). The hiking around this area is great as well (check out Old Rag Mtn. in the Shenandoah Valley).
The best aspect of D.C. has to be the number of young, vibrant, and diverse individuals. People, whether for business or education, are constantly moving in and out meaning that nearly everyone will be in a similar situation. It takes no time at all to develop a new group of friends out here. There is something to suit anyone’s taste.
Currently, the graduate population at the NIH greater than 400 students and rising. These students represent numerous collaborations between the NIH and universities throughout the world. For instance, you can meet someone from Tennessee or Tel-Aviv. Also, nearly every lab has one or more post-bacs (people with undergrad degrees but waiting to go onto grad or medical school), making it easy to quickly develop a network of friends. On the academic side, the resources and opportunities at the NIH are unparalleled. Money for nearly every experimental technique or instrument is available. The online library gives you immediate access to every pertinent journal. And most importantly, the postdocs can provide you with extensive research tips and advice to help you advance.
The Scholar’s House
The Scholar’s House is a unique feature of the program, available to all NIH-Cambridge and NIH-Oxford students, dependent on avaliablity. The stats: 6 BR (complete with bed, dresser and desk), 3 ½ baths, brick patio with grill, fireplace, big kitchen, and living room – all furnished, with cable and wireless internet. The house is less than a block from campus (5-10 minute walk to the labs) and about a 10 minute walk to the Metro. Again, the flexibility is one of the greatest assets. Rooms have been used for as little as one night to as much as one year depending on the needs of the student. The leasing agreement is adjusted to fit into your schedule. You do not get to pick your roommates this way, but everybody gets along great. The rent is cheaper than nearly any apartment and the morning commute is virtually nonexistent. It is a simple process to reserve a room, although this may change as the program grows. Living here allows one to completely avoid all of the hassle and headache associated with apartment shopping in a metropolitan area.