NIH is making is easier to be a parent and a scientist

NIH has created a new section of their website that is essentially a clearinghouse to showcase their family-friendly policies. I already told you about the recent change in biosketches to allow for a description of unusual personal circumstances. Now they are making it very clear that grant funds on all types of grants can be used to reimburse child care expenses for investigator participation at project-related conferences and meetings. The caveat is that these expenses must be factored into the budget, though I would imagine that if you had a baby in year 2 of a 5 year R01, there would be some leverage to use available funds for necessary child care. These changes are great, and show that NIH is making progress in supporting scientists who choose to be parents. Maybe someday it will be much easier to be both!