Graduate Education: NIOSH Education & Research Center

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Academic Programs

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.

Agricultural Safety and Health Program (UCD)

Human Factors and Ergonomics Program (UCB / UCSF)

Industrial Hygiene Program (UCB)

Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Program (UCB)

Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Program (UCSF)

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program (UCSF)

Targeted Research Training Program (UCB / UCSF / UCD)

Currently, graduate students enrolled in the industrial hygiene and ergonomics specialty areas at Berkeley, Agricultural Safety and Health at UC Davis, the occupational and environmental health nursing program, the occupational medicine health nursing program, and the occupational medicine residency at San Francisco, are eligible for NIOSH traineeships which pay tuition, fees, and a modest stipend that varies each year according to availability of funding and the number of occupational health trainees enrolled in the funded programs. The Northern California ERC gratefully acknowledges its support from NIOSH.

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 UC campuses: UC Berkeley, UC Davis and UC San Francisco.                                                                      

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

NIOSH Traineeships FAQs

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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.