Technology Innovation Program (TIP)

TIP Associates Program

  Strengthen the coordination and collaboration between TIP, the NIST organization, and other federal programs and agencies that make up the federal research and development enterprise,
  Provide scientific expertise and analysis to support and strengthen the impact of TIP programs, and to leverage government investments across national problem areas; and
  Educate scientists and engineers through experiential learning assignments in science and technology innovation, and program development and measurement.

About TIP

TIP was created as part of the America COMPETES Act, a comprehensive strategy to keep the United States the most innovative nation in the world. Located at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, TIP was established to help U.S. businesses, institutions of higher education, and other organizations—such as national laboratories and nonprofit research institutes—support, promote, and accelerate innovation in the United States through high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need. TIP is a unique contributor in the Nation’s strategy for transforming our ability to address societal challenges that if go unmet could adversely impact the overall function and quality of life of our Nation.

Eligibility

TIP accepts candidates from a broad array of backgrounds. Associates must be a current United States government employee or other eligible individual. An Associate may come from a range of sectors, including government, academia, industry, and nongovernmental organizations. Associates cannot hold simultaneous employment with a non-federal organization, unless it is approved and in accordance with Department of Commerce ethics policies.¹ Associates are within a range of career stages, from active science and technology researchers and managers, to former faculty or independent scientists and engineers. Associates may be scientists or engineers who seek to further their careers as a leader in their fields, or program leaders in science and technology who wish to expand their impacts as a science and technology manager or program lead. Candidates are expected to possess a doctorate degree, or equivalent, in any physical, biological, medical/health, or information areas of science, or a master’s degree, or equivalent, or above in an engineering or other technical discipline, within scope of NIST’s mission. Candidates who are current NIST or other federal agency employees should be a career professional (ZP, ST, etc.), level 4 (GS-13/14) or above. Associates must hold U.S. citizenship.

Appointments

Individuals interested in becoming a TIP Associate are encouraged to contact TIP at any time in the calendar year. TIP will solicit candidates annually from across NIST programs and organizations, and will solicit non-NIST candidates, when appropriate, using USAJOBS. For existing government employees, candidates may self-identify or be recommended by management, however in all cases, the individual’s home management must agree and commit. Candidates who are existing government employees should submit a resume to TIP whereby TIP will review professional objectives, prior accomplishments and work experience, educational background, and career/professional recognition. Appointments to TIP as an Associate will be thirteen months in duration, with the option for a one time extension of up to one year for existing federal employees. Federal employee appointments will be executed using an inter-organization detail assignment and through term appointments for non-federal employee candidates. TIP will pay the Associate’s salary and benefits, but does not plan to reimburse any relocation expenses. Appointments will be based upon availability of positions, and the alignment of the candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities to TIP program needs and objectives.

Assignments

  Build a community of networked professionals in science and technology that will strengthen the nation’s programs and impacts in areas of critical national need;
  Develop individual core competencies and transferable skills, and
  Provide TIP the opportunity to benefit from the diverse talent, insights, and capabilities brought to the program through the efforts of its Associates.

  Assignments across TIP program areas. Associates will gain exposure to TIP’s four program responsibilities, the depth of which will depend on specific duties. They are: critical national need analysis and development, selection, project management, and impact analysis. Associates will participate in critical national need development teams, participate in TIP competitions and proposal evaluation, and will be ambassadors to industry and government leaders for TIP and NIST.

  Collaborations between TIP and stakeholders, including the Associate’s home government program. Associates will have duties and assignments that will build sustainable collaborative linkages between TIP and its stakeholders, including the Associate’s home federal organization or agency. Associates will propose and participate in projects of joint interest to further TIP’s mission and enhance the effectiveness of the programs of their home federal organization or agency. Associates will bring insights and perspective to TIP and in return, will bring the knowledge and perspective gained at TIP back to their organization. Within NIST, the TIP Associates Program will strengthen NIST’s and TIP’s strategic planning and further integrate TIP across NIST.

  Leadership opportunities and assignments aligned to the individual’s career objectives and specialization. Associates will have program leadership, assignments, and work opportunities that strengthen their career objectives and specialization. Associates will have technical stretch and leadership objective(s) within work areas, such as gathering and analyzing technical intelligence, or development of new relations with NIST and external scientific and technological leaders, including other agencies. All Associates will have assignments in support of TIP critical national need development and competition planning and selection. Assignments may also include impact analysis and some responsibilities in project management.

  Individual skills development to support a stronger government work force. Associates will gain valuable underlying skills applicable to their careers, for example, effective written and oral communications or presentations, time management and working under deadlines, and effective team work that includes interpersonal relations, facilitation, listening, contributing and leading. Also Associates will acquire new context specific knowledge and skills in a variety of areas, for example, technical assessment, proposal review and writing, analysis of industry areas, how industrial innovation works, and measuring impact.

Thomas Wiggins, Director
Selection Management Office
Technology Innovation Program
100 Bureau Drive, MS4750
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Tel: (301) 975-5416 / Fax: (301) 926-9524
Email:  thomas.wiggins@nist.gov

or

Dr. Michael Schen, Senior Scientific Advisor to the Director
Technology Innovation Program
100 Bureau Drive, MS4750
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Tel: (301) 975-6741 / Fax: (301) 926-9524
Email: michael.schen@nist.gov

Back to TIP Associates Home Page

Revised: 03/17/2009

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¹ Visit http://www.ogc.doc.gov/ethics.html and click on the “Summary of Ethics Rules” and “Special Government Employees” Quick Links for detailed information.