CSR’s primary role is to handle the receipt and review of all grant applications that NIH receives. NIH separates the review process from funding decisions.
For Reviewers
Reviewers are critical to our mission to see that NIH grant applications receive, fair, independent, expert, and timely scientific reviews. We appreciate the generosity with which reviewers give their time.
Study Sections
Applications are reviewed in study sections (Scientific Review Groups, SRGs). Review Branches (RBs) are clusters of study sections based on scientific discipline.
Review Meetings
Applications are reviewed in study sections (Scientific Review Groups, SRGs). Review Branches (RBs) are clusters of study sections based on scientific discipline.
Evaluation Initiatives
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Dr. Janetta Lun earned her Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Virginia, where she conducted and published research on how our beliefs about others and the self are influenced by the surrounding context. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland, College Park,…
Dr. Hernandez-Ochoa received an M.D. degree in general medicine and surgery and a Ph.D. degree in neurophysiology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. During his postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he investigated the role of calcium signals and…
Dr. Robert Elliott holds an M.Sc. in radiation biology from the University of London and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Cornell (now Weill) Graduate School of Medical Sciences in New York City. He trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Irvine, and the University of…
Dr. Angela Ng has a Ph.D. degree in experimental pathology from Northwestern University and a M.B.A. degree from the University of Oklahoma. Her postdoctoral training is in molecular developmental biology and endocrinology. Before joining CSR, she was a senior scientist of research and development…
Dr. Aurea De Sousa has a technical background in chemistry and holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics. She completed postdoctoral training in cell biology of molecular motors and neurobiology of septate junctions at the paranodes of myelinated axons at the University of North Carolina.…
Dr. Vonda Smith is an Assistant Director in the Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR) at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR).Prior to this position, she served as Scientific Review Officer(SRO) of the Small Business: Bioanalytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biophysics, and Assay Development Study…
Dr. Hoshaw received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology/Neuroscience from Temple University where he studied the neuroscience of addiction. He then obtained post-doctoral training in pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania where he studied stress neurobiology. Dr. Hoshaw joined CSR as a…
Dr. Yi Liu earned his Ph.D. in molecular microbiology and immunology and received his postdoctoral training in developmental genetics from the University of Southern California. Prior to joining CSR, he was an associate professor of research and the principal investigator and co-investigator of NIH…
Dr. Ross D. Shonat received his Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and completed postdoctoral training in microcirculatory physiology at the University of Arizona and neurophysiology and molecular biology using magnetic resonance imaging at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior…
Dr. Thomas Beres serves as Chief of the Health Services and Systems Review Branch (HSS RB).Dr. Thomas Beres received his Ph.D. in Genetics and Development from the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Dallas, Texas. There he studied both bHLH and homeodomain…
CSR values diverse perspectives in review. We recognize that accommodations may be needed to allow inclusivity and full participation by those with disabilities. If you require accommodations – whether it relates to travel or to meeting format or procedures - please speak with your scientific…
Dr. Jordan Moore received his Ph.D. in neurobiology and behavior from Cornell University and completed his postdoctoral training at Columbia University. His research focused on brain-behavior relationships across multiple levels of analysis, including evolutionary links between neuroanatomy and…
Dr. Janice Duy received her Ph.D. in functional genomics from the University of Maine and pursued postdoctoral training at the U. S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), where she also served as principal investigator. Prior to joining CSR, Dr. Duy was a program…
Dr. Alok Mulky received a M.Sc. in microbiology from the University of Mumbai, India, studying bioremediation, enzymology, antibiotic production, biofilms, and strain improvement. He then received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham studying the molecular…
Dr. Khalid Masood received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Central Drug Research Institute, India, and postdoctoral training in molecular biology at the Washington University School of Medicine. He has worked as a senior staff fellow in the intramural program of NIH, patent examiner in the United…
Dr. Gheda Temsah earned her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Maryland. Before joining CSR, she spent over a decade in the private sector, leading studies and evaluations of international development and humanitarian programs for large and small business consultancy firms. Her work focused…
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Dr. Bruce Reed is Acting Director of CSR. Prior to being appointed Acting Director, he served as the Deputy Director at CSR, beginning in 2019. In his role, he works to optimize peer review at the NIH through implementation of CSR’s strategic plan. He has led multiple special efforts to develop new…
Dr. Lystranne Maynard-Smith obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University with a focus on development of a chemical biology approach to controlling protein stability. She then pursued her postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK with an emphasis on…
Dr. Roger Janz received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Cologne, Germany, and then did postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas with Dr. Thomas Südhof (Nobel laureate 2013). Before joining CSR, Dr. Janz was an associate professor in the…
Dr. Kausik (Bobby) Ray received his Ph.D. in life sciences (cell, molecular, and developmental biology program) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his M.S. in cytology & genetics from the University of Calcutta, India. Dr. Ray did his first postdoctoral training at the Weis Center…
Dr. Elena Smirnova serves as Chief of the Molecular Genetics and Genomics Review Branch (MGG RB).
Dr. Elena Smirnova earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry/biophysics from Heidelberg University in Germany. She did her post-doctoral training in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the UCLA School of…
Dr. Mark Vosvick is a behavioral scientist who was trained at and received degrees from Yale, Rutgers, Harvard and Stanford and completed an NRSA postdoctoral fellowship at the NIH-funded Center for AIDS Intervention Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Immediately prior to CSR, Dr.…
Dr. Rochelle F. Hentges received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Rochester. She completed post-doctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh before joining the Owerko Centre for Neurodevelopment at the University of Calgary. Prior to joining CSR, Dr. Hentges was a…