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198 CAREER ADVICE FOR LIFE SCIENTISTS II

Study Section Service:

An Introduction

Frank Solomon

Massachusetts Institute

of Technology

B

y several criteria, life sciences research in the

United States has been phenomenally successful

over the past 40 years. Some analyses ascribe at

least part of that success to the peer review system for

awarding research support. The core of the peer review

system is the study section—a committee of scientists

that evaluates the research in each proposal. But of

course study section review is a human endeavor. Its

quality depends entirely on the wisdom, commitment,

and integrity of the people who serve. Their task is to

distinguish good and valuable science independent of

whether it comes from new investigators or established

ones, representing large programs or small, in fields

fashionable at the time or relatively obscure.

At the beginning of their careers, most scientists

view study section as a mysterious body, powerful and

distant, in a position to make fateful decisions.

Study section review is a human

endeavor. Its quality depends entirely

on the wisdom, commitment and

integrity of the people who serve.

The ways of serving effectively—getting

the most out of the experience and in

turn making the most significant

contribution to peer review—are

happily congruent with the ways of

making study sections work well.