CSS staff support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of Occupational Safety and Health by providing Safe Techniques Advance Research Science (STARS) training to summer interns. Following a pause during the pandemic, staff resumed training May 15, 2024. During the in-person STARS training, CSS staff cover key concepts from the pre-requisite NIH Lab Safety online training by working through two case studies: one biological hazard (salmonella typhi handling procedures), and one chemical hazard (acrylamide for gels). CSS trainers provide a show and tell while demonstrating the safety equipment in the mock lab. 

We anticipate training hundreds of interns this summer. 

We are proud to be training the next generation of researchers!

Man holds a sharps container while talking to students.
CSS staff train summer interns on laboratory safety equipment.
Woman points to a warning sign while talking to students
CSS staff train summer interns on the meaning of laboratory signs.

See More CSS Insights

Expanding Our Offshore Wind Team

We’ve recently added several staff to bolster the offshore wind team at NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. With this full team of 13, our employee owners are able to provide more focused support in their areas of expertise, including mapping and spatial modeling, data collection, communications, project management, and partner engagement. Through this…

Supporting Safety In Higher Education Laboratories

In the past two years we’ve expanded our safety portfolio to supporting colleges and universities, ensuring their laboratories meet industrial hygiene and safety standards. Our staff member leading the effort is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP), and member of the Remote Industrial Hygiene and Safety Support Team. Our short-term projects…

Examining Cetaceans for Contamination and Pathogens

CSS has employee owners who are experts in monitoring cetacean health. Several CSS scientists supporting NOAA’s Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have recently conducted research and tests on marine mammals to explore uncommon behaviors and causes for strandings. View some examples of this research below. Microplastics are becoming increasingly abundant in coastal and marine environments.…