The Division of International Services (DIS) uses an internal database named NIH Visiting Scientists Tracking Automation System, or “nVISTAS” for short, to create and track records and immigration documents for NIH’s foreign national scientist population. The database is supported by NIH’s Office of Innovation and Information Technology (OIIT). A small team within DIS works closely with OIIT to implement necessary updates, but almost all DIS staff members contribute innovative ideas and work products to optimize the system. This project is ongoing as DIS continually strives to improve nVISTAS.

As a partial response to the FEVS survey, DIS wanted a way to recognize staff for their hard work. Recognition in 2021 included awards presented to staff for new nVISTAS initiatives. Despite DIS being understaffed and each staff member consequently having an increased workload, staff were able to exceed expectations and achieve remarkable results for the new initiatives.

Multiple nVISTAS Awards categories were presented to dedicated DIS Staff members for various aspects involved in the maintenance and improvement of our database. For instance, DIS uses email and form templates to both communicate with our stakeholders and prepare immigration documents for NIH scientists. Due to constant immigration and policy changes caused by the pandemic, DIS had a 1691% increase in email and form template updates from CY20 to CY21. These updates were critical to ensure that NIH scientists receive important immigration information before arrival and during their stay at NIH.

Other nVISTAS awards were based on high case volume, diligent recordkeeping in light of frequently changing immigration rules, efficient updates to NIH lab names in our system, and more. Awarding DIS staff members for their innovative contributions to our database – on top of their standard busy workload – was a fun way to recognize our outstanding employees.