Arrival & setup guides
Your first weeks: transit, banking, phone, and settling in.
Moving to the DC area for a research stay
A practical first-week checklist for arriving researchers: where to land, how to get around, and what to set up first.
For: Anyone arriving for a 1-month to 1-year research stayRead guide →Arrival & setupGetting around without a car near NIH/NIST
Transit, biking, and car-share options so you can skip buying a car.
For: Car-free visitors in the Maryland science corridorRead guide →Arrival & setupOpening a bank account and phone plan basics
The two setup tasks that unlock everything else — what to bring and what to expect.
For: Newly arrived international researchersRead guide →Arrival & setupDC-area guide for visiting scholars
A one-page orientation for visiting scholars in DC: housing, getting around, what to set up first, and how to find community.
For: Visiting scholars, fellows, and academic researchers in DCRead guide →Arrival & setupBaltimore / UMB visiting scientist guide
Orientation for visiting scientists at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and nearby campuses: housing, commute, setup, and community.
For: Visiting scientists, fellows, and trainees in BaltimoreRead guide →Arrival & setupWhat to do during your first week in the DC area as a visiting researcher
A day-by-day first-week checklist for arriving researchers: badge, bank, phone, transit, housing, and finding people.
For: Researchers in their first days in the DC/Maryland areaRead guide →Arrival & setupDC-area research hubs: a guide for visiting researchers
A practical directory of the DC/Maryland research hubs visiting scholars, fellows, postdocs, and interns live around — federal campuses, universities, and corridors — with where to look for housing near each.
For: Visiting researchers, scholars, fellows, postdocs, and interns choosing where to liveRead guide →Looking for something specific? Browse all guides, browse housing, or suggest a guide.