Practical guides for your research stay
The handbook visiting researchers wish they had — clear, practical guidance for the parts of a research move nobody hands you a manual for.
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 →HousingHousing near NIST Gaithersburg for guest researchers
Neighborhoods, commute options, and what to expect on rent around the Gaithersburg campus.
For: Guest researchers and associates at NIST GaithersburgRead guide →HousingShort-term furnished housing near DC research campuses
Where to look for furnished short-term rentals near the campuses, and what to confirm before you commit.
For: Anyone booking a 1–6 month furnished stayRead guide →HousingBasement apartment checklist for visiting researchers
Basement units are common and affordable here — here's what to inspect first.
For: Renters considering a basement or in-law unitRead guide →HousingHow to evaluate a room rental near a research campus
A practical, step-by-step way for visiting researchers to judge a room or sublet near a research hub before committing — what to ask, what to check, and how to stay safe.
For: Visiting researchers, postdocs, fellows, and interns comparing roomsRead 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 →HousingFederal Science Corridor housing guide
How to choose between NIH, NIST, and the I-270 corridor when you can live anywhere along the Red Line — by commute, budget, and lifestyle.
For: Researchers who can choose anywhere along the Maryland science corridorRead guide →CommunityHow to meet other visiting researchers in the DC area
A short stay is easier with a network. Concrete ways to meet other visiting researchers, fellows, and scholars near the campuses.
For: Newly arrived researchers who want a communityRead guide →Events & meetupsHow to organize a happy hour or newcomer meetup
A simple playbook for hosting a low-stress newcomer happy hour or meetup for visiting researchers — and posting it so people show up.
For: Anyone willing to host a small community eventRead guide →HousingShort-term housing near NIH, NIST, and DC research campuses
The main short-term housing options for visiting researchers — sublets, shared houses, aparthotels, and corporate housing — and which fits each campus.
For: Researchers who need 1–9 months of housing near a campusRead guide →HousingRoommate checklist for visiting researchers
What to sort out before moving in with roommates during a research stay — money, space, schedules, and an easy exit.
For: Researchers joining or forming a shared householdRead guide →HousingQuestions to ask before renting a basement apartment
The exact questions to ask a landlord before taking a basement or in-law unit — light, moisture, utilities, access, and legality.
For: Renters considering a basement or in-law unitRead guide →Events & meetupsHow to find community events as a visiting scholar
Where to find newcomer happy hours, meetups, and gatherings during a short research stay — and how to not miss them.
For: Visiting scholars and researchers who want to meet peopleRead 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 →Can’t find what you need?
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