回複：Thanks a lot! I did try very hard to ask for letter

I was lucky that was in 2003 even I didn't know the NIH lady but she still gave me a letter after I mailed her my CV and background. But I heard it's been different since then. You still can try through your boss and someone else if he has a friend in NIH. You may let your boss know what a difference if you could get a letter from NIH. Before someone encouraged me, then I tried and got it so don't think about too much! Lucky is always based on your strength.