HHMI Seeks Investigators through National Competition
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) seeks to appoint up to 30 new biomedical researchers through a national open competition. The initiative represents an investment of approximately $200 million in basic biomedical research by the Institute.
HHMI invites applications for investigator positions from outstanding scientists who have demonstrated originality and substantial accomplishments in biomedical research and who show exceptional promise for future achievement and leadership in research. Those selected in this competition will receive a five-year appointment to HHMI, which is renewable pending favorable scientific review.
“HHMI has a very simple mission,” says HHMI President Robert Tjian. “We find the best original-thinking scientists and give them the resources to follow their instincts in discovering basic biological processes that will lead to better biomedical outcomes. I think that is pretty straightforward, but not so easy to do sometimes. The reason it’s not so easy is that the best research is not predictable.”
HHMI’s distinctive model provides its scientists with long-term, flexible funding that gives them the freedom to explore and even change their research direction. “We’re betting on the individual, not necessarily on the specific research that they’re conducting today,” said Jack E. Dixon, vice president and chief scientific officer. Candidates will be evaluated by distinguished biomedical researchers. All semifinalists will be expected to attend a scientific symposium at HHMI in April 2013 and present a brief research talk to an advisory panel. Finalists will be selected shortly after the scientific symposium.
Click here for more information or to apply.
