HHMI: Investigator Program

Overview

Investigator Program

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is seeking creative and innovative scientists to join its Investigator Program. Through this competition, HHMI will expand our community of basic researchers and physician scientists across the nation who catalyze discovery research in basic and biomedical sciences, plant biology, evolutionary biology, biophysics, chemical biology, biomedical engineering, and computational biology.

Approximately 25 new Investigators will be selected in this competition. The competition is open to all eligible applicants (see below); no nomination or institutional endorsement is required or accepted.

The most exciting and innovative breakthroughs come when exceptional individuals are given the freedom to pursue their boldest ideas. In keeping with this philosophy, HHMI Investigators receive generous and flexible support that allows the pursuit of high-risk/high-reward projects based upon visionary scientific ideas, leading to novel discoveries. We also foster interaction and collaboration among a community of more than 260 HHMI Investigators and other HHMI-funded scientists spanning a range of career stages.

At HHMI, we believe that creating new knowledge and solving difficult scientific problems requires the perspectives of people with different backgrounds and experiences. Scientists with diverse perspectives ask different questions, which can lead to new insights that drive science forward. HHMI also encourages inclusive lab cultures that provide effective mentorship and professional development to enable scientists from all backgrounds to thrive. We seek a broad applicant pool and welcome applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, including those from gender, racial, ethnic, and other groups underrepresented in the biological sciences

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* The Investigator Program is open to individuals who:
* hold a PhD and/or MD (or the equivalent).
* have a tenured or tenure-track position as an assistant professor or higher academic rank (or the equivalent) at an eligible U.S. institution. 
* have more than 5, but no more than 15, years of post-training, professional experience.
* To meet this requirement, the applicant’s first post-training professional appointment must have begun no earlier than the specified date, and no later than the specified date.
* are the principal investigator on one or more active, national, peer-reviewed research grants with an initial duration of at least three years as of the specified date.
* Multi-investigator grants may qualify
* Investigators retain academic appointments and laboratories at their respective institutions but become full-time employees of HHMI, which provides full salary and benefits.
* Investigators are appointed for a sevenyear, renewable period.
* Investigators are required to devote at least 75 percent of their professional activities to the direct conduct of research.
* Applicants with administrative responsibilities or other duties inconsistent with this time commitment may apply but must reduce those other commitments prior to their appointment.

Ineligibility

* Federal government employees are not eligible. 
* Mentored awards and training grants do not qualify.