The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is seeking to appoint 20 to 30 new investigators in the biomedical sciences including plant science. The focus of the competition is on basic biological research. In an interview in Nature News, HHMI president Robert Tjian explained the focus of on basic biology, stating, "It’s getting harder and harder to find sources of funding for people doing basic biology, as opposed to applied or translational work.”

When asked about the difference between HHMI competitions and what is currently being done at the National Institutes of Health, Tjian noted that HHMI is focused on supporting people at a time most beneficial to their career not just individual projects. "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.”

Eligibility requirements include:

• Hold a Ph.D., and/or M.D. or equivalent degree.
• Hold a tenured or tenure-track position as Assistant Professor or higher academic rank (or the equivalent) at an eligible institution.
• Have more than 5 but no more than 15 years of experience since appointment as an assistant professor or equivalent position.
• Be the principal investigator on one (or more) active, national, peer-reviewed research grants with a duration of at least three years.

More information including access to the online application can be found here: http://www.hhmi.org/research/competitions/

Applications are due June 13, 2012 with finalists announced in 2013.

Links:

HHMI News: http://www.hhmi.org/news/HHMI20120315.html

Nature News: http://www.nature.com/news/awards-competition-signals-fresh-opportunities-for-researchers-1.10239