Learn more about being successful in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Competition

The OVCRGE is hosting a panel discussion and Q&A from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2019 in the Biotechnology Auditorium to help UW investigators learn how to compete for a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator appointment. Panelists include current and former HHMI investigators Paul Ahlquist (Professor of Oncology and Molecular Virology, Professor of Plant Pathology), Ed Chapman (Professor of Neuroscience), and Judith Kimble (Professor of Biochemistry).

The HHMI is seeking to appoint approximately 20 new Investigators through a national open competition. This effort will expand HHMI’s community of nearly 300 Investigators, who perform basic biological research across the nation.

HHMI Investigators receive a seven-year appointment, which is renewable pending favorable scientific review. HHMI encourages Investigators to push their research fields into new areas of inquiry.

“When you become an HHMI Investigator, you join a community of excellent scientists – scientists who are motivated to understand biology at a deeper level, who want to explore new frontiers, and who are eager to communicate and collaborate with their colleagues,” says David Clapham, HHMI’s vice president and chief scientific officer.

The HHMI Investigator competition is open to basic researchers and physician scientists from more than 200 eligible institutions who catalyze discovery research in basic and biomedical sciences, plant biology, evolutionary biology, biophysics, chemical biology, biomedical engineering, and computational biology.

Candidates apply directly to HHMI. Applications must be received by March 18, 2020. 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 US institution. Federal government employees are not eligible.
• Have more than five but no more than 15 years of post-training, professional experience.
• 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 April 1, 2020. Mentored awards and training grants do not qualify. Multi-investigator grants may qualify.

Distinguished scientists will evaluate the applications. Semifinalists will be selected by December 9, 2020, and invited to a scientific symposium at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus, where they will make a brief research presentation to HHMI scientific leadership and the final advisory panel. Finalists will be selected by the end of April 2021, with appointments starting as early as September 1, 2021.