Endocrine Insider
March 19, 2008

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has announced a new program to fund outstanding early-career scientists. The competitive Early Career Scientist Program targets researchers who hold early faculty positions at one of more than 200 eligible institutions, who have led research laboratories for two to six years, and who demonstrate “potential for significant research productivity and originality, as judged by their doctoral and postdoctoral work, their research plans, and results from their independent research program.”

Appointments are for six years, and those selected will be considered full-time HHMI employees. Full salary and benefits will be paid by HHMI, and a research budget will be provided as follows: year 1, $150,000; year 2, $200,000; year 3, $250,000; years 4-6, $300,000 per year. In addition, HHMI will make payments to the host institution for occupancy of research and office space.

Eligibility requirements for researchers include:

• Must have a doctoral degree
• Must hold a tenure-track position as assistant professor or higher academic rank at one of the eligible institutions. If the applicant is at an institution that does not have tenure, he or she must hold an equivalent appointment. Federal government employees are not eligible.
• Must have between two and six years of experience since first appointment as an assistant professor (or equivalent). To meet this requirement, the applicant's first faculty position as assistant professor must have begun no earlier than June 1, 2002, and no later than September 1, 2006. Some exceptions apply; see website.

Exceptional early-career scientists are encouraged to apply. More details are available at HHMI’s website: http://www.hhmi.org/research/competitions/earlycareer2009/