FUNDING MEMO

Title: 2024 HHMI Investigator Competition

Funding Agency: Howard Hughes Medical Institute

External Deadline(s):

03/21/2023 12:00 PM PDT (Full Proposal)

Cognizant Office: Division

Description:

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is seeking creative and innovative scientists to join its Investigator Program. Through this competition, HHMI will expand their 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.

Note: The HHMI 2024 Investigator Program will hold two virtual information sessions about the HHMI Investigator Program and competition. The February 1 and 9 information sessions are scheduled for one hour, starting at 3:00 p.m. (ET) and will include a brief presentation from members of the HHMI Science department with time for questions and answers. The information sessions will be recorded. The recordings will be available a few days after the events via the Investigator Program page. Anyone interested in joining a live information session must register here:

• February 1, 3:00-4:00 p.m. (ET)
• February 9, 3:00-4:00 p.m. (ET)
• Questions may be submitted in advance of the sessions to: [email protected]

Frequency: Every few years

Total Award: Varies

• Investigators receive full salary, benefits, and a research budget from HHMI for a tenure of seven years.
  • HHMI has standard laboratory operations budget levels for Investigators that are reviewed annually and adjusted as required.

Indirect Costs:

There is no Caltech overhead requirement related to these awards.

Duration: 7 years

• Earliest appointment start date is September 1, 2024.

Discipline(s): Biology and Biological Engineering; Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Engineering and Applied Science

Eligibility: Tenure-Track Faculty, Tenured Faculty

• Applicants must hold a PhD, and/or MD (or the equivalent).
• Applicants must hold a tenured or tenure-track position as an assistant professor or higher academic rank (or the equivalent) at an eligible U.S. Institution.
• Federal government employees are not eligible.
• Applicants must have more than 5, but no more than 15 years, or post-training, professional experience
  • The applicant’s first professional appointment must have begun no earlier than March 1, 2008, and no later than April 1, 2018.
• Applicants must be 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, 2023.
  • Multi-investigator grants may qualify.
• Investigators are expected to dedicate at least 75% of their time to 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.

Research Areas of Interest:

• Investigator competitions are open to researchers in basic and biomedical sciences, plant biology, evolutionary biology, biophysics, chemical biology, biomedical engineering, and computational biology.

Post-Award Obligations:

• TBD

Recent Caltech Recipients:

• Mikhail Shapiro (2021)
• Doris Tsao (2015)
• Elliot Meyerowitz (2013)

Guidelines & Other Information:

Program Announcement: https://www.hhmi.org/sites/default/files/programs/investigator/investigator2024-program-announcement.pdf

Overview: https://www.hhmi.org/programs/biomedical-research/investigator-program#Overview

Eligibility: https://www.hhmi.org/programs/biomedical-research/investigator-program#Eligibility

Application Requirements: https://www.hhmi.org/programs/biomedical-research/investigator-program#Application

Current Investigators: https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/browse?kw=&&field_scientist_classification[0]=17367

FAQ: https://www.hhmi.org/sites/default/files/programs/investigator/investigator2024-faq.pdf

HHMI will assess the research achievements and prospects for future contributions of the applicant’s independent research program. Applications will be evaluated by distinguished scientists. Semifinalists will be selected by November 7, 2023, and asked to record a video presentation describing their research accomplishments and research vision. On March 18, 2024, semifinalists will be required to participate in a virtual symposium by giving a brief presentation and answering questions from members of HHMI’s advisory panel. The selection of finalists will be made in early April 2024.

Please notify the Foundation Relations team and the Office of the Provost if you anticipate making a submission. We are here to help ensure that Caltech’s proposals are competitive. Applications are submitted directly to HHMI.

Opportunity ID: 1358