Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program
This HHMI program provides up to 10 years of funding and leadership development for outstanding early career faculty in basic biological and biomedical sciences.
Funder: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Due Dates: December 15, 2026: Full application submission deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $10 million over 10 years; includes full salary and benefits (currently $173,000–$291,000/year), $500,000/year research budget (years 1–5), $600,000/year (years 6–10), plus capital equipment support
Summary: Comprehensive, long-term support for outstanding early career faculty in basic biological and biomedical sciences, emphasizing scientific excellence and inclusive leadership.
Key Information: Scholars become HHMI employees while retaining their academic appointments and labs at host institutions.
Description
The program provides transformative support for early career tenured or tenure-track faculty (including physician-scientists) who demonstrate exceptional promise as leaders in their fields of basic biological or biomedical science. Scholars receive up to 10 years of funding, contingent on a successful midpoint review, and become employees of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) while maintaining their faculty positions and research labs at their home institutions. The program emphasizes not only scientific achievement but also the development of inclusive lab leadership and mentoring skills. Scholars benefit from professional development, access to advanced scientific resources (including the Janelia Research Campus), and eligibility for substantial capital equipment support. The program is designed to foster a diverse and vibrant community of scientific leaders.
