I've been thinking about applying for a year long HHMI medical fellowship for this upcoming cycle and after much lurking I decided to come out and ask some of the relevant questions I've been having. My research interests are more oriented towards computational research in things like robotics, neurobiology, and imaging. I was wondering how HHMI looks upon these types of research projects. Do they consider such projects to be HHMI material and "feasible" in the year long span?
I know that that their Janelia compound is really focused on neural circuitry/design which got me super excited but after looking at past awardees it seems like they only accept 1-2 applicants there a year? Can anyone speak to the competitive aspect of their Janelia program? Is it only a few participants because few people apply or is it incredibly difficult to get in?
I was also curious about how much they emphasize our mentor being and HHMI mentor? I think there may have been a thread a while ago where it was mentioned that this wasn't mandatory but I was wondering if this has been validated or was it one person's opinion. I've been trying to contact the PIs on the HHMI page that say they are interested in taking on students but I haven't gotten much of a response. With that I'm thinking about pursuing an application with my PI I've been working with at my home institution in his field of rehabilitation/motor leanring robotics. I have some concerns about this: he is not an HHMI investigator, he is very well known in his field but currently is funded by 1 RO1 (is this considered well-funded by HHMI standards?), and his field seems to be very different than anything I'm seeing on the HHMI investigator page.
My last concern is related to my own competitive appeal for the grant. I've been involved in research from early in my undergraduate career but I've never been able to get more than a few poster presentations and a conference even though I had two summers of funded research in addition to my research during the school year. Currently, I'm working with my PI to churn out a paper or at least its abstract by the end of the month but do you think that my lack of solid published product will count against me heavily. I'm worried that this combined with a non-HHMI mentor in an unusual field may be frowned upon.
I would be grateful if you could address any of the many questions! Thanks for the help.
I know that that their Janelia compound is really focused on neural circuitry/design which got me super excited but after looking at past awardees it seems like they only accept 1-2 applicants there a year? Can anyone speak to the competitive aspect of their Janelia program? Is it only a few participants because few people apply or is it incredibly difficult to get in?
I was also curious about how much they emphasize our mentor being and HHMI mentor? I think there may have been a thread a while ago where it was mentioned that this wasn't mandatory but I was wondering if this has been validated or was it one person's opinion. I've been trying to contact the PIs on the HHMI page that say they are interested in taking on students but I haven't gotten much of a response. With that I'm thinking about pursuing an application with my PI I've been working with at my home institution in his field of rehabilitation/motor leanring robotics. I have some concerns about this: he is not an HHMI investigator, he is very well known in his field but currently is funded by 1 RO1 (is this considered well-funded by HHMI standards?), and his field seems to be very different than anything I'm seeing on the HHMI investigator page.
My last concern is related to my own competitive appeal for the grant. I've been involved in research from early in my undergraduate career but I've never been able to get more than a few poster presentations and a conference even though I had two summers of funded research in addition to my research during the school year. Currently, I'm working with my PI to churn out a paper or at least its abstract by the end of the month but do you think that my lack of solid published product will count against me heavily. I'm worried that this combined with a non-HHMI mentor in an unusual field may be frowned upon.
I would be grateful if you could address any of the many questions! Thanks for the help.