Deadline: Unspecified
Applications are open for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Presidential Fellows Program 2026. The HHMI Presidential Fellows Program places a small cohort of exceptional early-career professionals (2–3 per year) directly in the Office of the President, working on the institute’s highest-priority strategic initiatives.
Fellows report to the President and the Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Senior Advisor to the President. This is not a rotation or an observation post. Fellows own projects, move them forward, and engage senior leadership for guidance and decision-making. The role is modeled on the federal Special Assistant to the President: high trust, high access, and high output.
Duties
- Lead cross-functional strategic projects spanning science programs, AI, finance, communications, human resources, technology, science education, and film
- Take initiatives from concept to the 20-yard line: scoping problems, building options, engaging the right people, and driving toward decisions
- Manage AI agents and LLM-based workflows to accelerate high-priority projects across the Institute
- Handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and sound judgment
- Dedicate 10% of their time to self-directed projects of their choosing, subject to approval by the President and COO
Benefits
- The remuneration is between $150,000 – $200,000.
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s degree required. They welcome both outstanding recent graduates and candidates with advanced degrees (MBA, MPP, PhD, JD, or equivalent) and 0 to 5 years of professional experience in consulting, policy, research, strategy, law, operations, or a comparable field
- Demonstrated ability to move between domains quickly, synthesizing information and driving action in unfamiliar territory
- Fluency with AI tools and large language models, including experience orchestrating AI agents to advance complex work
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing clear, concise work product for senior audiences
- Comfort with ambiguity, shifting priorities, and the pace of executive-level decision-making
- Intellectual curiosity that spans the sciences, policy, technology, and institutional strategy
Application
For more information, visit HHMI Presidential Fellows Program.
