This is the case for Nobel laureate Thomas Cech, due to take over as president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) from Purnell Choppin at the end of the year, as well as continuing to lead his research group at the University of Colorado at Boulder. HHMI initially approached Cech to solicit his help in its search for a new president and subsequently asked whether he would consider the position himself.
Whether by design or not, this turned out to be a good approach to recruiting Cech, who in his 25 years on the faculty at Colorado declined to consider offers of university presidencies and other leading roles at research institutions, turning away the many head-hunters who came knocking at his door. Cech's intention was to wait until his children finished high school. Other factors, such as the political nature of the work and the large amount of fundraising expected of a president, made such jobs seem less than attractive. But the HHMI presidency is a unique opportunity, says Cech. “The current president attends all the scientific meetings, as well as the renewal reviews of the investigators, and there is no fundraising involved — Howard Hughes did that for us.”
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