Presidential Fellow

Howard Hughes Medical Institute•Headquarters, KY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a major private funder of biomedical research, supporting scientists, a research campus for AI initiatives, and national programs in science education, film, and AI-enabled research. The HHMI Presidential Fellows Program places a select group of early-career professionals into the Office of the President to work on the institute’s most critical strategic initiatives. Fellows report directly to the President and the Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Senior Advisor to the President. This role is designed for high trust, high access, and high output, similar to a federal Special Assistant to the President. Fellows are expected to lead projects from conception to completion, engage senior leadership, and manage sensitive information with discretion.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
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.

Nice To Haves

Outstanding recent graduates or 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.

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional strategic projects spanning science programs, AI, finance, communications, human resources, technology, science education, and film.
Take initiatives from concept to completion: scoping problems, building options, engaging stakeholders, 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, subject to approval by the President and COO.