Do group leaders have tenure at Janelia Farm?
The special features that will make Janelia a uniquely exciting research environment—a commitment to developing new technologies and preserving the ability to shift research focus as scientific opportunities arise—are also features that are inconsistent with permanent tenure. But group leaders at Janelia Farm need not be concerned that their HHMI support will end even if their research focus ceases to be at the heart of Janelia Farm’s program. Once a group leader has passed the first review, he or she has the right to become an HHMI investigator at an academic institution. We believe that most adventuresome scientists would consider this arrangement, with its flexibility and provision of research support even after leaving Janelia Farm, far superior to standard academic tenure.
