Home About Press Employ Contact Spyglass Advanced Search
HHMI Logo
Becoming a Scientist
What qualities do you need to succeed in biomedical research? Some of the world's most prominent biomedical researchers may surprise you with their answers. As you'll see in their video responses, they say that intelligence alone is insufficient; success in science also depends on several other qualities.
Download RealPlayer
to watch the videos.
Tom Cech - Scientists are quite diverse - and not necessarily the best students in high school and college. Philippa Marrack - An ability to work well with other people 'because science is a very interactive business'
There's no single formula for success. 'The personalities of scientists are very different.' Jeremy Nathans - 'Persistence, strong analytical skills [and] an unwillingness to accept things on faith.'
'People have a greater capacity to do this than they think - if [they] are unafraid.' Michael Rosbash - 'Follow your star. If you are interested in something, go for it.'
A. James Hudspeth - Scientists need 'ideas that run counter to some preconceived notions' and 'a lot of patience.' Christine Seidman - Flexibility - a willingness to 'go back in another direction with the same enthusiasm.'
John Kappler - Curiosity. It's 'what makes you get up in the morning and want to come in every day.' Joseph S. Takahashi - Drive, motivation, intelligence-and an ability to 'communicate what you find.'
Richard Lifton - Intelligence, knowledge and initiative. 'Equally important is that creative spark.'
HHMI Logo

Home | About HHMI | Press Room | Employment | Contact

© 2008 Howard Hughes Medical Institute. A philanthropy serving society through biomedical research and science education.
4000 Jones Bridge Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815-6789 | (301) 215-8500 | e-mail: webmaster@hhmi.org