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Knowles, who has been a faculty member at Harvard since 1974, has published more than 250 research papers and is widely considered one of the best enzymologists in the world.

After his appointment as Dean of the Faculty in 1991, Knowles withdrew from research to focus on administrative duties. His last graduate student received her Ph.D. in 1994.

By replacing Professor Thorn, Knowles willmaintain the current ratio of scientists tonon-scientists among the HHMI trustees.

"One trustee dedicated to research in themedical and life sciences is being replaced bysomebody at least with his roots in the researchand teaching in the life sciences," Knowles noted.

Such academic qualifications, according toJarmul, were more important in deciding on asuccessor to Thorn than Knowles' affiliation withHarvard.

"The trustees in this case were looking forsomeone with impeccable scientific credentials,with a deep understanding of academic affairs,"Jarmul said.

Founded by aircraft mogul Howard Hughes in1954, the HHMI today employs more than 320scientific investigators--including several NobelPrize winners and 60 members of the NationalAcademy of Sciences--at 72 institutions across theUnited States.

Its assets of $11 billion make it the secondlargest philanthropy in the United States andenabled it to distribute over $500 million inresearch funding this fiscal year.

HHMI currently employs 15 investigators inCambridge, including Assistant Professor ofMolecular and Cellular Biology Catherine Dulac,Professor of Biological Chemistry and MolecularPharmacology Stephen C. Harrison '63, Professor ofBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Douglas A.Melton, Professor of Chemistry Stuart L. Schreiberand Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics DonC. Wiley at Harvard.

The institute has also given several milliondollars to enhance undergraduate science educationat Harvard, said Jarmul