Medical Chief Considered as Harvard President

Thomas R. Cech, president of the multibillion-dollar Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a world-renowned nonprofit research organization in Chevy Chase, Md., is one of a handful of candidates who Harvard University insiders say is being considered for the university’s presidency, The Boston Globe reports. Mr. Cech received a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989.

Harvard began searching for a new leader shortly after Lawrence H. Summers announced his plans to resign almost a year ago.

A spokesman said Harvard would not comment on the search while it is in progress. The Harvard Crimson student newspaper initially reported the short list of names.