The New York Times profiles NIH Director Francis Collins and describes him as a meeting in the middle of previous directors Harold Varmus and Elias Zerhouni, at least style-wise. Zerhouni drove a Mercedes sports car and wore fancy suits while Varmus rode a bicycle and khakis. "With his high-end motorcycle, Dr. Collins seems to be splitting the difference between his predecessors. But he is distinctly in Dr. Varmus's camp on clothing," the Times notes, adding that identity and culture play an important role at NIH, as the director doesn't have much direct power.
"I'm a scientist, I'm one of them," Collins says. "I have a lab, just like Varmus did. I'm a pretty informal guy. I ride a Harley."