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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus is a
pioneering research center in Ashburn, Virginia, where scientists
pursue fundamental questions in the life sciences. Our integrated
teams of biologists, computational scientists, and tool-builders
innovate research practices and technologies to solve biology’s
deepest mysteries. HHMI launched Janelia in 2006, establishing an
intellectually enriching environment for scientists to do creative,
collaborative, hands-on work. We share our methods, results, and
tools with the scientific community.
About Janelia
Janelia Research Campus is an HHMI research institute built to
tackle scientific problems beyond what any single lab or company
could sustain. Janelia's next decade centers on two big bets:
mapping how a vertebrate brain produces complex behavior, and
building “AI-in-the-Loop Discovery,” where scientists and AI work
together to analyze data, design experiments, and drive discovery
at a new scale.
Larval zebrafish and Danionella are key to the first bet. Zebrafish
are where Janelia is building the whole-brain imaging pipelines
that a viable Danionella platform will depend on, and Danionella —
transparent throughout its life — offers a path toward imaging the
whole brain of an adult vertebrate during natural, complex
behavior, something never before achieved. As this work scales up,
Janelia's AAALAC-accredited Vivarium is growing its Aquatics
program.
About the Role
This position provides specialized technical services within
Janelia's Aquatics program of the Vivarium. These services focus on
creating and maintaining genetically modified zebrafish and
Danionella colonies in support of Janelia’s research program.
Working under minimal supervision, provides expertise with hands-on
technical procedures to enable and streamline research.
Schedule Requirements: This position is primarily scheduled
during standard business hours, with occasional weekend work as
needed.
What We Provide
- An opportunity to broaden research experience in a
collaborative environment supporting Janelia's whole-brain
vertebrate neuroscience program.
A team that believes in continuous learning and cultivates an
environment of collaboration.
Collaboration with research labs and other shared resources,
including Molecular Genomics, Viral Tools, Quantitative Genomics,
and other Vivarium teams.
What You'll Do
- Perform technical procedures to maintain the zebrafish and
danionella colonies, including embryo care, setting up and breaking
down crosses, and breeding coordination through establishment of a
stable transgenic line.
- Perform reproductive techniques, including embryo
microinjections, IVF, recovery of cryopreserved sperm, and female
ova expression.
- Conduct whole animal screening, including fluorescent and/or
phenotype screening, dye screening, embryo screening, fin clipping
(larval, juvenile, and adult), and sperm collection for PCR.
- Track each stage of the microinjection process and provide
clear handoffs to Aquatics staff and researchers as embryos
progress through early development.
- Maintain transgenic colony records on related data systems,
including crossing events, genotyping results, screening
observations, injection outcomes, AI-supported screening data, and
live-feed culture records that support colony nutrition.
- Communicate with researchers on breeding colony status,
microinjection progress, and other updates as needed.
What You Bring
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in life sciences or a related
field, or an equivalent combination of education and
experience.
- Two years of experience with Aquatic husbandry or laboratory
animal care, preferably in a research setting; experience with
transgenic colony management is a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to perform moderate technical procedures,
such as proficient microscope use, embryo injection, fin clipping,
embryo screening, and cross setup/breakdown.
- Experience with reproductive techniques such as microinjection,
IVF, or related molecular biology methods is a plus.
- Comfort using database systems for animal recordkeeping.
- Enthusiastic and self-motivated individual, with the ability to
work independently with minimal supervision and learn tasks
quickly.
- Excellent skills in Microsoft Office.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative, rapidly
changing team environment to accomplish mutual goals.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to deal
effectively with research scientists, laboratory technical staff,
administrative staff, management, outside contractors, and
vendors.
Physical Requirements:
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended
periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or
arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example
using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word;
ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move
about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the
ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a
laptop computer or tablet).
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential
duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for
reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual
basis.
Please Note:
This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties,
responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as
an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word
“may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above
are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
Compensation and Benefits
Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in
many ways for their contributions to our mission, including
competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans,
time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit
our
Benefits at
HHMI site to learn more.
Hiring Pay Range
$49,344.34 - $61,680.42
Pay Type:
Annual
The posted range reflects HHMI’s good faith estimate of the
anticipated hiring salary range for this role at the time of
posting. Actual hiring compensation is determined by a candidate’s
qualifications, experience, and internal equity.
HHMI is an Equal Opportunity
Employer
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