Application Scientist - Advanced Imaging Center

Primary Work Address: 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA, 20147

Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.

Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center in Ashburn, Virginia, where scientists pursue fundamental questions in neuroscience and imaging. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) launched Janelia in 2006, establishing an intellectually distinctive environment for scientists to do creative, collaborative, hands-on work.   Our integrated teams of biologists, computational scientists, and tool-builders pursue a small number of scientific questions with potential for transformative impact.  We share our methods, results, and tools with the scientific community.  It is a uniquely innovative and collaborative atmosphere that reflects HHMI’s reputation for excellence.

About the AIC:

The Advanced Imaging Center (AIC) at Janelia Research Campus is a unique, international, open-access microscopy center.  Here, emerging, pre-commercial imaging technologies are immediately disseminated to the wider scientific community at no cost and with minimal delay through a peer-reviewed visitor proposal system. The AIC continues to be a nexus where all aspects of biological imaging science, from sample preparation and protocol development to imaging and analysis, are developed and optimized for a broad variety of scientific studies. The AIC is jointly supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Job Summary and Responsibilities:

The Application Scientist will work hands-on in the laboratory to facilitate high-impact scientific advances in close collaboration with AIC users. The Application Scientist will be the primary source of microscopy applications knowledge and expertise for AIC users, and will become an expert in the operation and use of various AIC instruments, as well as processing and analysis of the resulting data.  They will also have ample opportunity for publication authorship.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Coordinate with visiting scientists to understand the objectives and requirements of their microscopy needs for effective visits.

• Operate, maintain, configure, and troubleshoot AIC microscopes at expert level for the benefit of users across a wide range of bioscience applications.

• Work hands-on with visiting scientists to prepare, fix, label, mount, and image samples, often with multiple iterations of data acquisition, optimization, and evaluation.

• Critically interpret images and scientific results to propose and perform iterative experiments and procedures.

• Collaborate with AIC users in preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts and other scientific communications.

• Provide technical consultations to prospective AIC applicants and serve on the Technical Review Panel to review the feasibility and technical justification of submitted proposals.

• Liaise with Janelia technology development groups to introduce emerging imaging technologies, including imaging probes, hardware, and software into the AIC.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent in education and experience.

• Extensive experience in operating advanced and/or custom optical microscopy instrumentation, such as super-resolution microscopy, light sheet microscopy, or other imaging applications.

• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues with sample preparation, imaging system performance, configuration, and usage in order to generate superior and reproducible imaging results.

• Ability to effectively communicate both remotely and in-person (written and verbal) with visiting scientists, sharing outcomes of evaluations and experiments, and guiding future efforts to optimize results.

• Experience in image processing and analysis methods, including development of custom algorithms (such as in Python, Matlab, C++, etc.) preferred.

The Janelia Ecosystem:

In choosing Janelia as your intellectual home, you will be immersed in a collaborative, dynamic and interactive scientific community.  The AIC team is highly interdependent, with all members expected to support each other in daily operations. You will have unique access to world-class researchers and impactful science as part of your career development. Janelia Research Campus is committed to a healthy work-life balance, and offers many amenities, including on-site childcare, free gym, on-campus housing, plentiful social and dining spaces, shuttle-bus service, as well as generous benefits packages, relocation allowance, and paid-time off policies.

Additional Information:

Candidates with experience in providing service-oriented scientific support (such as in core facilities) are encouraged to apply.

Please submit a cover letter, and three references along with your application.

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). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances.

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.

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Primary Work Address: 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA, 20147

Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.

Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center in Ashburn, Virginia, where scientists pursue fundamental questions in neuroscience and imaging. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) launched Janelia in 2006, establishing an intellectually distinctive environment for scientists to do creative, collaborative, hands-on work.   Our integrated teams of biologists, computational scientists, and tool-builders pursue a small number of scientific questions with potential for transformative impact.  We share our methods, results, and tools with the scientific community.  It is a uniquely innovative and collaborative atmosphere that reflects HHMI’s reputation for excellence.

About the AIC:

The Advanced Imaging Center (AIC) at Janelia Research Campus is a unique, international, open-access microscopy center.  Here, emerging, pre-commercial imaging technologies are immediately disseminated to the wider scientific community at no cost and with minimal delay through a peer-reviewed visitor proposal system. The AIC continues to be a nexus where all aspects of biological imaging science, from sample preparation and protocol development to imaging and analysis, are developed and optimized for a broad variety of scientific studies. The AIC is jointly supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Job Summary and Responsibilities:

The Application Scientist will work hands-on in the laboratory to facilitate high-impact scientific advances in close collaboration with AIC users. The Application Scientist will be the primary source of microscopy applications knowledge and expertise for AIC users, and will become an expert in the operation and use of various AIC instruments, as well as processing and analysis of the resulting data.  They will also have ample opportunity for publication authorship.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Coordinate with visiting scientists to understand the objectives and requirements of their microscopy needs for effective visits.

• Operate, maintain, configure, and troubleshoot AIC microscopes at expert level for the benefit of users across a wide range of bioscience applications.

• Work hands-on with visiting scientists to prepare, fix, label, mount, and image samples, often with multiple iterations of data acquisition, optimization, and evaluation.

• Critically interpret images and scientific results to propose and perform iterative experiments and procedures.

• Collaborate with AIC users in preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts and other scientific communications.

• Provide technical consultations to prospective AIC applicants and serve on the Technical Review Panel to review the feasibility and technical justification of submitted proposals.

• Liaise with Janelia technology development groups to introduce emerging imaging technologies, including imaging probes, hardware, and software into the AIC.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent in education and experience.

• Extensive experience in operating advanced and/or custom optical microscopy instrumentation, such as super-resolution microscopy, light sheet microscopy, or other imaging applications.

• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues with sample preparation, imaging system performance, configuration, and usage in order to generate superior and reproducible imaging results.

• Ability to effectively communicate both remotely and in-person (written and verbal) with visiting scientists, sharing outcomes of evaluations and experiments, and guiding future efforts to optimize results.

• Experience in image processing and analysis methods, including development of custom algorithms (such as in Python, Matlab, C++, etc.) preferred.

The Janelia Ecosystem:

In choosing Janelia as your intellectual home, you will be immersed in a collaborative, dynamic and interactive scientific community.  The AIC team is highly interdependent, with all members expected to support each other in daily operations. You will have unique access to world-class researchers and impactful science as part of your career development. Janelia Research Campus is committed to a healthy work-life balance, and offers many amenities, including on-site childcare, free gym, on-campus housing, plentiful social and dining spaces, shuttle-bus service, as well as generous benefits packages, relocation allowance, and paid-time off policies.

Additional Information:

Candidates with experience in providing service-oriented scientific support (such as in core facilities) are encouraged to apply.

Please submit a cover letter, and three references along with your application.

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). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances.

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.

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer