GENIE Project Scientist

Summary:

The Genetically Encoded Neuronal Indicator and Effector (GENIE) project develops, tests, optimizes, and collaborates in producing cutting-edge protein-based fluorescent sensors for imaging cellular activity, thus enabling high-resolution monitoring of cellular function in neurons and other cells. The employs project team members with expertise in advanced molecular biology, protein engineering, high-throughput cell-based screening, in vivo fluorescence imaging, and image analysis. The Project Scientist will lead a team of scientists from these different disciplines and oversee the cell-based screens to improve sensor functionality as well as the evaluation of these protein-based sensors ranging from in vitro biophysics to in vivo functional imaging. All funding for the project is provided internally by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Janelia Project Teams are biotech for discovery science and are supported throughout multiple phases of development, from pilot projects which are intended to explore and define directions for future larger efforts, to large, organized efforts with clear milestones and deliverables. The Project Scientist coordinates GENIE project activity, and is responsible for directing, contributing to, and reporting on every facet team projects. The GENIE project team is relatively mature, running for nearly a decade, and has a record of generating best-in-class sensors, which have been used extensively in neuroscience and other areas of cellular physiology. As Janelia embarks on new research areas more focused on tissue physiology, the overall group will need to adapt and help advance the mission of by generating new sensors and modulators. The Project Scientist will focus on leading teams to develop new screening and analysis capabilities, fostering collaboration, and managing production operations and development staff, while keeping a strong focus on setting and achieving ambitious scientific goals while sharing the results and reagents to the broad scientific community in line with HHMI's Open Science directions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Manage Project Scientific Efforts and Operations

• Ensure active, productive collaboration with postdocs and researchers within SC member and collaborating labs.

• Assist in and direct the development of project-associated tools (e.g., data analysis and representation tools) that will be of broad use to collaborators and the research community. This may include individual research contributions, software and algorithm development, as well as software system architecture design.

• Assure timely, smooth transfer of data and information to project collaborators and users.

• Manage sharing of data and reagents as outlined in project policies and guided by general academic research norms, including the use of commercial vendors for distribution of research reagents.

• Actively disseminate scientific outcomes of the GENIE Project in accordance with Janelia scientific standards. This may include publications, presentations, and other forms of data dissemination when appropriate and in line with HHMI's Open Science mission.

Steering Committee (SC) Administration

Each Janelia team project is guided by a steering committee of Janelia lab heads and visiting scientists who provide high level scientific guidance and whose laboratories all contribute to and use the results of the team efforts. The Project Scientist serves as the bridge between the steering committee and the research operations under their direction.

• Plan regular steering committee meetings, gathering input from SC members and organizing and distributing agendas in advance of each meeting, being mindful to keep the SC focused on topics of appropriate level and impact.

• Document SC meeting discussions, publishing minutes of appropriate detail for future reference.

• Invite discussion of special topics, involving experts from outside the SC to join meetings as needed.

• Initiate new proposals and requests for resources as needed.

• Keep SC members informed about project performance toward goals and milestones, status of performance to budget, and operational challenges encountered.

• Prepare, communicate, and revise research and production plans, with input from the SC.

• Initiate, drive, and document SC discussions and approval of project-specific policies and procedures (e.g., collaboration relationships, publication and reagent sharing policies).

Maximize Project Effectiveness by Leveraging Janelia Resources

• Work closely with Janelia Shared Resources and Project Technical Resources to achieve project goals. Efforts can range from staffing early-stage efforts from these groups to utilizing services as an integral part of project operations.

• Plan, negotiate clear agreements on scope of work, commitment levels, and pricing with internal resource groups.

• The Project Scientist is responsible for working closely with the Finance group to prepare, communicate, and operate within project budgets.

Directly Manage Project Staff (including Research Technicians, Specialists, Postdocs)

• Recruit the very best staff members, authentically representing the unique opportunities afforded by being part of Janelia research and team projects.

• Evaluate and decide on appropriate staffing approaches, including use of internal resources, temporary staff, temporary-to-hire positions, contractors, etc. to optimally meet project needs.

• Effectively manage performance (goal setting, reviewing performance, mentoring) of direct staff, who have a range of career interests and aspirations.

• Plan staff training, motivation and morale efforts within project resources and scope to ensure employee engagement and productivity.

• Directly address and handle performance issues, in collaboration with the Janelia People and Culture department.

Communicate Project Outcomes and Future Directions

• Janelia team projects receive periodic input from external sources, including project-focused advisors and the Janelia Advisory Committee. The Project Scientist leads efforts with the SC to produce biennial project proposals, present updates and plans, and interact with advisors.

• Project team efforts are represented at the annual Janelia Symposium, through scientific talks and posters, and a biennial Janelia Thursday Seminar. Project Scientists are expected to actively participate in presentations to the wider Janelia research community.

• The Project Scientist plays a key role in coordinating input from SC members and others in the preparation of scientific manuscripts for publication, as well as providing academic access to data and reagents.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Janelia Technology Transfer Office as necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field, preferably in the research area of the project under consideration, or equivalent experience.

• Ph.D. preferred

• Experience with high-throughput screening.

• Experience with advanced fluorescent microscopy and spectroscopy

• Experience with in vivo imaging

• Knowledge of cellular biology or protein biochemistry/engineering.

• Three to more than ten years of post-education experience required in academia or industry.

• Experience in managing the development and operation of large-scale algorithm-intensive software systems may be required for analysis-intensive projects.

• Experience in successfully organizing, managing, and driving scientifically and technically diverse and challenging projects to completion, on time, and within budget required.

• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, required.

• Demonstrated negotiation skills and abilities.

• Willingness to work in a team environment, sharing responsibilities, work, and credit with others is essential.

• Experience working at a range of levels of effort, including lab/bench-level experimentation, operational and strategic planning, and communication of plans and results required.

• Experience managing technical staff.

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

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Compensation Range

Pay Type:

HHMI's salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data. HHMI considers a candidate's education, previous experiences, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity when making job offers. Typically, a new hire for this position in this location is compensated between the minimum and the midpoint of the salary range.