Theory Fellow

Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center in Ashburn, Virginia, where scientists pursue fundamental questions in basic biomedical research. 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 values. 

HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus is recruiting Theory Fellows to tackle fundamental questions in biology. The ideal candidates will have interest in one or more of the following topics: computational and mathematical biology, machine vision and learning, biophysics, and theoretical neuroscience. For more information on the Theory Fellow appointment, please visit janelia.org/theoryfellow.  

About the role:  

The Theory Fellow position offers an opportunity to focus your time, energy, and creativity on what you enjoy doing most — science! We encourage applications from postdocs, graduate students, or other early career scientists. We also encourage applications from scientists working in industry and individuals who have taken a hiatus from science.  

What we Provide:  

• A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive benefits  

• 100% internal funding 

• A highly collaborative environment with mentorship from Janelia Computation & Theory group leaders 

• A generous computer and travel budget and access to state-of-the-art computational infrastructure 

• Appointment for 3 years 

What you’ll do  

• Initiate collaborations with experimental groups, with the goal of testing their ideas by guiding the design and execution of new experiments 

• Contribute to the interdisciplinary research environment at Janelia  

• Balance working independently with collaborating broadly  

What you bring  

• A Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (not required at time of application) 

• An interest in pursuing scientific questions with potential for transformative impact  

Applications include  

• Research statement 

• Optional: up to three publications 

• Three letters of reference  

We are committed to a culture of inclusion on campus and highly encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds. HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

We highly encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply even if you don’t feel like you meet every criterion.  

Learn more and apply at janelia.org/theoryfellow. 

Applications due January 7, 2025

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.  

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. 

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer  

Contact us at [email protected] if you require an accommodation related to completing the job application. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.