Positions Q&A

• How are lab heads chosen?

  Most lab heads are chosen by an open application process, and we also approach a few established scientists directly. We conducted two start-up recruiting cycles for group leaders, one in 2005 and the other in 2006. In addition we recruited Janelia Farm fellows. Since we have begun operations (August 2006) we have continued one round of group leader recruiting and two for fellows, each year. This recruiting process has given us a critical mass of researchers on site. At this time we have recruited 38 lab heads.

     Apply for a lab head position

• Who should seek to become a Janelia Farm lab head?

  We invite applications for lab head positions from biochemists, biologists, chemists, computer scientists, engineers, mathematicians, neurobiologists, and physicists who are passionate in their pursuit of important problems that relate to basic biomedical and technical research. We are committed to fostering collaboration among lab heads, and we encourage scientists who wish to work together to coordinate their applications.

  A lab head position will be attractive if you want to:

  • spend most of your time doing direct research
  • supervise a small group
  • have outstanding resources and support services
  • hear about your colleagues' work
  • collaborate with scientists outside your own area
  • eliminate teaching, grant writing, and administrative responsibilities
  • attend some of the best scientific conferences without traveling
  
  
  

• Who should not seek to become a Janelia Farm lab head?

  A lab head position will be unattractive if you want to:

  • supervise a large group
  • teach
  • serve on committees
  • have significant administrative responsibilities
  • travel extensively to attend conferences and give seminars
  • work exclusively in your area of research
  
  
  

• How do group leaders and fellows spend their time?

  A central objective of Janelia Farm is to free scientists to focus on their research and minimize distractions. The infrastructure of the campus is designed to support the creativity, insight, courage, experimental skill, and effort of the resident scientists.

  Group leaders and fellows must spend at least 75 percent of their professional time focused on research at the Janelia Farm campus. The remaining 25 percent of their time may be spent on other scientific activities, such as attending conferences, reviewing for journals or grant agencies, and giving outside seminars. They may also use part of this time to consult for industry. Janelia Farm group leaders and fellows will be subject to the same policies regarding outside activities that apply to host-based HHMI investigators.

• How are group leaders' appointments structured?

  Group leaders report to the director. They are appointed for an initial term of six years. At the end of that time, there are three possible outcomes:

  • Renewal for five years with an invitation to stay at Janelia Farm. After that, the review process is repeated every five years. The renewed group leader also has the option of moving as an HHMI investigator to another U.S. research institution that offers a faculty appointment.
  • Renewal for five years without an invitation to stay at Janelia Farm. This outcome applies to those who have been successful but whose research focus has diverged from the program objectives of Janelia Farm. The renewed group leader is expected to move to another U.S. research institution as an HHMI investigator within two years.
  • Nonrenewal. A group leader who is not renewed is provided with two years of transitional research support that can be used either at Janelia Farm or at their next institution. In this case, the group leader must leave Janelia Farm within two years.
  
  
  

• How is a group leader's performance reviewed?

  An objective of JFRC is to provide scientists with the freedom to pursue long-term, difficult projects in a setting where they are encouraged to engage in collaborative, interdisciplinary work. For this reason, it would not be appropriate to use the same promotion and tenure criteria used by most academic departments. We certainly expect our group leaders to make progress in their research and to pursue their objectives with passion, intelligence, creativity, and diligence. However, we acknowledge that progress on challenging problems cannot be judged solely on conventional measures such as publications.

  Our review process uses outside experts who are asked to visit Janelia Farm and interact with the group leader under review, not simply respond to a package of written materials. We also place great value on the contributions the group leader has made to the work of others, either through formal collaboration, constructive criticism, or mentoring. Because group leaders have neither extramural grants nor teaching responsibilities, the common academic review criteria of funding success and teaching evaluation are not used.

  In addition to the comprehensive periodic renewal reviews, annual performance reviews are conducted internally with the purpose of providing constructive feedback. These are based primarily on contributions to the working environment at Janelia Farm rather than on research progress per se. Group leaders are expected to:

  • be actively engaged in research on campus for not less than 75 percent of their professional time
  • bring their full creativity and attention to their work
  • use wisely the unparalleled level of resources and support provided at Janelia Farm
  • be collaborative with colleagues and supportive of their work
  • demonstrate respect for everyone with whom they work and professionalism in all situations
  • exercise the highest level of ethics at all times
  
  
  

• Do group leaders have tenure at Janelia Farm?

  The special features that will make Janelia a uniquely exciting research environment—a commitment to developing new technologies and preserving the ability to shift research focus as scientific opportunities arise—are also features that are inconsistent with permanent tenure. But group leaders at Janelia Farm need not be concerned that their HHMI support will end even if their research focus ceases to be at the heart of Janelia Farm's program. Once a group leader has passed the first review, he or she has the right to become an HHMI investigator at an academic institution. We believe that most adventuresome scientists would consider this arrangement, with its flexibility and provision of research support even after leaving Janelia Farm, far superior to standard academic tenure.

• How are Janelia Farm fellows' appointments structured?

  Fellows report to the director. The fellowship is for a five-year term and is not usually renewable. Fellows may apply for a group leader position at any time. Annual performance reviews are conducted internally with the purpose of providing constructive feedback. These are based primarily on contributions to the working environment at Janelia Farm rather than on research progress per se. Janelia Farm fellows are expected to:

  • be actively engaged in research on campus for not less than 75 percent of their professional time
  • bring their full creativity and attention to their work
  • use wisely the unparalleled level of resources and support provided at Janelia Farm
  • be collaborative with colleagues and supportive of their work
  • demonstrate respect for everyone with whom they work and professionalism in all situations
  • exercise the highest level of ethics at all times