waypointjobs

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Postdoctoral Scientist - Lincoln Lab

ashburn, GA

Check who can apply and the requirements below before continuing.

About this opportunity

Howard Hughes Medical Institute lists this Postdoctoral Scientist - Lincoln Lab opportunity in ashburn, Georgia. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.

Job description

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

About the Role:

We are seeking Postdoctoral Scientists with hybrid expertise spanning fluorescent dye development, spectroscopy, chemical biology, and super-resolution microscopy to join the Lincoln Lab. In this role you will help design and characterize the next generation of fluorophores to tackle multimodal, whole-organism, and/or super-resolution imaging challenges. Candidates with an excellent record of research achievement and experience in air and/or light sensitive chemical synthesis methods, photochemistry, spectroscopy, or in vitro/in vivo fluorescence imaging are particularly encouraged to apply. Exposure and training in additional techniques, including single molecule imaging, immunofluorescence, super-resolution techniques, as well as cryo-electron tomography and related disciplines, may be required over the course of these projects.

About the Lab:

With a research background grounded in photophysics, organic chemistry, chemical biology, and high-resolution optics, our lab uses experimental photochemistry, computational modelling, and physical chemistry to engineer fluorophores and molecular tools to tackle the challenges at the forefront of fluorescence microscopy. As a part of the initiative at Janelia, we strive to challenge the boundaries of fluorophore/probe development for dynamic biological imaging that will revolutionize the imaging projects during the next chapter of Janelia’s research program. We collaborate closely with other groups in and the larger Janelia community, including chemists, protein engineers, neuroscientists, and microscopists to achieve mutual goals. For more information about the Lincoln lab, please visit: Lincoln Lab | Janelia Research Campus

In addition, the HHMI Janelia Research Campus provides a highly collaborative, resource-rich environment for our work.

What We Provide:

A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.

Access to Janelia’s facilities and engineering support for custom-hardware, scientific computing, and fluorescence microscopy.

A highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research campus with close ties to labs working across chemistry, protein design, microscopy development, and neuroscience.

One-on-one mentorship.

Support to attend and present at scientific conferences.

Amenities that enhance work-life balance such as on-site childcare, free gyms, available on-campus housing, social and dining spaces, and convenient shuttle bus service to Janelia from the Washington D.C. metro area.

What You’ll Do:

Develop and optimize multistep synthetic routes for new small molecule fluorophores and bioactive ligands for multimodal microscopy applications.

Apply drug-discovery models, molecular docking simulations, and quantum mechanical calculations to guide molecular design and optimize target engagement, bioavailability, and imaging performance.

Develop high throughput spectroscopic assays, and single molecule methods to evaluate key properties, including spectral profiles, photostability, and bioavailability.

Evaluate dye performance in live and fixed-cell imaging, including widefield, confocal and super-resolution methods.

Establish structure–property relationships between molecular design and performance.

Collaborate with other members of and the broader Janelia community to apply best-performing labels to whole-organism imaging challenges.

Pursue creative research ideas that leverage your previous experience and align with your current and future scientific interests.

What You Bring:

Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, or related fields in the physical or life sciences.

A hybrid background in photochemistry and/or chemical biology with a strong grounding in organic chemistry

Hands-on experience performing organic synthesis of fluorophores and light-sensitive substances

Experience working with computational chemistry software packages including Gaussian and Orca

Additional skills in fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy, assay development, molecular docking, or fluorescence microscopy is an asset

Passion and perseverance to carry out high impact discovery science

Willingness to work collaboratively in a small lab atmosphere

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports and contribute to publications

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:

A Postdoc 00 (0 to 1 year research experience after obtaining a PhD) is compensated at a rate of $74,200.00 annually at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus.

Pay Type:

Annual

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.

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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Worksite address

ashburn, GA, 31714, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.

Ready for your next step?Apply on the official website
Apply on WhatJobs ↗

Explore related searches

Current related jobs

Foresight Asset Management LLC

WhatJobs

Lead Maintenance Technician (San Antonio Area)

san antonio, TX

Salary not specified

Lead Maintenance Technician (San Antonio Area) Foresight Asset Management, LLC is seeking a skilled and proactive Lead Maintenance Technician t…

Last received from source 2026-10-06View job

Foresight Asset Management LLC

WhatJobs

Maintenance Technician- The Chelsea

san antonio, TX

Salary not specified

Maintenance Technician- The Chelsea Are you a hands-on professional with strong problem-solving skills and a commitment to customer service? We…

Last received from source 2026-10-06View job

Westaff

WhatJobs

Maintenance Worker

helena, MT

See pay details in description

Description Hold on to your toolbelts! Westaff is searching for a Maintenance Worker for a local business in Helena, MT ! Term: Temporary, 3+ …

Last received from source 2026-10-06View job

Cactus Wellhead

WhatJobs

Cactus Wellhead - Maintenance Technician

odessa, TX

Salary not specified

This is a Cactus Wellhead position and is located in Odessa, TX. Job Summary: Responsible for the maintenance functions and repairs associate…

Last received from source 2026-10-06View job