Postdoctoral Associate – Koay Lab
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
This is a Contract position in Ashburn, VA posted December 17, 2021.
Primary Work Address: 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA, 20147
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.
Summary:
The Koay Lab at HHMI Janelia is looking for postdoctoral researchers to join our group in puzzling out mechanistic relationships between neural circuitry, neural dynamics, and free-form exploration behaviors in the mouse. A main thrust of the lab is to explore out-of-the-box thinking about the brain and its function in adapting behavioral strategies to novel situations. We take a “by whatever means necessary and imaginable” approach to answering scientific questions of interest, including large-scale neural recordings in virtual reality, behavioral manipulations and neural perturbations (eventually at cellular resolution). Projects in our lab aim for a tight, rapid loop between theory and experiment, to figure out what kinds of questions to ask and to obtain the data that will best answer them. For specific ideas of research directions, see . For more information on the Koay Lab, visit We welcome people from interdisciplinary and diverse backgrounds for the unique perspectives that they bring to the table.
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
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Ph.D. in neuroscience, or related fields in life and physical sciences
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Curiosity about how and why things work the way they do
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Inclination to learn and innovate upon methods as dictated by the course of the project
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Creativity and willingness to question the status quo
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.
Category
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Education
Doctorate
Job type
Full time
