Research Technician II / III - PTR-BioImage Analysis

HHMI; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-the-job training

Health benefits

On-site childcare

Free gym

Social and dining spaces

Shuttle service

On-campus housing

Education assistance

Job summary

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus is seeking a full-time Research Technician II/III to support annotation and image analysis.

You will work with team projects, laboratories, and computational groups to develop procedures addressing imaging data and ground-truth annotations for AI research. A Bachelor's degree plus two years' related experience is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology or related field and two years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with computers and basic data handling.
• Ability to visualize complex 3D structures and work with images.

Responsibilities

• Gain knowledge of annotation software and image analysis tools.
• Collect data from multidimensional images and videos.
• Review and correct annotations as part of QC.
• Perform quality control on large datasets and report observations.
• Provide feedback on data quality and software performance.
• Prepare datasets for annotation and contribute to protocol development.
• Collaborate with team leads, researchers and support groups.

Skills

Computer proficiency

3D visualization

Attention to detail

Team player

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center in Ashburn, Virginia, where scientists pursue fundamental questions in the life sciences. Our integrated teams of biologists, computational scientists, and tool-builders innovate research practices and technologies to solve biology's deepest mysteries. HHMI launched Janelia in 2006, establishing an intellectually enriching environment for scientists to do creative, collaborative, hands-on work. We share our methods, results, and tools with the scientific community.

About the Role

The PTR- BioImage analysis team within Project Technical Resources (PTR) is seeking a full-time technician to work on annotation and image analysis projects in collaboration with Team Projects, laboratories, and computational groups. The selected individual will work closely with the team manager and other scientists to develop and implement procedures to accomplish research goals. This job is ideal for someone who likes working with images and enjoys manual annotation, as well as establishing standard protocols and interacting with peers and collaborators. Our current work includes voxel -level segmentation of 3D microscopy volumes, segmentation of lightsheet images of expanded tissues, cell tracking in 4D light microscopy videos, and behavioral labeling from animal experimental video. The combination of projects and emphasis changes over time, requiring agile adaptation to specific requirements. Annotations typically serve as ground truth for automated image processing pipelines established for AI@HHMI projects, and in some cases are used to answer biological questions directly. Examples of related work can be explored at the BioImage Analysis page.

This position will be filled at Research Technician level II or III depending on the candidate's experience.

What We Provide

• On-the-job training on current tools, protocols, and techniques
• Competitive compensation with comprehensive health and welfare benefits
• Amenities that enhance work-life balance such as on-site childcare, a free gym, social and dining spaces, convenient shuttle bus service from the Washington D.C. metro area, on-campus housing, and options for education assistance
• A diverse team looking forward to exploring how your unique background, talents, and interests could contribute to PTR's ability to support science at Janelia

What You'll Do

• Gain in-depth knowledge of commercial and custom annotation software
• Collect relevant data from multidimensional images and videos
• Review and correct automatically or manually generated annotations
• Perform quality control on large datasets, including screening work produced by other team members
• Provide feedback on image quality, software performance, and annotation challenges
• Report biological observations arising from the data
• Communicate effectively with the team manager, project leads, researchers, and support groups at Janelia
• Prepare datasets for annotation, contribute to protocol development and documentation, and serve as a point of contact for collaborating researchers

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of two years of experience in cellular biology, neuroscience, or related field
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers
• Ability to mentally visualize complex three-dimensional structures
• Ability to perform detailed, repetitive work while sustaining close attention
• Ability to understand and apply written guidelines consistently
• Good organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills to communicate efficiently with team members and collaborators
• Work experience in a team-oriented environment and skills to be a good team player
• Interest in engaging in ground-breaking research in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to recognize when a case falls outside established standards
• Experience contributing to written protocols or training other team members
• Candidates with four or more years of experience in image annotation, segmentation, microscopy, or a closely related area may be considered for Research Technician III level

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). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogen