Scientists at Janelia work together in multidisciplinary teams to solve challenging biological problems that are difficult to address in other research settings.

Many lab spaces at Janelia feature modular designs and natural light.

Credit: Brad Feinknopf

Occupying 689 wooded acres along the Potomac River, Janelia Farm provides a variety of services and facilities to support its diverse community of scientists and staff—inside and outside the lab.

A view of the Janelia Farm Research Campus at dusk.

Credit: Brad Feinknopf

The Janelia Farm model frees scientists of constraints commonly found in other research environments, providing access to world-class resources and a talented support staff.

Graduate scholar John Tuthill prepares a Drosophila specimen for imaging.

Credit: James Kegley

In addition to our resident scientists and fellows, we offer visiting scientists, graduate, and undergraduate candidates a range of scientific programs.

Graduate scholar Arbora Resulaj (left) and her mentor, Janelia Emeritus Fellow Dmitry Rinberg (right).

Credit: James Kegley

Janelia Farm regularly hosts scientific meetings, ranging from workshops to intensive, specialized conferences. See what's coming up and visit the archive of past events.

Janelia's large auditorium seats 250 people.

Credit: Matt Staley

Janelia provides outstanding employment opportunities, at all levels.

Credit: James Kegley

Many tools developed in Janelia Farm labs are made freely available to outside researchers, while others are taking shape through collaborations with industry, academia, and government.

A virtual arena for the study of flight in insects.

Credit: James Kegley

Janelia’s sense of community comes from a core belief that people of diverse disciplines and backgrounds can accomplish great things when working with a common purpose.

Research specialist Trevor Wardill (left) and group leader Vivek Jayaraman (right).

Credit: James Kegley

Life at Janelia

Overview

Janelia offers state-of-the-art athletic facilities, great places to eat and socialize, and a busy calendar of on-campus events. The pub is also a good place to work.

Our “green” activities keep our community garden growing. There are numerous team-building initiatives, like our innovative entry in Baltimore’s Kinetic Sculpture Race, sponsored by the American Visionary Art Museum. Other benefits include high-quality child care and on-site concierge services, such as dry cleaning and a car wash.

Child Care

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Children participate in outdoor activities like gardening.

Credit: The Children's Learning Laboratory

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At the Children’s Learning Laboratory at Janelia, learning and discovery happen every day.

The Janelia Children's Learning Laboratory is committed to providing the highest-quality child care, early education, and work/life balance. We strive to nurture each child’s unique qualities and potential, encourage learning through child-initiated activities, introduce children to fine arts, help every child feel special, and respect and value individual differences.

The state-of-the art-facility is open from 7:30 am. to 6:30 pm, and the competitively-priced child care is available to employees, visitors, and conference attendees. The center has classrooms for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. We also offer a summer camp program that is jam-packed with outdoor activities, water park excursions, and field trips.

Cost

Tuition varies by classroom and is competitive with other high-quality child care in the area. A scholarship program is also available for children of full-time Janelia employees based on financial need.

Conference Care

Child care is available at a daily rate to Janelia visitors and conference attendees. Preregistration is required.

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Dining and Pub

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Lab heads often discuss science in the Pub.

Credit: Matt Staley

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Janelia has two popular dining options. And, of course, there's great coffee—and lots of it.

The Servery

Janelia’s talented chef provides a wide array of lunch foods designed to please everyone, including international guests, vegetarians, healthy eaters, or even junk food junkies. The menu changes daily with a variety of options. On any given day, you can grab a chicken kebab or steak from The Grill or stir fried noodles from The World Bowl. The Servery also offers a salad bar, a made-to-order sandwich station, and grab-and-go items for those in a hurry.

The lunch period is purposely condensed to encourage everyone to eat together, so it is a good time to bump into friends or meet people from other areas of campus.

Weekday Hours

Midday, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Bob’s Pub

Bob’s Pub is the social hub of Janelia, seven days a week. On weekday mornings, you can find scientists and staff filling up on coffee or tea, sitting down for a Greek omelet, or grabbing a yogurt and fruit before an early meeting. During the day, the pub is a coffee bar where casual meetings take place and postdocs can be seen hunkering down in quiet corners with their laptops. In the evening, Bob’s gradually fills up as families sit down for dinner, friends challenge each other to table tennis matches, or colleagues grab a beer and appetizers. On weekends, the pub is open for brunch and dinner for visitors, residents, and those stopping in to check on an experiment.

The pub offers an a la carte menu featuring soups, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and other traditional pub items. Dinner specials change daily to reflect what’s fresh and local. But Bob’s isn’t just about food. You can meet new friends—or play billiards or table tennis. There is also a theater room with state-of-the-art equipment to watch sporting events or the latest movie release on the big screen. Wednesday is “Janelia Science Theater” night, and Friday movie night is always G-rated so parents can enjoy a leisurely dinner while their children enjoy kid-friendly features in the adjacent theater room. Other social events held in the pub include “Meet the Winemaker” talks, trivia nights, and even an annual table tennis tournament.

Weekday Hours

Mornings: 7:00 am to 9:30 am for continental breakfast or hot items from the grill.

Evenings: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 5:30 pm - 10 pm; Thursday and Friday, 5:00 pm (after the Science talk) to 10:00 pm

Weekend Hours

Mornings: 9 am to 2 pm for brunch

Evenings: 4 pm to 10 pm for dinner

Healthy eating

All menus in the Servery and Bob’s Pub provide nutrition information. Healthy meals and vegetarian options are always available. Janelia also offers occasional lunchtime talks about nutrition and exercise.

Payment

Janelia operates on a cashless system known as a J-Card. For employees, the ID card works as a J-Card. Meeting attendees and visitors may be provided with a J-Card or they can purchase one in Bob’s Pub.

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Fitness and Recreation

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Rowing on the Potomac River.

Credit: Matt Staley

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We offer a fully equipped gym, group classes, and sports courts for those who prefer something more organized.

Janelia’s location right on the banks of the Potomac River makes it a great place to be active outside.

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center offers cardio equipment, free weights, and weight machines. An open loft provides ample space for group classes. Locker room facilities include showers, towels, and hourly-use lockers with digital locks.

The ever-changing selection of classes includes the morning cardio club and sport-specific sessions. Discounted personal training is also offered by the Fitness Center’s trained staff.

Open 24 hours, the fitness center is just across from Janelia’s main research building, in the guest housing facility. It is available for all Janelia employees, spouses, visitors, and meeting attendees (Sorry, No children under 14).

Sports Courts

Janelia’s outdoor sports courts can convert to accommodate many types of activities, including tennis, basketball, volleyball, and even badminton. The two courts are available most of the time, but you can also make a reservation. When the weather is nice, it is not uncommon to see a pickup basketball game. At night, the courts are well-lit, allowing for them to be reserved for back-to-back tennis matches.

Soccer is an international language at Janelia, and the soccer field is often where you will find employees in the evening. The soccer team is always looking for new members as they participate year-round in local competitive leagues.

Hike and Bike

Outdoor paths for walking, hiking, and running crisscross the campus. Selden Island in the Potomac River is part of the Janelia campus, and a trek around the island and back is 5.73 miles—a nice distance for a daily run. The Washington and Old Dominion Trail is a 100-foot wide, 45-mile long path that runs from Purcellville to Arlington and is accessible from Janelia by bike. Bike racks are available in the main parking garage.

Group Sports and Clubs

Janelia employees organize formal and informal teams, and new ones are popping up every day. We have a formal soccer team that plays in a local league, as well as badminton, yoga, basketball, and volleyball clubs.

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Social Activities

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A team of Janelians created this entry in Baltimore's annual Kinetic Sculpture Race (2011).

Credit: James Kegley

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Colleagues and families at Janelia not only like to work together, but they also play together.

Janelians enjoy social clubs and activities ranging from the community garden to the photography club to soccer, basketball, and ultimate frisbee leagues. Periodically, people get together for specific events, such as building a vehicle to enter in Baltimore’s Kinetic Sculpture Race. Janelia is also known for its contests, including the annual table tennis tournament and mustache-growing challenge. We also offer holiday parties and summer picnics for the entire staff.

Read more about the garden club in this 2010 article in the HHMI Bulletin.

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Services

We offer a variety of services to make your life easier, both inside and outside the office.

Dry Cleaning

Janelia works with a local company to offer dry-cleaning services to employees. Registered employees can drop off items at the reception desk by 9 am, and their clothes will be ready by the next morning.

Car Wash

A traveling auto detailing service comes to campus occasionally to wash and detail cars of Janelia employees. Interested employees can sign up ahead of time and leave their car in the specified location.

Banking

A Bank of America ATM machine is located in the hall between the main building and the guest housing facility.

Janelia employees are also eligible to join several local credit unions, including the NIH Federal Credit Union and Apple Federal Credit Union.

Convenience Store

The Janelia C-store carries over-the-counter medications, toiletry items, laundry detergent, stamps, and fitness gear, such as workout clothes and headphones. The store also features souvenir and gift items with the Janelia Farm Reserach Campus logo, Illy coffee, travel mugs, and greeting cards. The convenience store has an array of maps and brochures, as well as information about off-campus activities. You will need a J-Card (Janelia’s cashless payment system) to purchase items.

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