Campus Q&A

• Where is Janelia Farm?

  Janelia Farm is in Loudoun County, Virginia, about 8 miles north of Dulles Airport and just under 30 road miles west of Washington, D.C. Its 689-acre verdant campus lies on the southern bank of the Potomac River. Loudoun County is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.

• What residential options are nearby?

  Loudoun County, Virginia, where Janelia Farm is located, is known for its excellent schools and easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. Nearby residential towns include the modern development of Ashburn (founded in 1989, about 2 miles away) and the historic town of Leesburg (founded in 1758, about 6 miles). Also in the vicinity are opportunities for truly rural housing. Neighboring Fairfax County also offers a wide variety of suburban housing. For those desiring a more urban environment, Janelia Farm can be reached in about 45 minutes via a reverse commute from Washington, D.C. The Washington metropolitan area offers outstanding cultural activities and nightlife.

• What kind of support services does Janelia Farm provide employees?

  We are committed to providing an outstanding environment that minimizes distractions and supports the work of our people. This extends to the provision of excellent, accredited, on-site infant and child care. Onsite dining options, a fitness center, outdoor exercise opportunities, free covered parking and other services are available to all employees.

• Will my spouse or partner be able to find employment?

  We help spouses or partners seeking employment by supplying support and contacts. We welcome coordinated lab head applications from couples when appropriate to the scientific mission of Janelia Farm. We also help lab heads' spouses and partners identify employment opportunities, either at Janelia Farm or elsewhere. Janelia Farm is located in a growing and economically active area with a number of high-tech companies and corporate headquarters nearby. In addition, we are within range of Washington, D.C., with all its government, academic, and other employment opportunities.

• How many people work at Janelia Farm? Who are they?

  Several hundred people will work at Janelia Farm when we have completed our planned growth in 2010. We currently have 33 lab heads: about 18 group leaders (each with two to six people) and about 15 independent Janelia fellows (each with up to two people), and 3 senior fellows. At full capacity, we will have about 130 people working in a variety of shared scientific resources, as well as in administrative and other supporting roles. We have created an itinerant community of up to 100 visiting scientists at any one time— faculty on sabbatical, visiting collaborators, and project teams. These scientific visitors are taking an active part in the research on campus.

• What benefits are provided?

  All Janelia Farm employees will be eligible for health insurance and other generous employee benefits available to comparable HHMI employees. Graduate students who are completing their doctoral research projects with mentors at Janelia Farm will receive stipends and other benefits.