Study Support Technician II – Technical (Aquatics)

Location: Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, Virginia, United States. The position is primarily scheduled during standard business hours, with occasional weekend work as needed.

Hiring pay range: $51,318.11–$64,147.64 annually.

Company

hirify.global operates Janelia Research Campus, a life sciences research center supporting collaborative neuroscience, biology, computational science, and research technology.

What you will do

• Maintain genetically modified zebrafish and Danionella colonies, including embryo care, breeding coordination, and establishment of stable transgenic lines.
• Perform reproductive procedures such as embryo microinjections, in vitro fertilization, cryopreserved sperm recovery, and female ova expression.
• Conduct fluorescent, phenotype, dye, and embryo screening, as well as fin clipping and sperm collection for PCR.
• Track microinjection stages and provide clear handoffs to Aquatics staff and researchers during early embryo development.
• Maintain colony records covering breeding events, genotyping, screening, injection outcomes, AI-supported screening data, and live-feed cultures.
• Communicate colony status, microinjection progress, and research updates to scientists and Aquatics staff.

Requirements

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in life sciences or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least two years of aquatic husbandry or laboratory animal care experience, preferably in a research setting.
• Proficiency with microscopes, embryo injection, fin clipping, embryo screening, and setting up and breaking down crosses.
• Comfort using database systems for animal recordkeeping and excellent Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, learn quickly, and collaborate in a rapidly changing research environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for working with research, technical, administrative, management, contractor, and vendor contacts.

Nice to have

• Experience managing transgenic colonies.
• Experience with microinjection, IVF, or related molecular biology methods.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative environment supporting Janelia’s whole-brain vertebrate neuroscience program.
• Continuous learning and collaboration with research laboratories and shared resources.
• Health benefits, retirement plans, paid time off, recognition programs, and wellness programs.
• Employment eligibility is verified through E-Verify.