William Schafer

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 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

Visiting Scientist - Schafer Project

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Bill Schafer studied Biology at Harvard University, then moved to UC Berkeley for graduate studies in Biochemistry. His PhD thesis in the lab of Jasper Rine described the role of protein prenylation in the trafficking and function of yeast mating factors and Ras proteins. In 1992, he began postdoctoral research in the lab of Cynthia Kenyon at UCSF, investigating the effects of monoamines on C. elegans behavior. In 1995, he established his own group as a faculty member in the Division of Biology at UCSD. Following a sabbatical to the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in 2004-2005, he moved his group to Cambridge in 2006. He is currently Programme Leader in Cell Biology at the LMB, as well as a visiting scientist at Janelia Farm. His research on C. elegans neuroscience has focused on the molecules of somatosensation, the processing of sensory information by neuronal microcircuits, and the quantitative analysis of behavioral phenotypes.