Richard Fetter

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

Senior Scientist

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Richard Fetter received his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Duke University studying vertebrate photoreceptor development and the molecular and ultrastructural levels. Following a post-doc at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, he worked for Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the lab of Corey Goodman at UC Berkeley for 12 years where he examined many aspects of nervous system and neuro-muscular development in Drosophila by electron microscopy. He then joined Cori Bargmann’s lab at UC San Francisco for 5 years where he participated in projects of nervous system development in C. elegans.

After a brief return to UC San Francisco, he joined the Janelia Farm Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in 2007. At Janelia he works as a Senior Scientist on the Fly EM project and is responsible for preparing and imaging serial section series of intact fly brains by EM. He also serves on the Fly EM project Steering Committee.