Postdoctoral Researcher - Enzyme engineering for cell-free systems

About the role

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado and is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. NLR focuses on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost‑effective energy solutions, strengthening U.S. industries, supporting job creation, and promoting national economic growth. The laboratory offers a mission‑driven environment with state‑of‑the‑art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, along with robust professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package.

Responsibilities

• Identify, express, purify, and assay enzymes from full metabolic pathways
• Develop high‑throughput enzymatic assays for pathway validation
• Work with data scientists to develop efficient cell‑free production pathways
• Utilize biochemical assays to measure enzyme activities
• Conduct directed evolution, structure‑guided protein engineering, and machine learning‑guided protein engineering studies to improve enzyme and pathway function
• Conduct laboratory experiments with minimal supervision while maintaining the utmost regard for safety
• Learn new techniques and protocols as needed
• Plan and execute research in collaboration with other researchers
• Communicate scientific results effectively in written and oral formats
• Author peer‑reviewed publications
• Work effectively in a large, multidisciplinary, multi‑institutional team of engineers and scientists

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications
  • Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years
  • Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date
• Additional Required Qualifications
  • Experience with cloning, expression, and purification of proteins
  • Experience with automation of biochemical assays
  • Demonstrated experience in enzyme and/or protein engineering
  • Ability to take initiative to set direction and goals for assigned tasks
  • Troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills
  • Strong record of quality peer‑reviewed publications
  • Strong safety record
  • Demonstrated ability to follow complex standard operating procedures with attention to detail
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Analytical chemistry experience with HPLC, GC‑FID, GC‑MS, and/or LC‑MS

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short‑term disability insurance*
• Pension benefits*
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Eligibility for performance‑, merit‑, and achievement‑based awards with a monetary component
• Possible relocation expense reimbursement (based on eligibility rules)

Pay

Annual Salary Range (based on full‑time 40 hours per week): $76,600 – $126,400. Salary is determined by education, training, experience, expected work quality and quantity, required travel, external market and internal value, seniority, merit systems, and internal pay alignment. NLR does not use salary history in compensation decisions in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Schedule

Hours per week: 40 (full‑time)