Postdoctoral Researcher – Fermentation Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology

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. From foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, NLR focuses on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions.

About the role

The RRES Center at NLR has an opening for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher. The initial appointment is for one year, with possible renewal up to three years. This center contains a talented team of scientists and technicians working in biological, chemical, and catalytic research approaches to renewable energy and materials for a circular economy, with strong thrusts in polymer design and upcycling, separations, synthetic biology and bioconversion, analytical sciences, computational modeling, and lignocellulosic chemistry and catalysis.

The successful candidate will collaborate on a multidisciplinary research project focused on the biological conversion of syngas (CO₂, CO, H₂) by an anaerobic acetogenic bacterium.

Responsibilities

• Work safely and independently in a laboratory setting
• Plan and execute research in collaboration with other researchers
• Communicate scientific results effectively, both in written and oral formats
• Author peer-reviewed publications
• Work effectively in a large, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional team of engineers and scientists

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date
• Ph.D. in Fermentation Engineering, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a closely related field

Qualifications

• Experience in the setup, operation, and bioprocess optimization of bioreactors, particularly with gaseous feedstocks
• Analytical chemistry skills (HPLC, GC) for identification and quantification of metabolites
• Experience cultivating and genetically modifying non-model microbes, especially acetogens or other anaerobic bacteria
• Demonstrated experience creating acetogen and fermentation strategies across scales, from serum bottles to fermenters
• Experience utilizing synthetic biology techniques for targeted generation of metabolically engineered strains with improved carbon upgrading capacity

Skills

• Deep fundamental knowledge of bacterial metabolism and physiology
• Mastery of molecular biology tools and techniques (PCR, plasmid design, bacterial cultivation, genetic transformation systems)
• Demonstrated experience in microbial metabolic engineering for designing, constructing, and evaluating novel strains
• Exceptional organizational and written/oral communication skills
• Capability to work independently in generating and testing of hypotheses
• Experience using CRISPR or other advanced molecular biology techniques for rationally engineering improved enzymes
• Strong authorship track record in peer-reviewed publications
• Familiarity with gathering and analyzing large bioinformatics datasets (whole genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, genome scale modeling, metabolic flux analysis)

Pay

Annual salary range: $76,600 - $126,400 (based on full-time 40 hours per week). NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees.

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 that include a monetary component
• Relocation expense reimbursement (for eligible positions)

Schedule

40 hours per week.

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card, which includes a favorable background investigation. NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace; pre-employment drug testing is required and may include marijuana unless prohibited by state or local law.