Postdoctoral Researcher – Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering

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. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth. At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories.

About the role

The RRES Center at NLR has an opening for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher within the Synthetic Biology and Bioconversion group. The initial appointment is for one year, with possible renewal up to three years. The successful candidate will conduct metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to engineer a non-model, but genetically amendable, bacterium for aerobic conversion of single carbon (C1) substrates to fuels and chemicals.

Responsibilities

• Work safely and independently in a laboratory setting
• Plan, execute, and troubleshoot research
• Collaborate effectively with others within and across disciplines
• Communicate scientific results effectively, both in written and oral formats
• Author peer-reviewed publications

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date

Qualifications

Required

• Strong understanding of bacterial metabolism and genetics
• Research experience in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology including designing synthetic operons, constructing plasmids, and genome editing
• Experience in development and implementation of synthetic biology tools
• Strong safety record
• Ability to deliver high-quality results within aggressive timelines

Preferred

• Experience performing adaptive laboratory evolution
• Experience working with non-model bacteria
• Experience with whole genome sequencing and analysis
• Experience using metabolic models
• Experience generating and analyzing systems biology datasets such as proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and fluxomics

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 (not guaranteed)
• Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement

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 as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.