Research Technician – Molecular Structure and Dynamics

About the role

At PNNL, core capabilities are divided among major departments called Directorates, each focused on a specific area of scientific research or function with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. The Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Integrated Discovery Sciences, and Energy and Environment. Additionally, PNNL hosts the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy Office of Science user facility on campus. The Integrated Discovery Sciences Directorate (IDSD) leads fundamental research across biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, materials science, advanced computing, super intelligence, quantum information science, mathematics, autonomy, and DOE national user facilities. Its vision is to accelerate scientific discovery by observing, understanding, simulating, predicting, and controlling dynamic biotic‑abiotic processes and interactions within complex biological, chemical, material, and Earth systems. IDSD intentionally connects disciplines to advance fundamental discovery science, develop transformative scientific capabilities, and address the nation’s most important challenges in energy, environmental resilience, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, health, and national security.

Responsibilities

• Support the Standard Model of Biology (SMoB) Laboratory Objective, integrating super intelligence, computational biology, and biophysics to discover quantitative principles that connect molecular sequence, structure, interactions, phase behavior, and assembly to cellular and community‑level phenotypes.
• Sit in the Molecular Structure, Function & Design Group.
• Drive expression, purification, and biophysical characterization of high‑quality protein samples.
• Prepare reproducible protein reagents and maintain accurate documentation.
• Under supervision, help develop and optimize protocols to study protein–protein and protein–small molecule interactions using biophysical techniques including biolayer interferometry.
• This is an on‑site position located at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory campus in Richland, Washington.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma/GED and 2 years of relevant experience OR Technical Institute Graduate (TIG)/relevant AA degree or higher and 1 year of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated ability to work in a highly collaborative, team‑based research environment. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to execute and troubleshoot experiments safely and increasingly independently.

Skills

• Operation of FPLC systems for protein separations
• Biolayer interferometry for molecular interactions
• E. coli‑based protein expression and purification of labeled and unlabeled proteins
• Cell‑free protein expression
• ELISA
• Circular Dichroism (CD)
• Research experience with lipoproteins, Fabs, nanobodies, and protein–small molecule interactions is a strong plus

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Robust telehealth care options
• Several mental health benefits
• Free wellness coaching
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending accounts
• Basic life insurance
• Disability insurance*
• Employee assistance program
• Business travel insurance
• Tuition assistance
• Rel