Postdoctoral Researcher- Biotechnology and Metabolomics

Posting Title Postdoctoral Researcher- Biotechnology and Metabolomics

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado 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 our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus 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. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The NLR Biosciences group has an immediate open position for a post-doctoral researcher, to support a project focused on biosynthetic production of chemical intermediates in photosynthetic systems. The post-doctoral researcher will contribute to a new project in the algae biotechnology research group, looking at the direct in planta production of important chemicals, to support future photosynthetic biomanufacturing, by establishing control over the carbon flux.

The successful candidate in this role will:

• Design and execute experiments using a mature suite of analytical instrumentation, primarily liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry with an established software platform to quantify metabolites and biofuel precursor (e.g. lipid) fractions from a variety of biomass samples
• Focus includes but not limited to non-model algae metabolomics, amino acid metabolism, shikimate pathway fluxomics, 13C labeling, in addition to genetic engineering, vector design and genetic tractability of a range of different organisms, ideally including the expression of metabolically active genes to modulate intracellular physiology.
• Advanced continuous monitoring of cell physiology under controlled, simulated, photosynthetic cultivation systems
• Perform multiple chemical analyses (including GC/MS and LC/MS) on these fractions, and interpret and communicate the results
• Write multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts per year, including conference dissemination of results in presentations
• Contribute to collaborative proposal writing with senior staff for the formation of new strategic direction and business development opportunities.
• Contribute to research and development activities within the Biosciences Center by developing advanced metabolomics and photophysiology tools for cell biochemistry manipulation optimization for both biofuel and bioproduct optimization.
• Contribute as part of a larger team involved with algae biotechnology for strain and process improvements in terms of carbon capture and storage.
• An inherent part of the job involves team interactions, build effective teams and enhance the technical and professional skills of junior team members, such as undergraduate and graduate interns.
• Frequently contributes to the development of new theories and methods.
• Displays a substantial and significant record of achievement through reports, publications, intellectual property, or technical products

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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

• PhD in Biochemistry, Biology or Chemistry
• Demonstrated experience and publication track record applying advanced analytical chemistry tools to solve challenging physiological or biochemical problems, novel method development, ideally for metabolomics, direct instrument operation and maintenance experience (e.g. GC/MS and LC/MS analysis), including hands-on operation, and including data reduction and interpretation and communication of results
• Demonstrated experience in build and maintain instruments and equipment with frequent quality control and performance checks
• Track record and demonstration of the application of metabolomics applications and ideally machine learning algorithms applied to metabolite and/or other mass spectrometry data sets
• Have a strong foundation of data analysis, including an understanding of bioinformatics tools and algorithms and a basis of coding in a data analysis computing language, such as R or Python.
• Experience with plant, microbial or algae biotechnology, plant or algae photophysiology
• In depth understanding and successful experimental record of primary carbon assimilation biochemical and metabolic pathways is required, in particular in single cell photosynthetic organisms such as algae or in plants.
• Understanding and application of influencing metabolomics of photosynthetic organisms, including experimental design and statistical interpretation of experiments.
• Demonstrated understanding and wide application of scientific technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Demonstrated leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects.
• Strong writing skills, organizational skills, critical data review and communication in small and large group setting, interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong publication and science communication track record

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with mass spectrometry, metabolomics, physiology, data analysis, machine learning and statistics, experimental design, and data mining skills

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

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. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include 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; and paid holidays. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also 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.

Drug Free Workplace

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.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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