Postdoctoral Researcher – Fermentation Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology

Postdoctoral Researcher – Fermentation Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology

Location CO - Golden

Position Type Postdoc (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week 40

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 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. The center has 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 be able to:

• 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

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.

N.B. Please include all publications (including those in preparation) with full author lists in the CV you submit.

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

• Ph.D. in Fermentation Engineering, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a closely related field.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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, such as 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).

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

• 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

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. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on‑site, off‑site, or via telephone or videoconference.

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.

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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.

About NLR

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy. 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. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NLR by the Department of Energy (DOE).