Postdoctoral Researcher- Biotechnology and Metabolomics

Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher
- Biotechnology and Metabolomics

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CO - Golden

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Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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40

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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.

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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