Synthetic Biologist - Postdoctoral Researcher

Synthetic Biologist – Postdoctoral Researcher

Join us and make YOUR mark on the world! Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for big ideas that make our world a better place. We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Note:

This is a two‑year Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years. We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to conduct research in the field of synthetic biology for critical metal recovery. The successful candidate will contribute to cutting‑edge research focused on using synthetic biology to recover critical metals from domestic feed stocks. This work will involve identifying, characterizing, engineering, and implementing novel proteins and pathways for sustainable biotechnology applications.

This position is in the Synthetic Biology group in the Biosciences and Biotechnology Division within the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate. This position requires full‑time on‑site presence due to the nature of the work.

• Conduct fundamental and applied research in microbial synthetic biology for environmental and resource recovery applications.
• Develop and execute high‑throughput assays to evaluate the functionality of protein variants.
• Engineer and implement genetic circuits in environmentally relevant microorganisms and characterize performance in test beds of increasing complexity.
• Design research plans, generate and analyze results, publish findings in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Present research outcomes at conferences, seminars, and technical meetings.
• Contribute to technical reports for sponsors and stakeholders.
• Pursue independent (but complementary) research interests and interact with a broad spectrum of scientists internally and externally to the Laboratory.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). See Additional Information section below for details.
• PhD in Microbiology, Synthetic Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field with a strong emphasis in genetic engineering and molecular biology.
• Strong background in bacterial physiology and strain engineering for environmental or industrial applications.
• Experience in design, construction, and analysis of genetic circuits.
• Experience in high‑throughput screening or selection methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research as evidenced by peer‑reviewed publications.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

• Expertise and knowledge in metalloprotein biochemistry and metal homeostasis, including metal sensing, metal transport, or metal storage mechanisms.
• Experience with protein design/engineering or microbial evolution techniques (e.g., adaptive laboratory evolution).
• Experience in genome and meta genome‑wide association approaches to identify genetic determinants of microbial traits.
• Hands‑on experience with gene manipulation of non‑model microbial systems.
• Proficiency in bioinformatics or scientific programming (e.g., Python, C, C++, R, Java, Matlab).

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years, open to those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (depending on project needs)
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