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.

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.

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

• 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 feed stocks.
• 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.

• 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…