Posting Title

Molecular Biologist, Bioinformaticist

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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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COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Employment at NREL is contingent upon your compliance with all NREL and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) safety protocols and mitigation efforts directed at the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

Job Description

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, is the nation's primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The NREL mission is to develop renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and practices, advance related science and engineering, and transfer knowledge and innovation to address the nation’s energy and environmental goals. 

The Biosciences Center at NREL has an opening for a full time Postdoctoral Researcher within Bioenergetics Group. The postdoctoral researcher will work on projects supported by the DOE Hydrogen Program and Office of Science Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) to characterize transcriptional/gene regulations in thermophilic bacteria that produce hydrogen and ethanol from renewable, waste resources including but not limited to lignocellulose.  We are seeking candidates with experience in analyzing transcriptomic data (e.g., RNA-seq), characterizing bacterial (gene) regulatory mechanisms in vitro and in vivo, and apply fundamental knowledge of bacterial physiology and metabolic engineering principles for strain development.  A multidisciplinary background in bioinformatics, biochemistry, and molecular biology with hands on experience in genetically modifying microbial species would be ideal for this position.

The successful candidate will:

• Work safely and independently in a laboratory setting
• Plan and execute research independently and in collaboration with other researchers from NREL, academia, other national labs, and industrial partners.
• Communicate scientific methods and results effectively, both in written and oral formats
• Author peer-reviewed publications
• Work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.

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Basic Qualifications

Must be a recent (within the last three years) PhD graduate in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical/Biological Engineering, or a closely related field.

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Additional Required Qualifications

• Experience in analyzing transcriptomic data generated by RAN-seq and related platforms
• Experience in molecular cloning and genetically modify a microorganism (e.g., knock out/ knock in a gene)
• Bioinformatics competencies
• Ability to analyze and align sequencing data for motif discovery
• Ability to deliver high-quality results within project timelines
• Strong record of quality peer-reviewed publications

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in designing and performing various biochemical and molecular assays (electrophoretic mobility shift assay also known as EMSA, western blot, enzyme activity measurements)
• Demonstrated knowledge in gene/transcriptional regulation
• Ability to identify protein DNA binding sequence
• Knowledgeable of bacterial cultivation and physiology

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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

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Additional Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $69,400 - $114,500

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, as well as the position's work location, 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. NREL 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

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL 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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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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, 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.

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