Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher – Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering

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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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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

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 Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center at NREL has an opening for a full time Postdoctoral Researcher within the Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Sciences group. The initial appointment is for one year, with possible renewal up to three years.

The successful candidate will work in a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional project to conduct bioreactor cultivations for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. The specific role will require the design of bioreactor cultivations at the 0.5-1 L scale to get fundamental insights into the microbial metabolism and ultimately improve titers, rates, and yields. These experimental campaigns will be designed in close collaboration with computational modeling researchers to maximize the output of each campaign.

The successful candidate will have the ability to design and conduct laboratory experiments with minimal supervision and with the utmost regard to safety, as well as the ability to learn new techniques and protocols.

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, and

Work effectively in a large, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional team of engineers, biologists, and computational modeling researchers.

BEST Directorate

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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

•                Research experience in microbiology and bioreactor cultivations including batch, fed-batch, and continuous operation modes

•                A skilled researcher who applies, on a broad basis, existing theories, principles, and concepts, and is fully competent in all conventional applications of knowledge common to microbiology and fermentation engineering, and function of work assigned

•                Strong recordkeeping skills 

•                Takes initiative to set direction and goals for assigned tasks

•                Troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

•                Ability to deliver high-quality results within aggressive timelines

•                Capability of multitasking

•                Strong record of quality peer-reviewed publications

•                Strong safety record

Demonstrated ability to follow complex standard operating procedures with attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with researchers of different science backgrounds
• Experience with multi-omics sample collection 
• Experience with bioreactor cultivations at large scales
• Experience with computational fluid dynamics

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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $71,300 - $117,600

NREL 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
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

Drug Free Workplace

NREL 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 NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

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, 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.

EEO is the Law | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Reasonable Accommodations

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