Microbial Metal Circularity Postdoctoral Fellow

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • Berkeley, CA

33d • Onsite

About The Position

Berkeley Lab’s (LBNL) Biological Systems and Engineering (BSE) Division has an opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) and work in close collaboration with the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Joint Genome Institute (JGI), and the University of California, Berkeley (UCB).
In this exciting role, you will be offered a unique opportunity to work at the interface of genomics, microbial engineering, laboratory automation, bioprocess development, and analytical chemistry, advancing innovative approaches to sustainable resource recovery. This fellowship is part of an Internally Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project focused on developing microbial strains and bioprocesses to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from waste streams. This highly interdisciplinary effort integrates expertise in functional genomics, microbial physiology, strain engineering, fermentation, bioproduct separation, and process analytics, with contributions from national laboratories, academia, and potentially industry partners.
This position will be located in Emeryville, CA and has an anticipated start date of June 15, 2026.

Requirements

• A recent PhD (within the last 1-3 years) in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, or a related discipline.
• Experience with microbial physiology, cultivation, and engineering.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience with peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including experience conducting independent research while effectively collaborating within multidisciplinary research teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in developing high-throughput assays and working with laboratory automation systems (e.g., liquid handlers, robotic colony pickers).
• Familiarity with genomic analyses and structural homology assessments to inform strain engineering efforts.
• Familiarity with whole genome knockout techniques and sequencing technologies.
• Working knowledge of bioinformatic tools and workflows for genomic and functional data analysis.
• Hands-on experience with bioreactors, fermentation process development, and downstream bioproduct separation techniques.
• Strong background in inorganic chemistry (e.g., metals) and proficiency in using analytical instruments such as ICP-OES, HPLC, GC, FTIR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Responsibilities

• Identify, screen, and cultivate microbial strains with potential for REE bioaccumulation.
• Design and implement high-throughput molecular biology workflows.
• Perform fermentation experiments across a range of scales (1 mL to 10 L) to optimize microbial REE biorecovery.
• Develop and optimize product separation and purification processes for REE recovery.
• Develop and perform analytical measurements of REE-containing feedstocks, fermentation intermediates, and separation products using advanced instrumentation.
• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams at JBEI, JGI, UCB, and other institutional partners.
• Present research progress and findings at group meetings, technical workshops, and national scientific conferences.
• Publish results in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees