Postdoctoral Researcher- Biotechnology and Metabolomics

National Laboratory of the Rockies • Golden, CO

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The NLR Biosciences group has an immediate open position for a post-doctoral researcher, to support a project focused on biosynthetic production of chemical intermediates in photosynthetic systems. The post-doctoral researcher will contribute to a new project in the algae biotechnology research group, looking at the direct in planta production of important chemicals, to support future photosynthetic biomanufacturing, by establishing control over the carbon flux. The successful candidate in this role will:
Design and execute experiments using a mature suite of analytical instrumentation, primarily liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry with an established software platform to quantify metabolites and biofuel precursor (e.g. lipid) fractions from a variety of biomass samples
Focus includes but not limited to non-model algae metabolomics, amino acid metabolism, shikimate pathway fluxomics, 13C labeling, in addition to genetic engineering, vector design and genetic tractability of a range of different organisms, ideally including the expression of metabolically active genes to modulate intracellular physiology.
Advanced continuous monitoring of cell physiology under controlled, simulated, photosynthetic cultivation systems
Perform multiple chemical analyses (including GC/MS and LC/MS) on these fractions, and interpret and communicate the results
Write multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts per year, including conference dissemination of results in presentations
Contribute to collaborative proposal writing with senior staff for the formation of new strategic direction and business development opportunities.
Contribute to research and development activities within the Biosciences Center by developing advanced metabolomics and photophysiology tools for cell biochemistry manipulation optimization for both biofuel and bioproduct optimization.
Contribute as part of a larger team involved with algae biotechnology for strain and process improvements in terms of carbon capture and storage.
An inherent part of the job involves team interactions, build effective teams and enhance the technical and professional skills of junior team members, such as undergraduate and graduate interns.
Frequently contributes to the development of new theories and methods.
Displays a substantial and significant record of achievement through reports, publications, intellectual property, or technical products .

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• PhD in Biochemistry, Biology or Chemistry
• Demonstrated experience and publication track record applying advanced analytical chemistry tools to solve challenging physiological or biochemical problems, novel method development, ideally for metabolomics, direct instrument operation and maintenance experience (e.g. GC/MS and LC/MS analysis), including hands-on operation, and including data reduction and interpretation and communication of results
• Demonstrated experience in build and maintain instruments and equipment with frequent quality control and performance checks
• Track record and demonstration of the application of metabolomics applications and ideally machine learning algorithms applied to metabolite and/or other mass spectrometry data sets
• Have a strong foundation of data analysis, including an understanding of bioinformatics tools and algorithms and a basis of coding in a data analysis computing language, such as R or Python.
• Experience with plant, microbial or algae biotechnology, plant or algae photophysiology
• In depth understanding and successful experimental record of primary carbon assimilation biochemical and metabolic pathways is required, in particular in single cell photosynthetic organisms such as algae or in plants.
• Understanding and application of influencing metabolomics of photosynthetic organisms, including experimental design and statistical interpretation of experiments.
• Demonstrated understanding and wide application of scientific technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field.
• General knowledge of other related disciplines.
• Demonstrated leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience in management of projects.
• Strong writing skills, organizational skills, critical data review and communication in small and large group setting , interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong publication and science communication track record

Nice To Haves

• Experience with mass spectrometry, metabolomics, physiology, data analysis, machine learning and statistics, experimental design, and data mining skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments using a mature suite of analytical instrumentation, primarily liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry with an established software platform to quantify metabolites and biofuel precursor (e.g. lipid) fractions from a variety of biomass samples
• Focus includes but not limited to non-model algae metabolomics, amino acid metabolism, shikimate pathway fluxomics, 13C labeling, in addition to genetic engineering, vector design and genetic tractability of a range of different organisms, ideally including the expression of metabolically active genes to modulate intracellular physiology.
• Advanced continuous monitoring of cell physiology under controlled, simulated, photosynthetic cultivation systems
• Perform multiple chemical analyses (including GC/MS and LC/MS) on these fractions, and interpret and communicate the results
• Write multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts per year, including conference dissemination of results in presentations
• Contribute to collaborative proposal writing with senior staff for the formation of new strategic direction and business development opportunities.
• Contribute to research and development activities within the Biosciences Center by developing advanced metabolomics and photophysiology tools for cell biochemistry manipulation optimization for both biofuel and bioproduct optimization.
• Contribute as part of a larger team involved with algae biotechnology for strain and process improvements in terms of carbon capture and storage.
• Build effective teams and enhance the technical and professional skills of junior team members, such as undergraduate and graduate interns.
• Contribute to the development of new theories and methods.
• Display a substantial and significant record of achievement through reports, publications, intellectual property, or technical products.

Benefits

• 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
• paid holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree