Postdoctoral Appointee - Virology And Host Pathogen Interactions (Onsite)

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide

• Extraordinary co-workers

• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world

• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities

• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)

• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

• These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like

Are you looking to do creative and worthwhile research? Do you want to increase your engagement with research that protects the population from emerging infectious diseases and prepares us to respond to future threats? Sandia/California's Systems Biology Department is seeking a highly dedicated postdoctoral appointee to join a multidisciplinary team using multi-omics, computational biology, high-throughput screening, and gene editing to develop medical countermeasures for infectious disease.

The successful candidate will help systematically characterize host-pathogen interactions using functional genomics and other multi-omics approaches to develop network maps and computational models of infection at a cellular and molecular level. Comprehensive host-pathogen interaction networks will aid in on- and over- the horizon threat characterization, while also helping to identify critical host proteins shared by viral family members for the development of broad-spectrum host-directed countermeasures.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Participate in the national response to pandemics and emerging biothreats

• Develop assays to characterize host-pathogen interactions for multiple viruses in cell models

• Use reverse genetics to engineer infectious recombinant viruses

• Design and screen CRISPR libraries using high-throughput and automation

• Work to implement, monitor, and refine project plans with an integrated multidisciplinary team that may include members from national labs, universities and industry

• Publish scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at seminars and conferences

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Qualifications We Require

• PhD in virology, immunology, microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, biology, or a related field

• Familiarity with tasks common in a virology laboratory, including knowledge of techniques and basic safety procedures in BSL2 (or higher) environment and proper storage and handling of viruses

• Experience with molecular biology techniques (e.g., PCR, primer design, molecular cloning, and gene synth) and genome editing methods

• Proven record of high technical accomplishment and written communication (e.g., as evidenced by publication in high-impact scientific journals) and/or strong verbal communication and data presentation skills (e.g., as demonstrated through scientific conference presentations)

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with reverse genetics and genome engineering technologies (e.g., CRISPR)

• Experience with multi-omic approaches (e.g., proteomics, transcriptomics)

• Experience in high-throughput assay development, mass spectrometry, or next generation sequencing

• Experience in animal models of disease and basic animal handling, to include dose refinement, measurement of host response, protection against challenge

• Bioinformatics or computational biology skills and familiarity with related software tools, (e.g., next-generation sequencing analysis, infection pathway analysis)

• Eligibility to obtain a US Department of Energy security clearance

About Our Team

The Systems Biology Department, located in Livermore, CA, performs both basic and applied biological and bioengineering research with broad applications in national security, biodefense, health security, climate, and energy security. Our research in virology, microbiology, immunology and bioinformatics, is addressed by advanced technology development including CRISPR/Cas technologies, antibody engineering, advanced omics, synthetic biology, and advanced materials and nanotechnology. Our department is integrated into the highly multidisciplinary Applied Biosciences and Engineering Group, comprised of researchers with expertise in many disciplines of biology (molecular biology, microbiology, virology, immunology and biochemistry), chemistry (analytical, organic and physical), computational science (bioinformatics, machine learning, computational chemistry), and engineering (chemical, mechanical and biomedical).

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Position Information

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.