Postdoctoral Appointee - Bioscience (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

Sandia/California's Bioresource and Environmental Security department is seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee with expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, and/or bioprocess engineering to address challenges in the production and conversion of algae biomass to biofuels and bioproducts. The selected candidate will contribute to the design, execution, and implementation of approaches designed to better understand and deploy solutions in algal biotechnology for addressing challenges in energy and environmental security. The desired candidate should have experience applying the use of analytical instrumentation (e.g., GC/MS, LC/MS, HPLC). Experience in molecular genetics and algal cultivation is desired.

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

• Work with a multi-disciplinary team to work on the design, execution, and implementation of approaches to better understand and deploy solutions in algal biotechnology for addressing challenges in energy and environmental security

• Use your experience in microbial ecology and characterizing microbiomes through use of advanced DNA sequencing methodology, with familiarity with computational analysis of sequencing data sets

• Culture algae cells and/or microbial consortia

• Carry out molecular and biochemistry assays

• Perform test runs on pilot-scale cultivation devices

• Use analytical instrumentation (e.g. UV/Vis, LC, MS, flow-cytometry)

• Analyze experimental data and present results to the team

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

Qualifications We Require

• PhD in biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, bioprocess engineering, or closely a related field
• A record of high technical accomplishment as evidenced by a strong publication record and/or presentations at national/international conferences

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with microbial consortia-based processes using biomass inputs

• Past research completed under set timelines and milestones

• Experience in micro- or macroalgae cultivation

• Familiarity with second-generation DNA sequencing and its associated computational data analysis

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

About Our Team

The Bioresource and Environmental Security department is located within the Applied Biosciences and Engineering group and develops and applies biotechnological solutions towards important energy, health, and environmental challenges.

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.