What Your Job Will Be Like

We seek highly motivated and dedicated individuals to work as part of a cross-disciplinary team that specializes in developing innovative platforms for screening and optimization of metabolic pathways for biofuels and bioproducts. We are developing ground breaking microfluidic devices for synthetic biology applications specifically for operations including assembly of genes, transformation, CRISPR-based engineering, cell culture, and phenotypic assays. The research will be developing a high-throughput cell-free microreactor for biochemical pathway optimization.

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

• Design and optimize biochemical or synthetic biology pathways
• Develop a cell-free expression system
• Work with engineers to develop and test a microscale bioreactor
• Analyze and integrate results in collaboration with chemists, biochemists, and engineers
• Publish scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences

Qualifications We Require

• PhD in Synthetic Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering or a related field;
• Hands on experience in one or more of the following:
  • Synthetic biology processes (e.g. gene assembly, transformation)
  • Cell-free expression systems
  • CRISPR-based/other gene-editing methods
  • DNA sequencing
  • Molecular and/or phenotypic assays
• A record of research achievement as evidenced by publication in high-impact scientific journals

Qualifications We Desire

Familiarity with any of the following:

• Performing molecular biology or biochemical assays in microfluidic devices
• Imaging and/or fluorescent detection methods
• Protein or gene product purification methods
• Metabolic modeling
• Experience in proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis;
• Experience in designing DNA expression constructs for transformation;
• Experience with optimizing cultivation conditions at benchtop or bioreactor scales

About Our Team

Biotechnology and Bioengineering Department, located in Livermore, and Emeryville, CA, performs both basic and applied biological and bioengineering research with broad applications in national security. We address problems such as biodefense and health security, developing advanced technology including micro- and nanofluidics and engineered automated systems, and new research approaches which include gene-editing and novel nanomaterials. We also address national energy security by developing the science and engineering required to be able to produce clean, efficient, and cost-effective biofuels, specialty chemicals and polymers on a commercial scale. This work is carried out in partnership with the Department of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) as well as other external academic and commercial partners. The department is highly multidisciplinary and is comprised of researchers with expertise in many disciplines of biology, chemistry and engineering.

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.

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.