Post Undergraduate/Graduate Intern – Molecular Biology

National Laboratory of the Rockies; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Relocation assistance

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, CO invites a full-time post undergraduate/graduate intern to join the Synthetic Biology and Bioconversion group. The internship focuses on metabolic engineering to generate, screen, and optimize engineered bacterial strains for renewable fuels and chemicals from biomass intermediates.

In collaboration with postdoctoral researchers and scientists, the intern will design experiments, document results, and help validate physiological hypotheses while

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor’s or master’s program.
• Post Undergraduate: earned a bachelor’s within the past 12 months; Graduate: enrolled as a master’s student; Post Graduate: earned a master’s within 12 months.
• Applicants should upload transcripts; a letter of recommendation may be required.

Responsibilities

• Engineer strains to validate physiological hypotheses.
• Generate, screen, and optimize engineered bacterial strains.
• Collaborate with postdoctoral researchers and scientific staff.
• Maintain a clean, safe lab space with proper documentation.

Skills

Molecular biology

Sterile techniques

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Lab safety

Python

R

DNA cloning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Master’s degree in a relevant field

PhD status or candidate

Tools

Cupriavidus necator

DNA analysis software

Job description

Posting Title

Post Undergraduate/Graduate Intern – Molecular Biology

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Intern (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week

40

Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world‑class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost‑effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth. At NLR, you'll find a mission‑driven environment supported by state‑of‑the‑art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well‑being.

Job Description

The RRES Center at NLR has an opening for a full‑time post undergraduate/graduate internship within the Synthetic Biology and Bioconversion group. Responsibilities for this intern will focus on metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to generate, screen, and optimize engineered bacterial strains for production of renewable fuels and chemicals from various biomass‑derived intermediates and/or C1 molecules. In collaboration with postdoctoral researchers and research scientists, the intern will engineer strains to validate physiological hypotheses.

In Addition, The Successful Candidate Will Have The Following

• Excellent organizational skills, including contemporary laboratory notebook documentation
• Attention to detail
• Proficient communication skills, including the ability to succinctly communicate scientific findings to peers
• Critical thinking skills, including the ability to formulate hypotheses and interpret results
• Ability to maintain a clean lab space with utmost attention to safety
• Demonstrated ability to work safely with minimal supervision

Please note this will likely be a 3-month internship

Basic Qualifications

Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full‑time student in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution.

Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.

Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full‑time student in a master’s degree program from an accredited institution.

Post Graduate: Earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.

Graduate + PhD: Completed master’s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.

• Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process.

• If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in molecular biology, including DNA cloning and transformation.
• Demonstrated experience in microbiology, including sterile techniques

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with genetic engineering of Cupriavidus necator
• Experience designing synthetic operons and constructing plasmids
• Experience with biological conversion of C1 substrates
• Experience with computational data analysis, e.g., skills in Python or R.

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $39,600 - $63,400

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

• Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug‑free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug‑Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre‑employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre‑employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre‑employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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