Postdoctoral Researcher – Protein Engineering for Critical Mineral Recovery

National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Colorado; On-site; USD 77,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) in Golden, CO, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Synthetic Biology and Bioconversion group. The appointment is initially one year, with possible renewal up to three years, focusing on enzyme and protein engineering for critical mineral recovery.

The successful candidate will apply biochemistry, cloning, expression, and purification techniques to develop enzyme-based systems, collaborating across disciplines and contributing to

Qualifications

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Strong understanding of bioinorganic chemistry.
• Experience with cloning, expression, and purification of proteins.
• Experience in enzyme/protein engineering or evolution.
• Strong safety record.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and troubleshoot research in a lab setting.
• Collaborate across disciplines and communicate results effectively.
• Author peer‑reviewed publications.
• Work safely and independently in a laboratory.
• Deliver high‑quality results within aggressive timelines.

Skills

Bioinorganic chemistry

Cloning

Expression

Purification

Enzyme/protein engineering

Communication skills

Creative thinking

Organizational skills

Programming in R or Python

Education

PhD in Biochemistry or closely related field

Tools

Automated liquid handlers

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher – Protein Engineering for Critical Mineral Recovery

Location: CO - Golden. Position Type: Postdoc (Fixed Term). Hours Per Week: 40. Working at NLR.

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado. It 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 is a talented team of scientists and technicians working in biological, chemical, and catalytic research approaches to renewable energy and materials for a circular economy. The center has strong thrusts in polymer design and upcycling, separations, synthetic biology and bioconversion, analytical sciences, computational modeling, and lignocellulosic chemistry and catalysis. The center at NLR has an opening for a full time Postdoctoral Researcher within the Synthetic Biology and Bioconversion group. The initial appointment is for one year, with possible renewal up to three years. The successful candidate will utilize biochemistry and enzyme/protein engineering approaches to develop enzyme- and protein‑based systems for critical mineral recovery. The scientitic scope of this position will span from foundational discoveries to industry‑led scale‑up.

Responsibilities

• Work safely and independently in a laboratory setting
• Plan, execute, and troubleshoot research
• Collaborate effectively with others within and across disciplines
• Communicate scientific results effectively, both in written and oral formats
• Author peer‑reviewed publications

Basic Qualifications

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Strong understanding of bioinorganic chemistry
• Robust experience with cloning, expression, and purification of proteins
• Experience in enzyme/protein engineering or evolution
• Strong safety record
• Ability to deliver high‑quality results within aggressive timelines
• Strong communication skills
• Strong creative and critical thinking skills to problem solve
• Strong organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or closely related field
• Experience programming and utilizing automated liquid handlers
• Experience working with metalloproteins
• Experience programming in R or Python
• Experience working successfully in multi‑disciplinary teams.

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

Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

Benefits Summary

• 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

* Based on eligibility rules

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.

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.

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.

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 & E-Verify

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The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy.