Postdoctoral Researcher - Protein Engineering for Critical Mineral Recovery

CHEManager International; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 77,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental & Vision Insurance

Short-term Disability

Retirement Plan (403b)

Paid Holidays

PTO & Sick Leave

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher in Protein Engineering for Critical Mineral Recovery in Golden, CO. This full-time role focuses on enzyme- and protein-based systems to enable sustainable mineral recovery, spanning from foundational discoveries to industry-scale applications.

The successful candidate will develop and optimize protein engineering approaches, work safely in a collaborative environment, and contribute to high-impact publications over an

Qualifications

• Recent PhD awarded within the last three years.
• Strong understanding of bioinorganic chemistry.
• Experience with cloning, expression, and purification of proteins.
• Experience in enzyme/protein engineering or evolution.
• Strong safety record and ability to deliver under aggressive timelines.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

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.

Skills

Cloning expression purification

Protein engineering

Enzyme evolution

Strong communication

Safety discipline

Critical thinking

Organizational skills

Education

PhD in Biochemistry/Biological Engineering/Chemical Engineering/Molecular Biology

Tools

Automated liquid handlers

Job description

Posting Title

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 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.

The Successful Candidate Will Be Able To

• 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 (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

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

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; 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; and paid holidays. 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.
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.

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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