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Overview

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as _Directorates_ within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate (EBSD) leads critical research in four areas: Atmospheric, Climate & Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Molecular Sciences, and Global Change. Our vision is to develop a predictive understanding of biological and Earth systems in transition. We aim to understand energy and material flows within the integrated Earth system; to understand, predict, and control the response of biosystems to environmental and/or genomic changes; and to model the Earth system from the subsurface to the atmosphere.

The Environmental Molecular Sciences Division is comprised of 18 interdisciplinary research teams focused on deciphering molecular-level interactions driving biological and environmental processes across temporal and spatial scales. Through computational analysis and modeling, these findings contribute to predictive understanding of how systems respond to environmental perturbations thus enabling solutions to the nation’s energy, environmental, and human health challenges. The division also manages the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus that accelerates the research of scientists around the world by providing access to world-class expertise, instrumentation, and computational resources.

Responsibilities

The Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Group within the Environmental Molecular Sciences Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is seeking a versatile researcher to advance work in strain improvement and high-throughput engineering using adaptive laboratory evolution strategies. The candidate will investigate the genetic mechanisms driving critical traits such as stress tolerance to environmental stressors (light, oxygen, salinity, temperature) and nutrient limitations, which are essential for the robustness and industrial scalability of microbial and algal chassis.

The primary research focus will be on harnessing adaptive processes and uncovering genetic modifications that enhance lipid production in microalgae under controlled and stressed conditions, aligning with industrial applications in biofuels development. A key responsibility will involve the development and optimization of automated photobioreactor cultivation systems to accelerate the selection of high-performing algal strains. These systems will enable precise manipulation and real-time monitoring of environmental variables like light intensity, CO 2 levels, and nutrients while integrating high-throughput screening workflows to identify strains with improved growth rates, stress resistance, and lipid yields. The candidate will also ensure these systems advance strain readiness for deployment in open pond systems.

Data analysis will be central to the role, utilizing molecular biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics to investigate phenotypic and genetic changes associated with stress tolerance, lipid accumulation, and productivity. The candidate will translate experimental findings into actionable insights while contributing to publications, technical reports, and scientific presentations. Collaboration with interdisciplinary and multi-institutional teams, including microbiologists, engineers, and environmental scientists, will be essential to achieving shared research goals. The candidate will work closely with external collaborators to advance projects and ensure alignment with broader scientific objectives, while maintaining strict adherence to laboratory safety protocols and regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will interact with other staff and participate in team-based collaborative research within PNNL as well as with external organizations. Therefore, strong written, oral and inter-personal communication skills are essential to independently carry out initial analysis of experimental data, and present summaries to project managers and staff.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

+ Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Ph.D. in microbiology, chemical engineering, molecular biology, or a related field.

+ Demonstrated expertise in algal biology, strain development, including experience with adaptive laboratory evolution, directed evolution, and genetic engineering.

+ Experience designing and executing adaptive laboratory evolution experiments to identify and enhance traits such as environmental stress tolerance, nutrient efficiency, and lipid yields.

+ Demonstrate proficiency in cultivating and maintaining microbial and algal strains in dynamic or simulated environments, including photobioreactors and open pond setups, with a focus on optimizing growth conditions and scalability. A strong understanding of high-throughput screening techniques and statistical approaches is essential for tracking phenotypic and fitness changes over successive generations, enabling targeted selection and strain improvement.

+ Experience in algal biology and genomics is highly desirable, particularly in the context of understanding molecular mechanisms governing stress resilience and lipid biosynthesis. Additionally, familiarity with genomic tools, such as whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics, or comparative genomics, will be valuable for identifying genetic changes that underpin enhanced strain performance and for guiding further optimization efforts.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

The successful candidate will be working in a laboratory setting where there are research chemical hazards that are essential to the research.

Additional Information

This position is onsite only - remote work is not permitted.

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

About PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity

Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at [email protected] .

Drug Free Workplace

PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.

If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements

As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.

Mandatory Requirements

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

* Research Associates excluded.

**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

Click Here For Rockstar Rewards (https://careers.pnnl.gov/rockstar-rewards)

Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $69,000.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $119,100.00/Yr.