Job Information
Los Alamos National Laboratory Environmental Microbiology Postdoctoral Research Associate in Los Alamos, New Mexico
What You Will Do
Los Alamos National Laboratory invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the Genomics and Bioanalytics Group (B-GEN) of the Bioscience Division. The Chain Lab is looking for a highly motivated and multi-talented postdoctoral candidate to pursue research alongside a team of scientists working on multi-omics driven studies of environmental microbiomes to investigate interkingdom interactions.
This position would be a part of Dr. Chain's Department of Energy funded Science Focus Area (SFA) project entitled, 'Bacterial-Fungal Interactions and their Role in Soil Functioning'. The Science Focus Area project examines bacterial-fungal interactions using both in silico and empirical/experimental characterizations. Candidates for this position would ideally have experience in culturing and working with diverse microbial isolates, performing common molecular laboratory techniques such as nucleic acid extractions and PCR, and be comfortable with the generation and analysis of multi-omics data. Experimental work will be done primarily with bacteria and fungi, and may include some work with viruses and plants, thus experience with multiple or all of these organisms is preferred. Investigations focus on understanding the roles and functions of these interactions in soil and rhizosphere environments, thus, experience in microbial ecology and obtaining and working with complex field samples is preferred.
The selected candidate will work closely with a team of staff scientists, postdoctoral researchers, technicians, and external collaborators and will be expected to contribute to scientific strategy, experimental design and execution, data analysis, and manuscript writing.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Strong background in microbiology, mycology, and/or molecular biology
Demonstrated experience with standard molecular biology techniques and the preparation of samples for multi-omics analysis
Excellent communication and writing skills in the English language
A proven publication record and interest in grant writing
The ability to work both independently and as part of a team
A demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion in biological research
Education/Experience : Ph.D. in microbial ecology, biology, bioinformatics, microbiology or related discipline completed within the last 5 years
Desired Qualifications:
Candidates should have strong computational and bioinformatics skills, including experience in designing and running pipelines to analyze complex microbiome datasets and familiarity with high performance computing environments.
Demonstrated experience working on microbial interactions
Work Location: The work location for this position is hybrid and is located in Los Alamos, NM. Hybrid is defined as working partially onsite/partially offsite but within 2 hours ground commute of this location. All work locations are at the discretion of management and can change at any time with appropriate notice.
Salary: Competitive salaries are based on the date the PhD degree requirements were completed or the degree was awarded. Starting salary for a new graduate is currently $94,500. For more information go to Postdoc Program website at https://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php .
Note to Applicants:
In addition to applying on-line, candidates should email a very brief letter of interest as well as names and contact information for 2 references to Julia Kelliher (jkelliher@lanl.gov). Selected candidates will be contacted for telephone interviews beginning in late Spring/early Summer of 2024.
Applicant may be required to travel to conferences, meetings, or events throughout the year
The position is for two years, with a third year possible contingent on exemplary performance.
Exceptional candidates may be considered for a Director's Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious Darleane Christian Hoffman, Richard P. Feynman, J. Robert Oppenheimer, or Frederick Reines Fellowships.
For general information of the Postdoc Program, including salary guidelines, go to https://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/postdoc-program/.
Interested candidates should apply online at https://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/jobs.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2 (https://directives.nnsa.doe.gov/supplemental-directive/sd-0206-0002) . Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.