OverviewAt 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.
ResponsibilitiesThe Functional and Systems Biology Group in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a motivated researcher with strong expertise in biosensors and high-throughput strain engineering to advance automated phenotyping and genome editing workflows. The overarching goal is to develop robust microbial, fungal, and algal platforms for biofuels and bioproducts through genetic and phenotypic optimization. A central focus of this position is the design, development, and application of biosensors—both in vivo and in vitro—to detect and quantify phenotypic signatures that enable rapid, data-driven strain improvement. Experience with cell-free systems for biosensor development, characterization, and application is highly desirable.
The successful candidate will lead efforts to develop, optimize, and validate genetically encoded and/or synthetic biosensors that report on cellular states, metabolic fluxes, and target molecule production in microbial, fungal, and algal systems. This work will span in-vivo deployment in living cells and organisms, in vitro application in cultured cells, organoid-like and microfluidic platforms, and cell-free expression or metabolic systems used to prototype and tune biosensors prior to deployment. The candidate will integrate biosensor readouts with automated cultivation and genome editing tools to enable high-throughput screening, closed-loop strain engineering, and rapid mapping of genotype–phenotype relationships.
Other key responsibilities include designing, developing, and implementing high-throughput automated workflows for the EMSL User Program. These workflows will integrate biosensor-based phenotyping with high-resolution, single-cell analyses and multi-modal techniques (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to uncover genetic drivers of phenotypic traits, elucidate protein function, and guide iterative strain improvement.
The candidate will work within a multi-researcher, interdisciplinary team to engineer strains with enhanced traits using genome editing and synthetic biology tools, informed by biosensor and multi-omics data. They will refine biosensor designs and phenotyping strategies across cell-free, in vitro, and in vivo contexts; integrate experimental datasets using bioinformatics and molecular tools; and contribute to scientific publications, user-facing protocols, and technical reports that highlight new biosensor technologies and their applications. Collaboration with interdisciplinary and multi-institutional teams, including EMSL users who will leverage these biosensor-enabled platforms, will be essential to achieving research goals. The candidate will ensure adherence to laboratory safety and compliance standards. This role offers a dynamic opportunity to innovate in biosensor development and deployment, advance high-throughput phenotyping, and contribute to sustainable solutions for the bioeconomy.
***ONSITE ONLY*** Position is ONSITE work only in Richland, WA.**
QualificationsMinimum 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, bioengineering, microbial genetics, chemical engineering, or a related field.
- Demonstrated expertise in strain development, lab automation, and genetic engineering.
- The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in microbiology, synthetic biology, bioengineering, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in biosensor design, development, and application in vivo and in vitro.
- Experience developing and deploying genetically encoded or synthetic biosensors in microbial, fungal, and/or algal systems, as well as using cell-free expression or metabolic platforms to prototype and optimize biosensors, is highly desirable.
- Candidates should also have a strong background in strain engineering and genome editing tools (e.g., CRISPR/Cas, CRISPRa/i), and in integrating biosensor readouts with high-throughput phenotyping workflows and automated cultivation systems.
- Proficiency in applying multi-modal phenotyping techniques (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, single-cell methods) to link genetic drivers to phenotypic traits, and in using bioinformatics tools to analyze and integrate these datasets, is preferred.
- A strong record of peer-reviewed publications, successful collaboration within interdisciplinary and multi-institutional teams, and experience supporting user or collaborative research programs are all advantageous.
- The successful candidate will interact with other staff and participate in team-based, collaborative research within PNNL and with external organizations. Therefore, strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills are essential for independently carrying out initial analysis of experimental data and presenting summaries to project managers and staff.
Hazardous Working Conditions/EnvironmentNot Applicable
Testing Designated PositionThis is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
About PNNLPacific 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 OpportunityOur 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 careers@pnnl.gov.
Drug Free WorkplacePNNL 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 RequirementsAs 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 RequirementsPlease 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 RewardsEmployees 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.
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Notice to ApplicantsPNNL 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 SalaryUSD $69,000.00/Yr.
Maximum SalaryUSD $119,100.00/Yr.
