Synthetic Biologist - Research Scientist

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World! Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact. We have an opening for a Research Scientist to contribute to synthetic biology, protein engineering, and microbial biotechnology research within the Synthetic Biology group in the Biosciences and Biotechnology Division. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team developing novel, designed proteins and microbes for national security applications, including critical material recovery, under the direction of Dan Park and Sean Leonard. Working under limited direction, the successful candidate will perform moderately complex experimental assignments, use independent judgment to select and adapt established methods, analyze results, troubleshoot experimental issues, and recommend improvements to workflows Candidates should have an interest in learning new skills and techniques and applying them to solve real-world scientific problems that inform the use of these technologies for both government and commercial applications. This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work. In this role you will: Perform library-scale molecular cloning, plasmid preparation, bacterial transformation, and sequence verification in E. coli and non-model microbes. Execute and optimize high-throughput assays to evaluate protein or microbial performance. Express, purify, and characterize proteins using standard biochemical and chromatographic techniques. Contribute to general laboratory operation