Biology Research Associate

$95,000 - $95,000/Yr

Los Alamos National Laboratory - Los Alamos, NM

Full-time - Entry Level

Los Alamos, NM

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Biology Research Associate position at Los Alamos National Laboratory focuses on developing bio-based technologies using eukaryotic microbial platforms, specifically microalgae and yeast, to produce sustainable fuels, feed, and chemicals. The role involves working within an interdisciplinary team to generate sustainable aviation fuels and co-products from biomass derived from wastewater remediation processes, integrating algal biomass into fermentation pathways for fuel production.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on eukaryotic microbial platforms for fuel production.
• Develop new bio-based technologies to replace petroleum.
• Integrate algal biomass into fermentation pathways.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and researchers.
• Design, conduct, and troubleshoot experiments independently.

Requirements

• Strong technical background in fermentation, microbiology, biomanufacturing, or molecular biology.
• Demonstrated experience in microbial biomanufacturing, particularly yeast fermentation or large-scale algae cultivation.
• Ability to independently design and troubleshoot experiments.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Master's degree in biology, microbiology, biotechnology, or a related STEM field within the past three years.

Nice-to-haves

• Prior experience in process development and scale-up.
• Experience with data analysis in biomanufacturing and chemical catalysis.
• Knowledge of molecular/synthetic biology methods and microbial characterization assays.
• Experience with analytical methods for biomass characterization.
• Experience analyzing complex microbial communities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on qualifications and experience.