Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) Environmental Genomics & Systems Biology Division has an opening for a Research Assistant to join the team.

In this exciting role, you will be primarily part of the ENIGMA and the m-CAFEs Scientific Focus Areas (SFAs), interdisciplinary research efforts investigating how environmental parameters influence microbial community structure and function.

You will work on an exciting environmental microbiology project aiming to construct archived culture collections “reference microbiomes” from diverse environments to enable deep mechanistic characterization in the laboratory. This work will involve the high-throughput enrichment and isolation of diverse, previously uncultured microorganisms. For some of the isolated microorganisms, you will conduct phenotypic characterization assays, including the construction of barcoded transposon mutant libraries.

Through this work, you will have the opportunity to apply state-of-the-art laboratory automation approaches alongside classical microbial cultivation methodologies.

In addition, you will perform some routine laboratory tasks such as culture media preparation, ordering, DNA extraction, and sequencing, and general lab maintenance.

What You Will Do:

• Enriching for, archiving, and cultivating diverse environmental microorganisms in low and high-throughput in anaerobic and aerobic conditions.
• Growth media preparation.
• Monitoring of microbial growth and activity in both low and high-throughput.
• Phenotypic characterization of bacteria.
• Prepare samples for next-generation (Illumina and PacBio) sequencing.
• Extraction of nucleic acid in low and high-throughput.
• Illumina sequencing library construction.
• Effectively communicate and collaborate with a large team of wet-lab and computational scientists.

Additional Responsibilities as needed:

• Keep a detailed laboratory notebook and upload data in relevant databases.
• Keep abreast of current scientific literature.
• Prepare reports and standard operating procedures as requested.
• Participation and reporting in research group meetings.

What is Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Geochemistry, Biochemistry or Microbiology preferred or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on experience growing bacteria.
• Good analytical, organizational, and multi-tasking skills.
• Proficiency in maintaining laboratory notes, reports, and operating procedures.
• Good problem solving skills and a clear understanding of methods development processes.
• Able and willing to learn and implement new experimentation techniques.
• Due to the highly collaborative nature of the position, good interpersonal and communications skills are essential.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and keep track of many samples.

Desired Qualifications:

• Specific experience with anaerobic microbial cultivation and a background in microbial physiology and/or biochemistry.
• Experience making Illumina sequencing libraries.
• Experience with analytic instrumentation including GC-MS, LC-MS, ion chromatography, spectroscopy.

For full consideration, please apply by March 24, 2021.

Notes:

• This is a full time, 1 year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.
• This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
• Salary will be determined based on range by collective bargaining agreement.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work will be primarily performed at West Berkeley Biocenter (Potter St.) — Bldg. 977, 717 Potter St., Berkeley, CA.

Learn about us!

Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology

Mission: Linking genome biology to ecosystem dynamics.

Vision: Sustainable solutions to energy and environmental challenges developed through mechanistic understanding of ecosystem dynamics.

Approach: We develop systems-level models using integrated molecular observation and controlled manipulation of model organisms and defined biomes to design and test interventions that promote beneficial outcomes.

Berkeley Lab

Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Working at Berkeley Lab has many rewards including a competitive compensation program, excellent health and welfare programs, a retirement program that is second to none, and outstanding development opportunities. To view information about the many rewards that are offered at Berkeley Lab- Click Here.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4. Click here to view the poster and supplement: “Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups presently considering scientific research careers.