Microbial and Molecular Biologist - Military Veterans

at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

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Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States' security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and diverse perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory's mission.

Pay Range

$140,700 - $178,392 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Job Description

We are seeking a Biologist to conduct and assist with plant, microbial, and molecular biology experiments. You will work on both environmental and human health relevant systems. You will support multiple projects, included those funded by the US Department of Energy's Biological and Environmental Research program and the Department of Health and Human Services ARPA-H program. This opportunity is in the Environmental Isotope Systems group in the Nuclear and Chemicals Sciences (NACS) Division.

You will

Conduct or assist with experiments with plants, mycorrhizal fungi, cell and microbial cultures.
Act as lab manager for the greenhouse facility.
Process samples for a variety of analyses including DNA extractions, PCR, NGS, microscopy, soil and plant edaphic characterization.
Build prototypes for experiments using 3D printing, laser cutting, and hand tools.
Work with molecular biologists and microbiologists to develop and execute high-throughput methodologies for DNA assembly, DNA amplification, and protein production.
Collaborate with a diverse team of multidisciplinary scientists and technical personnel to accomplish research goals.
Present formal and informal overviews of progress and results at group meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Broad experience conducting laboratory work in support of multiple projects.
Broad experience with sterile technique and maintaining sterile plant or microbial culture.
Experience performing nucleic acid extraction and purification.
Broad experience with molecular biology techniques (e.g. PCR, electrophoresis, molecular cloning, primer design, etc).
Experience propagating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
Broad experience with 3D printing, laser cutting, or hand tools.
Broad experience with microbial genetic engineering techniques such as transformation, genome editing, or genetic selections.

Qualifications We Desire

Experience with operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
Experience with organizing and interpreting scientific results in technical reports and manuscripts.
Ability to work independently on prescribed tasks.

Additional Information

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
Flexible Benefits Package
401(k)
Relocation Assistance
Education Reimbursement Program
Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
Our core beliefs - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/our-values

Security Clearance

None required. However, if your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process. This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check. (This process does not apply to foreign nationals.)

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities. The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position. To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under "Find Your Job" of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here .

Livermore, CA

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Science and technology on a mission

For more than 60 years, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has applied science and technology to make the world a safer place.

Livermore’s defining responsibility is ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear deterrent. Yet LLNL’s mission is broader than stockpile stewardship, as dangers ranging from nuclear proliferation and terrorism to energy shortages and climate change threaten national security and global stability. The Laboratory’s science and engineering are being applied to achieve breakthroughs for counterterrorism and nonproliferation, defense and intelligence, energy and environmental security.

Our Mission

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has a mission of strengthening the United States’ security through development and application of world-class science and technology to:

Enhance the nation’s defense.
Reduce the global threat from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
And respond with vision, quality, integrity and technical excellence to scientific issues of national importance.

Our Vision

Lead the nation in stockpile science, innovation and sustainment.
Be the foremost national security laboratory, anticipating, innovating and delivering solutions for the nation’s most challenging security problems.
Be the premier destination for our nation’s very best scientists and engineers.

Our Values

Ideas. Livermore is the “new ideas” laboratory, and we continue to aspire to intellectual leadership, originality, and audacity. We support an environment that encourages open exchange and critique. Ideas also improve operations and lead to new, better ways of doing business.
Impact. Innovation happens when new ideas have impact—on our mission, on people’s lives. Ultimately, our success depends on applying frontier science and technology, through disciplined engineering, to deliver solutions for—have impact on—our mission.
Integrity. We serve the public interest and act to sustain the public trust through transparency, honesty, and objectivity. We act ethically in our research activities, our business practices, and our interactions with each other. We are dedicated to collective success, and committed to safety and security as an integral part of the mission.
Inclusiveness. The challenges of our mission demand that we draw on the widest possible diversity of talents, thought, and experiences. To capitalize on the range of individual and diverse talents needed for mission success, we form and work in teams, characterized by mutual respect and support.
Zeal. It’s good to love what you do. We value enthusiasm for and commitment to the Lab’s mission. We have a “fire in the belly” to excel, lead, and change the world. And as an institution, the Lab will aspire to be a place where people can find fulfillment and love their work. Our Priorities
- Deliver on our stockpile stewardship mission.
- Enhance and expand our mission in the broad national security space.
- Sustain and ensure that we are at the cutting edge in the science, engineering and technology capabilities our sponsors need.
- Ensure excellence in execution: deliver results of the highest quality, on schedule and on budget.
- Ensure excellence in operations: safety, security, environment and state of the art business practices and processes.
- Improve our cost effectiveness.
- Provide a first-class workplace environment to our employees.
- Expand our contributions to the local and national economy through partnerships with academia and industry.

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