Job Description

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

Are you looking for an opportunity to do important and creative research? Sandia/California’s Systems Biology Department is seeking a hardworking R&D laboratory support technologist to work on projects characterizing host-pathogen interactions and gene editing technologies. The selected candidate will assist in performing genomic and proteomic research for the detection of gene editing activity in cell and animal models and analysis of virus-host interactions.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Work collaboratively to execute project plans with an integrated multidisciplinary team that may include members from national labs, universities, and industry
• Analyze or manipulate cell and mouse tissue samples using a range of techniques
• Perform molecular and micro-biology techniques (PCR, gel electrophoresis, cloning)
• Perform sterile cell and viral culture
• Develop and execute high-throughput assays and experimental protocols at scale
• Carry out/improve safety processes and documentation to maintain a safe working environment
• Effectively communicate results to team members through team meetings and generation/presentation of experimental data

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range:

$71,800 - $138,200

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require:

• Bachelor’s degree in a biology related field (e.g. biochemistry, biology, immunology, microbiology, bioengineering), plus one year of relevant work experience in a laboratory environment.
• Hands-on experience with one or more of the following laboratory techniques:
• Cell culture techniques and sterile technique within a BSL-2 laboratory environment
• Molecular biology techniques including PCR, cloning and/or transformations
• Biochemistry techniques such as western blot assays, ELISA assays, protein purification and/or nucleic acid purification
• Mouse tissue processing techniques including DNA/RNA/protein extractions, sectioning and immunofluorescence staining.
• This position requires access to export-controlled or ITAR information. Only U.S. persons (citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees or refugees) are eligible for consideration.

Qualifications We Desire:

• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Two years of hands-on experience in one of the following fields: virology, molecular biology, or functional genomics
• Familiarity with one or more of the following:
• BSL2 virus culture
• Cell and tissue imaging
• Genome editing
• Synthetic biology
• High-throughput nucleic acid or protein analysis (e.g. qRT-PCR, Illumina sequencing, xMAP assays)
• Tools and pipelines for RNASeq data analysis
• Experience preparing text and figures for scientific presentations and journal publications

About Our Team:

The Systems Biology Department, located in Livermore, California is a diverse research group with a focus on both basic and applied biological research. We seek to address problems with strong ties to national security, including biodefense and health security, and climate and energy security. We do this using innovative research approaches in microbiology, virology, synthetic biology, immunology and bioinformatics, incorporating advanced technology development including CRISPR/Cas technologies, advanced omics, and advanced materials and nanotechnology. We also seek to develop the science-base needed to produce clean, efficient, and cost-effective biofuels and other bioproducts on a commercial scale. Our department is part of the highly multidisciplinary Applied Biosciences and Engineering Group, comprised of researchers with expertise in many disciplines of biology (molecular biology, microbiology, virology, immunology, and biochemistry), chemistry (analytical, organic, and physical), computational science (bioinformatics, machine learning, computational chemistry), and engineering (chemical, mechanical, and biomedical).

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance:

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Position Information:

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

Job ID: 694348

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: F

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.