Postdoctoral Appointee - Host-Directed Anti-Infectives

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:

• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*
• Extraordinary co-workers
• 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)
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities

Are you looking to do creative research that addresses major challenges such as public health, climate change, and energy security? Sandia/California’s Systems Biology Department is seeking an innovative, dedicated, and hard-working postdoctoral appointee to join a multidisciplinary team that is developing host-directed medical countermeasures (MCMs) against infectious diseases. You will help the team identify, characterize, and optimize MCMs designed to prevent pathogens from exploiting host factors as part of their infection cycle. The work will involve screening for monoclonal antibody variants (“nanobodies”) that disrupt key host-pathogen interactions, use of nanoparticles for in vivo delivery of mRNA encoding these antibodies, and assessment of MCM efficacy and safety in mouse models of infection. This work will be carried out in collaboration with scientists at Sandia (Livermore and Albuquerque sites), other national laboratories, universities, and commercial entities.

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

• Work collaboratively to design, execute, track, and refine project plans with an integrated multidisciplinary team that includes members from national laboratories, universities, and industry
• Synthesize and characterize nanoparticle formulations to optimize performance as mRNA delivery vehicles
• Communicate your research through writing scientific papers, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting findings at seminars and conferences
• Contribute to the creation and development of new scientific research proposals
• Evaluate nanobody-based MCMs in mouse models of infection
• Screen libraries for host-directed nanobodies that disrupt host-pathogen interactions that are essential for infection
• Mentor technologists and interns

The Postdoctoral Appointee works onsite in California. The salary is set for this position at $99,000 annually.

• Proven record of high technical accomplishment and written communication (e.g., as evidenced by publication in high-impact scientific journals) and/or strong verbal communication and data presentation skills (e.g., as demonstrated through scientific conference presentations)
• Recent PhD in Biology, Bioengineering, Materials Science, or a related field

Familiarity and/or experience with the following:

• Heterologous protein expression by mammalian cells
• Nanoparticle characterization methods (e.g., transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements)
• High-throughput screening of affinity ligand libraries
• Development and analysis of mouse models of infection

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 knowledge and technologies 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, and computational chemistry), and engineering (chemical, mechanical, and biomedical).

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.

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.

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.

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.

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral 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.