Senior Research Associate

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Senior Research Associate within the Molecular Foundry division. This position will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of chemists, biophysicists, and materials scientists at the Molecular Foundry. Our team serves a broad scientific user community.

Under direct supervision, the Senior Research Associate will work with staff and users of the Biological Nanostructures and the Organic Facilities at the Molecular Foundry to advance fundamental scientific research by providing guidance in laboratory methods and instrumentation within the Facilities, assisting with experiment design and project planning, helping develop new methods, assisting with commissioning new instrumentation, and coordinating laboratory organization, safety and inventory.

We're here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

You will:

• Assist with chemical management, including checking chemical supplies and ordering when appropriate, oversee proper chemical storage, bar coding of chemicals and entry into the lab's Chemical Management System.
• Perform regular testing of time-sensitive chemicals.
• Maintain inventory of general floor supplies, ordering and restocking as necessary.
• Under supervisor guidance, provide general overview of the Biological Nanostructures and the Organic Facilities to users including general work practices, safety awareness, and overview of waste management systems.
• With supervisor oversight, provide training of users in instrumentation such as the Akta Pure, Confocal microscope, MALDI, UPLC-MS, Dynamic Light Scattering, Circular Dichroism, and UV-vis.
• Assist with coordinating equipment preventative maintenance and repair.
• Under direct supervision, provide multifunctional technical guidance and support of user projects.
• Assist in developing recommendations for technical enhancements to existing instruments or methodologies.
• Help maintain safety documentation and training documentation.
• Assist with technical reports, policy support documentation, and training documentation.
• With supervisor guidance, share technical results to users and staff.

We are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree preferred in biochemistry, chemistry, or related field and/or equivalent experience.
• Two to five years laboratory experience.
• Familiarity with organic synthesis.
• Familiarity with molecular biology methods .
• Experience in preliminary analysis of experimental data.
• Excellent organization skills and self-motivation.

Demonstrated understanding of chemical safety.

• Ability to work as part of a diverse team.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Desired skills/knowledge:

• Familiarity with NMR and X-ray structural methods.
• Familiarity with fluorescence microscopy.
• Familiarity with Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry.

Additional information:

• Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by May 20,2026.. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.
• Appointment type: This is a full-time 2 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.
• Salary range: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes. The expected salary for this position is $69,372 - $89,748. The final salary will depend upon the candidate's skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
• Background check: This position is 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 modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here).

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.