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Senior Research Associate

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
San Francisco, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 5/16/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/16/2026
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an opening for a Senior Research Associate in their Joint Genome Institute.

Duties:
  • Perform experimental manipulation and sample collection for a set of advanced molecular assays.
  • Perform single-cell profiling of plant tissues undergoing environmental stress, RNA in situ hybridization experiments, confocal microscopy experiments, bacterial construct preparation and cloning, as well as bacterial growth and plant colonization profiling.
  • Prepare seeds for growth on sterile media and soil and maintain plant growth systems.
  • Prepare molecular biology buffers and reagents.
  • Prepare, analyze, and sort plant cells or nuclei.
  • Prepare, embed, section, and stain plant specimens.
  • Perform in situ hybridization experiments.
  • Image tissues using confocal and widefield microscopy.
  • Perform plant/microbe bioassays.
  • Culture, transform, and maintain bacterial strains (including rhizobacteria).
  • Accurately and thoroughly document experimental procedures and results.
  • Perform preliminary data analysis and quality control on the data collected.

Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Biology or related field and a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
  • Experience with DNA/RNA purification and Next Gen Sequencing (NGS) library preparation.
  • Experience with plant growth and sampling for non-model species.
  • Experience with single-cell isolation from plant tissues.
  • Demonstrated confocal or fluorescence microscopy skills, including tissue sectioning for RNA in-situ or histology.
  • Experience with plasmid construction, cloning, and bacterial transformation.
  • Experience with sterile technique.
  • Demonstrated data analytics skills, including image processing with R, Python, and ImageJ.

Additional Information:
  • Appointment Type: This is a full-time, career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
  • Salary Range: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes and has an expected salary of $80,579 - $89,748 annually for job code 381.2. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, and aligned with the internal peer group (if applicable, and union contract agreement).
  • 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 performed onsite at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, located at 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720.
  • Work Authorization: Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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.

Salary : $80,579 - $89,748

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