Job Details

Overview

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate (EBSD) leads critical research in four areas: Atmospheric, Climate & Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Molecular Sciences, and Global Change. Our vision is to develop a predictive understanding of biological and Earth systems in transition. We aim to understand energy and material flows within the integrated Earth system; to understand, predict, and control the response of biosystems to environmental and/or genomic changes; and to   Model the Earth system from the subsurface to the atmosphere. 

The Environmental Molecular Sciences Division is comprised of 18 interdisciplinary research teams focused on deciphering molecular-level interactions driving biological and environmental processes across temporal and spatial scales. Through computational analysis and modeling, these findings contribute to predictive understanding of how systems respond to environmental perturbations thus enabling solutions to the nation’s energy, environmental, and human health challenges. The division also manages the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus that accelerates the research of scientists around the world by providing access to world-class expertise, instrumentation, and computational resources.

Responsibilities

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) are seeking an exceptional candidate for a Postdoctoral Scientist position focused on the development and application of cutting-edge mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) instrumentation, methods, and bioinformatics to analyze sugars, glycans, and glycoconjugates within biological tissues. This position will emphasize leveraging EMSL’s array of high-resolution mass spectrometry platforms to elucidate complex carbohydrate chemistry with implications for human health and disease pathology.

The selected candidate will play a key role in advancing MSI approaches to enable efficient chemical characterization of the glycome—including soluble sugars, glycoproteins, and complex polysaccharides—at cellular resolution. Furthermore, the postdoctoral scientist will utilize these innovative tools to uncover critical insights into how glycome chemistry influences specific cellular functions and establish molecular relationships between individual glycome classes within intricate biological pathways.

The research will benefit from access to state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and microscopy platforms available at PNNL and EMSL. These resources include MALDI-FTICR, MALDI-timsTOF, MALDI-UHMR, ambient ionization techniques (DESI, nano-DESI), tandem mass spectrometry, ion mobility systems (DTIMS, TWIMS, TIMS, SLIM), and high-performance liquid chromatography systems—all of which can be utilized to support the candidate’s groundbreaking work in glycan imaging.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to advancements in carbohydrate and glycan imaging, as well as the broader field of glycoscience, using cutting-edge instrumentation and methodologies

Must have direct experience and expertise in at least one field related to glycobiology, biochemistry of carbohydrates, and analytical chemistry of carbohydrates.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications:

Candidates with a PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, physics, material science, or related field.
A proven track record in glycobiology, carbohydrate (bio)chemistry, or the development and application of mass spectrometry modalities for carbohydrate research.
Expertise in areas such as MS carbohydrate analysis, MS imaging, glycan mapping, glycoproteomics, or related fields.
Proficiency in utilizing mass spectrometry platforms for carbohydrate analysis is highly preferred.
Strong oral and written communication skills, along with the ability to collaborate effectively and maintain strong interpersonal relationships.
Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Strong independent analytical ability and decision-making skills.
Experience working in interdisciplinary and/or inter-institutional research teams.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not Applicable

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

Post Doctorate RA - Carbohydrate and Glycan Imaging Scientist – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory