Postdoctoral Virology Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

We have an opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher in quantitative virology and immunology to contribute to interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of mechanistic virology, host-pathogen interactions, structural modeling, and rational vaccine design.

The successful candidate will help drive experimental biology for projects that connect computational protein interface predictions and partner-generated interaction maps to functional biological outcomes. Current applications include mapping and validating virus-host receptor interfaces, evaluating engineered protein variants, characterizing viral antigen and immune recognition interfaces, and supporting immunogen-design efforts aimed at steering protective immune responses.

This position is ideal for an experimental virologist, immunologist, cell biologist, or protein-interface biologist with strong quantitative instincts and working fluency with protein structures, structural models, and computational design. Candidates are not expected to be primary developers of computational models but should be comfortable using structural and computational results to design rigorous experiments, interpret uncertainty, and make biological decisions. The work supports LLNL missions in biosecurity, threat preparedness, and biodefense. This position is in the Microbiology/Immunology Group in the Biosciences and Biotechnology Division within the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate

Applicants are encouraged to submit a complete application package that includes a cover letter outlining their research interests, relevant experience, and alignment with the research program; a curriculum vitae (CV) with a publication list; and contact information for three professional references. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

This is a two-year term appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years.

In this role you will

• Conduct mentored research in quantitative virology, immunology, and host-pathogen biology, with emphasis on protein-protein interactions relevant to viral entry, immune recognition, and vaccine design.
• Collaborate with LLNL scientists and external partners in computational biology, protein engineering, immunology, and related disciplines to advance multidisciplinary research objectives.
• Generate, organize, analyze, and interpret experimental datasets using appropriate statistical and quantitative methods.
• Prepare and present proposals for new projects to lab management and subject matter experts.
• Contribute to moderately complex projects in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and proposal-development activities.
• Pursue independent research ideas aligned with programmatic needs and broader mission areas in biosecurity, biodefense, and threat preparedness.
• Use structural models and computational protein-design outputs to develop testable biological hypotheses and guide experimental design.
• Design and execute quantitative cell-based, biochemical, and biophysical assays to evaluate protein expression, folding, localization, stability, binding, and function.
• Integrate experimental data with computational structural modeling, protein folding, inverse folding and physics-based simulations.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners in high-throughput data generation, protein engineering, immunology, and genome editing while building validation capabilities within the Biosciences and Biotechnology Division.
• Maintain accurate records of experimental methods, protocols, datasets, and results to support reproducibility and iterative design-build-test workflows.
• Contribute to planning for projects including virus-host interaction mapping and immunogen-design.
• Present research findings to project teams, Laboratory management, sponsors, and the external scientific community.Work safely and collaboratively in mission-driven bioscience environments
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Background in mechanistic virology, viral entry, receptor biology, host-pathogen interactions, viral immune evasion, viral tropism, humoral immunology, B cell receptor repertoire studies, or vaccine design.
• Experience with pseudotyped virus systems, neutralization/entry assays, or related infectious-disease models.
• Experience with membrane proteins, endosomal trafficking, cell-surface receptor biology, conformationally dynamic proteins, or complex glycoproteins.
• Experience with high-throughput protein production, mutational panels, display-based screening, surfaceome or interactomics datasets, crosslinking/MS, or other protein-protein interaction assays.
• Experience with structural biology data, integrative structural modeling, cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, SAXS, HDX-MS, crosslinking MS, or structure-guided assay design.
• Programming or scripting skills for data analysis, visualization, automation, or workflow development.
• Experience collaborating with computational scientists, external academic partners, or multidisciplinary teams on integrated design-build-test projects.

Pay: $123,048 Annually

#LI-Onsite

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Position Information

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years, open to those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

None required.  However, if your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process.  This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check.  

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities.  The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position.  To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

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Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under "Find Your Job" of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.