Faculty Scholar

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place. 

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$11,180 - $16,214 Monthly

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

We have an opening in the HED Science and Technology (HED S&T) Program within the NIF and Photon Science (NIF&PS) Principal Associate Directorate (PAD) for a faculty member to engage in a collaborative research and work-study assignment of mutual interest to further their teaching or research goals. Opportunities include providing research in dense plasma physics, analyzing experimental results, and perform theoretical analyses to interpret results. Each Faculty Scholar is selected based upon their outstanding scholarship and research expertise and overlap with the Lab’s mission. Please include a cover letter and your CV.

Essential Duties

• Provide expertise in one or more of the following areas: Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Material Science, Engineering, Nuclear Science, Environmental Science, Atmospheric Science, Geoscience, Energy, Lasers, or Biology.
• Collaborate with technical area leaders, project leaders, and program management in a multidisciplinary team environment to achieve research objectives.
• Perform theoretical and simulation studies of innovative gas-based optical systems driven by photochemical reactions.
• Author complex scientific reports and deliver presentations to both internal and external scientific audiences.
• Participate in laboratory activities to both provide and gain exposure to ongoing research.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Must be a faculty or scientist affiliated at an accredited institution with a Ph.D. in Physics, Theoretical Physics or related field or discipline, or equivalent level of demonstrated knowledge.
• Significant experience and analyzing complex experiments in the areas of laser-matter interactions, specifically in plasma optics and gas optics.
• Analytical skills necessary to solve complex research problems and make decisions independently.
• Advanced communication skills to author technical and scientific reports, publications, and invited papers and to deliver scientific presentations.
• Experience working effectively independently, as well as in a team, with minimal supervision in a goal-oriented environment.

Note:   This is a Temporary Faculty Scholar appointment with the possibility of extension.  This assignment is typically a full-time position during the summer, fall, winter or spring academic break.

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

Position Information

This is a Temporary Faculty Scholar appointment.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Holiday Pay
• Sick leave accrual
• Individual 401(k) contributions
• 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.  (This process does not apply to foreign nationals.) 

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.

How to identify fake job advertisements

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.