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Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26229

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Kelley Kane

[email protected]

406-994-5097

Classification Title Research Scientist and/or Research Engineers

Working Title Research Scientist

Brief Position Overview

The Research Scientist will independently contribute to cutting-edge research on Borrelia burgdorferi and vector-borne mechanisms of phage-mediated genetic exchange in the tick–mouse model of Lyme disease. This position requires exceptional interdisciplinary expertise across microbial genomics, bioinformatics, molecular microbiology, and animal-associated infection biology.

Position Number 4C0054

Department Microbiology & Cell Biology

Division College of Agriculture/MAES

Appointment Type Research Professional

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA Exempt

Union Affiliation

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Contract Type LOA

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

The individual will design and execute complex research projects; implement advanced computational pipelines; develop new analytical tools for mobile genetic elements; support mouse and tick infection models; mentor undergraduate and graduate trainees; and contribute substantively to manuscripts, reports, and grant applications.

The Research Scientist must be able to manage technically demanding projects with minimal supervision, demonstrate scientific creativity, and contribute to a highly collaborative laboratory environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Research Design, Execution, and Innovation

+ Independently design and conduct hypothesis-driven experiments relevant to phage induction, plasmid recombination, cp32 dynamics, antigenic variation, and Borrelia pathogenesis.

+ Develop new methodological approaches—both experimental and computational—to investigate surface-protein diversity, recombination events, and mobile genetic elements within the Lyme disease system.

+ Lead multiple concurrent research efforts requiring the integration of genomics, wet-lab experimentation, and animal-model data.

Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Systems

+ Develop, deploy, and maintain high-throughput computational pipelines (Python, Bash, Linux/Unix) for Illumina, Nanopore, and hybrid genome assembly workflows.

+ Perform comparative genomics on plasmids, phages, and mobile genetic elements; identify CRISPR arrays, anti-phage systems, recombination events, and patterns of genome plasticity.

+ Build custom visualization tools (e.g., Plotly-Dash dashboards or equivalent) for data presentation and public-facing analytics.

+ Administer and maintain laboratory servers, software environments, containerized workflows, and data storage systems supporting large-volume sequencing datasets.

+ Develop and maintain relational data structures for sequencing metadata, phenotypic data, strain collections, and analytical outputs.

Molecular Microbiology and Wet-Lab Capabilities

+ Perform complex molecular biology workflows including recombinant DNA methods, cloning, PCR /qPCR, DNA / RNA extraction, sequencing library construction, and phage purification.

+ Maintain and characterize diverse bacterial isolates, including plasmid-bearing strains, mutants, and engineered lines.

+ Develop protocols and SOPs for advanced laboratory techniques such as inducible phage purification, genomic library preparation, and molecular characterization of phage/host interactions.

Vector-Borne and Animal Model Experiments

+ Support tick–mouse model experiments, including tick feeding, infection establishment, tissue harvesting, recovery of spirochetes, and downstream genomic analyses.

+ Conduct mouse infection procedures (e.g., inoculation, monitoring, tissue collection) under IACUC protocols with high precision and strong documentation.

+ Integrate in vivo results with genomic and molecular datasets to analyze phage induction, recombination, immune evasion, and strain competitiveness.

Leadership, Mentoring, and Training

+ Mentor and supervise undergraduate and graduate students in experimental design, molecular biology, microbiology, computational analysis, and data visualization.

+ Develop and deliver training modules or short workshops to onboard new researchers in laboratory procedures and computational tools.

+ Provide day-to-day guidance to junior personnel, fostering a collaborative, rigorous, and supportive research environment.

Scholarly Writing, Reporting, and Grant Support

+ Contribute substantially to manuscripts as a lead or co-author, including data analysis, figure preparation, and methods writing.

+ Prepare reports for funded federal grants, including progress summaries, data figures, and computational workflows.

+ Assist in the conception and writing of new grant proposals, generating preliminary data and novel computational methods where needed.

+ Present research findings at internal meetings, national conferences, and collaborative project discussions.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

+ Ph.D. in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a closely related discipline.

+ Demonstrated excellence in genomic data analysis, including short-read and long-read assembly, annotation, and comparative genomics.

+ Proven experience in molecular microbiology including DNA / RNA workflows, cloning, mutagenesis, and microbial cultivation.

+ Demonstrated ability to independently design, troubleshoot, and complete technically complex research projects.

+ Excellent communication skills.

+ Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

+ Experience with phage biology, plasmid biology, CRISPR systems, or other mobile genetic elements.

+ Experience developing custom computational tools, dashboards, or visualization platforms.

+ Experience with vector-borne or animal models of infection (e.g., mice, ticks).

+ Experience managing large biological repositories or strain collections.

+ Demonstrated track record of mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students.

+ Experience with host–pathogen interactions, spirochete biology, or vector microbiology.

+ Strong proficiency in Python and Bash, Linux/Unix systems, and scripting for high-throughput analyses.

The Successful Candidate Will

+ Demonstrate initiative, creativity, and scientific independence.

+ Maintain accurate and thorough documentation of all research activities.

+ Communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

+ Actively contribute to a safe and collaborative laboratory environment.

+ Manage time and resources effectively to meet research milestones.

+ Represent the laboratory professionally in internal and external interactions.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

+ Completion of biosafety, animal-use, and laboratory safety training.

+ Flexibility to support experiments requiring occasional evening or weekend work (e.g., tick feedings).

+ Position is contingent on external grant funding.

+ Occasional travel for conferences or collaborator meetings.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on January 5, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.