Montana State University - Office of Student Engagement
Research Associate II
Montana State University - Office of Student Engagement, Bozeman, Montana, us, 59772
Announcement Number: STAFF - VA - 26233
Contact: Stephanie Pierce
e‑mail: stephanie.pierce1@montana.edu
Phone: 406‑994‑5171
Brief Position Overview The Thum Lab seeks a Research Associate II to conduct aquatic plant genetics research. The incumbent will perform herbicide assays in both greenhouse and field settings, process plant samples for genetic identification, and lead a primary research grant.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the primary grant, managing objectives, deliverables, personnel, data collection, analysis, administration, and dissemination.
Work independently with minimal supervision.
Travel domestically or internationally for conferences.
Apply chemical treatments such as herbicides and pesticides.
Collaborate effectively to coordinate sample collection with stakeholders, state agencies, and citizen scientists.
Assist with hiring, training, and mentoring students and laboratory personnel.
Assist with report writing, manuscripts, and presentations.
Act as the primary point of contact for laboratory organization and management, including inventory, ordering, lab safety, protocols, communication, and website updates.
Develop, maintain, and curate MilfoilMapper, a publicly available database.
Lead projects focusing on efficient phenotyping assays for herbicide response, expanding watermilfoil strain data in MilfoilMapper and phenotyping for genetic mapping populations.
Assist and lead molecular genetic work, including nucleic acid extraction, strain/species identification, and preparation of samples for outsourced sequencing and genotyping.
Assist with living plant culture, maintenance, and experimentation in the greenhouse (e.g., mapping populations, strain characterizations).
Catalog plants and keep appropriate records of data.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Master’s degree in plant sciences or plant genetics.
Experience hiring, managing, and supervising laboratory personnel.
Proficient in laboratory bench work (e.g., nucleic acid extraction, strain/species identification, preparation of samples for outsourced sequencing and genotyping).
Experience designing, establishing, and maintaining greenhouse herbicide assay experiments.
Proficient at analyzing and scoring various types of genetic markers.
Proficient in coding, app development, and statistical analysis methods using R.
Proficient in conducting greenhouse experiments on aquatic plants.
Proficient written and oral communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Experience managing and serving as the primary lead on grants, including objectives, deliverables, and reporting.
3+ years of experience in aquatic plant management and genetics.
The Successful Candidate Will
Work independently and as part of a team environment.
Possess highly effective interpersonal skills to collaborate with research faculty, lab personnel, lake managers, and state agencies.
Be organized, detail‑oriented, meet deadlines, and prioritize multiple projects.
Present research results to colleagues.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
May require work outside traditional business hours when research protocols dictate (e.g., collecting PAM fluorometry data at night).
Must have the ability to occasionally travel in and out of state.
Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.
Posting Detail Information Number of Vacancies: 1 Open Date: January 6, 2026 Applications will 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.
Applicant Documents
Resume
Cover Letter
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Brief Position Overview The Thum Lab seeks a Research Associate II to conduct aquatic plant genetics research. The incumbent will perform herbicide assays in both greenhouse and field settings, process plant samples for genetic identification, and lead a primary research grant.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the primary grant, managing objectives, deliverables, personnel, data collection, analysis, administration, and dissemination.
Work independently with minimal supervision.
Travel domestically or internationally for conferences.
Apply chemical treatments such as herbicides and pesticides.
Collaborate effectively to coordinate sample collection with stakeholders, state agencies, and citizen scientists.
Assist with hiring, training, and mentoring students and laboratory personnel.
Assist with report writing, manuscripts, and presentations.
Act as the primary point of contact for laboratory organization and management, including inventory, ordering, lab safety, protocols, communication, and website updates.
Develop, maintain, and curate MilfoilMapper, a publicly available database.
Lead projects focusing on efficient phenotyping assays for herbicide response, expanding watermilfoil strain data in MilfoilMapper and phenotyping for genetic mapping populations.
Assist and lead molecular genetic work, including nucleic acid extraction, strain/species identification, and preparation of samples for outsourced sequencing and genotyping.
Assist with living plant culture, maintenance, and experimentation in the greenhouse (e.g., mapping populations, strain characterizations).
Catalog plants and keep appropriate records of data.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Master’s degree in plant sciences or plant genetics.
Experience hiring, managing, and supervising laboratory personnel.
Proficient in laboratory bench work (e.g., nucleic acid extraction, strain/species identification, preparation of samples for outsourced sequencing and genotyping).
Experience designing, establishing, and maintaining greenhouse herbicide assay experiments.
Proficient at analyzing and scoring various types of genetic markers.
Proficient in coding, app development, and statistical analysis methods using R.
Proficient in conducting greenhouse experiments on aquatic plants.
Proficient written and oral communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Experience managing and serving as the primary lead on grants, including objectives, deliverables, and reporting.
3+ years of experience in aquatic plant management and genetics.
The Successful Candidate Will
Work independently and as part of a team environment.
Possess highly effective interpersonal skills to collaborate with research faculty, lab personnel, lake managers, and state agencies.
Be organized, detail‑oriented, meet deadlines, and prioritize multiple projects.
Present research results to colleagues.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
May require work outside traditional business hours when research protocols dictate (e.g., collecting PAM fluorometry data at night).
Must have the ability to occasionally travel in and out of state.
Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.
Posting Detail Information Number of Vacancies: 1 Open Date: January 6, 2026 Applications will 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.
Applicant Documents
Resume
Cover Letter
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter
#J-18808-Ljbffr