Postdoctoral Researcher

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Position Information

Announcement Number

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26316

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Join an innovative NIH
-funded research team seeking to bridge critical knowledge gaps in neuroskeletal biology by investigating bone innervation across diverse vertebrate lineages. You will lead experiments using immunohistochemistry, imaging, and AI-driven image analysis within a phylogenetic comparative framework. By uncovering evolutionary patterns of constraint and innovation in bone innervation, your work will provide foundational insights into skeletal health and disease relevant to medicine, evolutionary biology, and paleontology.

Position Number

Position Number 4C1090

Department

Department Earth Sciences

Division

Division College of Business

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Professional

Contract Term

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible

Salary $55,000 - $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

Contract Type LOA

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

General Statement

The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University is a research-active unit within the College of Letters & Science that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees spanning geography, geology, and paleontology. Research in the Deep Time Biology Lab, led by PI Chris Organ, focuses on macroevolution by integrating paleontological and genotypic/molecular data. Co-PI Dana Rashid’s research (Dept of Microbiology and Cell Biology) focuses on the developmental patterning of the vertebrate skeleton.

This project involves a collaborative partnership with Erica Scheller (Washington University), whose work focuses on relationships between the nervous system and the skeleton. We maintain a close partnership with the Museum of the Rockies ( MOR ), a world-class institution and official repository for state and federal fossils. Together, these programs provide a unique interdisciplinary environment that combines field-based discovery with sophisticated laboratory analysis and data science.
For more information, visit the following resources:

• Lead Comparative Sampling
  :
  Execute the sampling and preparation of bone from domestic sheep, domestic chicken, and African clawed frogs to characterize nerve fiber distribution.
• Perform Histology: Utilize silver staining techniques and SYTOX green staining to visualize neural elements and blood cells within bone sections.
• Conduct Immunohistochemistry: Adapt and optimize multiple antibody stains for use on non-traditional model species like avian and amphibian sections.
• Manage High-Resolution Imaging: Perform light and fluorescent imaging across entire transverse bone sections, ensuring proper overlap for high-quality image stitching.
• Execute Data Science Workflows: Utilize Montana State University’s Tempest Supercomputer to process large imaging datasets and generate distribution heat maps.
• Collaborate Across Institutions: Coordinate research efforts between the Organ, Rashid, and Scheller laboratories to ensure methodological consistency and project success.
• Analyze Evolutionary Patterns: Apply comparative data science methods to integrate results across species and differentiate between conserved and adaptive neural and vascular traits.
• Manage Project Timeline: Oversee the transition of research goals from the pilot phase into the expanded Major Research Project framework.
• Disseminate Findings
  :
  Lead the preparation of manuscripts for high-impact journals and present findings at relevant biomedical and evolutionary biology conferences.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Educational Background: A Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Evolutionary Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field, with a demonstrated focus on comparative anatomy or neurobiology.
• Research Expertise: Proven experience in advanced histological…