Summary
Montana State University is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Department of Ecology. The position is part of an NSF-funded research project investigating speciation under alternating cycles of gene flow and isolation. The successful candidate will lead the development of an open-source, machine learning-based software tool for inferring realistic evolutionary histories and speciation scenarios from genomic data.
The researcher will work at the intersection of evolutionary genomics, population genetics, computational biology, and machine learning, while contributing to theoretical and empirical research on speciation and divergence in Melanesian birds.
Salary: $55,000–$60,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications
Position: 1 vacancy
Announcement Number: STAFF – VA – 27117
Position Number: 4C2677
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher / Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Research Area
- Evolutionary Genomics
- Population Genetics
- Computational Biology
- Bioinformatics
- Machine Learning in Biology
- Speciation and Evolutionary Theory
- Genomic Data Analysis
- Scientific Software Development
Location
Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Montana, USA
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants must:
- Hold a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a closely related field by the start date.
- Have experience with scientific programming and computational data analysis.
- Demonstrate research productivity through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, scholarly work, or dissertation research.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience applying machine learning to biology or genomics.
- Knowledge of population genetics theory and simulation methods.
- Experience developing or contributing to open-source software.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
Job Description
The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will work closely with the Principal Investigator and research team to conduct independent and collaborative research involving evolutionary genomics, population genetics, and machine learning.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead the development of open-source machine learning software for inferring evolutionary history from genomic data.
- Design and conduct population genetic simulations to generate training datasets and validate theoretical predictions.
- Collaborate with the PI and graduate students on empirical and theoretical research related to speciation.
- Contribute to research examining the impact of sea-level change on divergence in Melanesian birds.
- Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
- Present research findings at national and international conferences.
- Develop software documentation and support community adoption of the resulting computational tool.
- Contribute to publications involving evolutionary theory and related research.
The appointment is currently anticipated to be funded through December 31, 2028, subject to continued grant funding.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should apply through the Montana State University employment portal and upload the following required documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover Letter addressing each of the required and preferred qualifications.
Questions regarding the position:
Ethan Linck, Assistant Professor
Email: ethan.linck@montana.edu
Desired Start Date: Upon completion of a successful search.
Last Date for Apply
Applications will begin being reviewed on October 30, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Application Deadline: Open until an adequate applicant pool is established.
