Postdoctoral Associate

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Mississippi; On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. seeks a motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Brown Lab at Mississippi State University. This role involves supporting evolutionary genomics projects through high-performance computing and software/database development.

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D. in biological sciences, possess strong skills in next-generation sequencing data analysis, and will be responsible for mentoring students and contributing to scientific publications. The work environment is typical of a professional office.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a biological sciences discipline.
• Record of scholarly publication.

Responsibilities

• Perform large-scale analyses including phylogenomics and comparative genomics.
• Develop and maintain PhyloFisher software/database components.
• Integrate genomic datasets for targeted microbial eukaryote groups.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• Contribute to manuscripts and public releases of tools.

Skills

Next-generation sequencing data analysis

Strong written and oral communication

Phylogenomics

Python programming

R programming

Education

Ph.D. in a biological sciences discipline

Job description

Overview

Position Function: The Brown Lab at Mississippi State University seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the PhyloFisher v2: Advancing Accuracy and Reproducibility in DeepPhylogenomics project funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The position focuses on evolutionary genomics, high-performance computing, and software/database development for large-scale phylogenomic workflows.

Responsibilities

• Perform large‑scale analyses including phylogenomics, comparative genomics, and differential gene expression; curate orthologs and contribute to expanding PhyloFisher v2 (~400 eukaryotic and prokaryotic markers).
• Develop, optimize, and maintain PhyloFisher software/database components; implement efficient pipelines on HPC systems; carry out specialized computational tasks beyond the scope of departmental staff.
• Integrate genomic datasets to inform species concepts for targeted microbial eukaryote groups.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students; collaborate with an international team of investigators.
• Contribute to manuscripts, documentation, and public releases of tools and datasets.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a biological sciences discipline.
• Record of scholarly publication.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with next-generation sequencing data analysis.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Preferably expertise in phylogenomics, Python, and R programming in a Unix environment.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Typical office and professional environment.

Salary Grade

Salary Grade UC (Unclassified). Salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].