Assistant Professor of Microbiology

Montana State University -
Bozeman, MT

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Job Details

Tenure track

Qualifications

Biology research
Academic research projects
Experience working with graduate students
Advising graduate students
Scientific research papers
Research industry grant writing
Experience working with undergraduate students
University teaching experience
Mentoring
Manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
Teaching

Full Job Description

The Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology at Montana State University invites applications for an Assistant Professor tenure-track faculty position in the field of microbiology. Relevant areas of expertise include microbial pathogenesis, host responses to infectious agents, parasitology, mycology, immunology, developmental biology, genetics, and microbial evolution. The faculty’s research should employ interdisciplinary approaches, such as biochemical, cellular, immunological, bioengineering, molecular biology, and/or other novel methodologies. The faculty will integrate their research programs with both undergraduate and graduate instruction. We are particularly interested in individuals whose work complements and strengthens the research interests of MSU faculty and addresses agriculturally relevant questions. A Ph.D., M.D., or D.V.M. in microbiology or a related discipline, along with postdoctoral experience consistent with teaching and research expectations in microbiology or cell biology, is required.

Duties and Responsibilities

The position is 45% research, 45% teaching, and 10% service. The new hire will be responsible for:

Developing and obtaining extramural research funding for a nationally competitive, independent research program that will significantly contribute to their field of expertise.
Participating in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.
Providing services as applicable to the department, college, university, and scientific community.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Ph.D. in microbiology or related field with a research focus on microbiology.

Post-doctoral experience.

Potential to establish an externally funded, competitive, and independent research program.

Demonstrated ability to conduct and publish high-quality and original research, as indicated by publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Demonstrated or potential for excellence in undergraduate and graduate instruction and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

A currently funded research program.

Demonstrated potential or ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.

Research with potential for cross-departmental collaborations.

Experience teaching.

Research relevant to agriculture.

The Successful Candidate Will

Be an excellent communicator and collaborator.
Demonstrate potential to add intellectual breadth to the department and to work with diverse students and colleagues.
Demonstrate excellence in writing skills as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and/or awarded grants.
Will have excellent speaking/teaching skills as evidenced by national and/or international oral presentations and teaching experience.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements but as a general job description. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To succeed in this job, an individual must be able to

satisfactorily perform each essential duty with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed above represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program

The Department

The Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology combines expertise in environmental microbiology, host-microbe interactions, innate and acquired immunity, cell and developmental biology, zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases, and biofilm microbiology. The department is housed in Cooley Labs, Leon Johnson Hall, Molecular Biosciences Building and the Health Sciences Building. Faculty in the department collaborate with researchers in the Center for Biofilm Engineering and the Thermal Biology Institute, which offer unique research opportunities in Environmental Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, and Industrial Microbiology. Montana State University has both small and large animal ABSL-2 and ABSL-3 facilities. The Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology currently consists of 25 tenure-track faculty, four teaching faculty, ~60 graduate students, and ~550 undergraduate students. Research expenditures at Montana State University are over 250 million per year, of which over 50 million support the College of Agriculture and ~$10 million support research in the Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology. Current research programs are funded by NIH, USDA, DoD, NSF, DoE, ONR, NASA, EPA, the Keck

Foundation, Simons Foundation, and Montana

Agricultural Experimentation Station (MAES). The department is home to an NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant, to support junior faculty with resources and mentoring. The Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology offers a dynamic research and teaching environment with state-of-the-art facilities for biochemistry, flow cytometry and microscopy, histology, and small (including germ-free mouse facilities) and large animal research. The University supports comprehensive core facilities in metabolomics, microscopy, proteomics, genomics, and Cryo-EM.

The College

The Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology is part of the College of Agriculture.

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies

Desired Start Date

Upon completion of a successful search.

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on July 23, 2026; 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.

FLSA Details

FLSA Determination

FLSA Status

Exempt

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FLSA Details

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