Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26437
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Jamie Sherman
jsherman@montana.edu
406-994-5055
Classification Title Research Professional
Working Title Research Associate Malt Quality Lab
Brief Position Overview
This is a full-time professional position as a Research Associate for the Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab, part of the Barley Breeding research project at MSU . Primary duties will be to aid in the daily measurement of malt quality for the Breeding Program, stakeholders, and student projects. Our lab plays a critical role for the malting and brewing/distilling industries, directly providing data to farmers, maltsters, and beverage producers. This position, under the advisement of our lead PI, will also manage and conduct genetic research efforts for the program. The successful applicant will integrate into a fast-paced team environment, have excellent attention to detail, organizational and communication skills.
Position Number 4C0675
Department Plant Sciences
Division College of Agriculture/MAES
Appointment Type Professional
Contract Term Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA Exempt
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary Salary range of $51,000 - $56,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.
Contract Type LOA
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology work has 28 tenure track faculty including plant pathologists, plant breeders, plant physiologists, horticulturalists, entomologists, cereal chemists, and plant molecular biologists. The Department has state-of-the-art laboratory and plant growth facilities. Field research facilities are available both on campus and at seven MAES Research Centers located strategically throughout the state. The Department offers both MS and PhD degrees in Plant Pathology and Plant Science. There are currently 20 thesis MS graduate students and 30 Ph.D. graduate students and more than 150 undergraduate students in the Department. https://plantsciences.montana.edu
Duties and Responsibilities
The Research Associate will directly support the Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab director by conducting daily tasks, including:
Sample organization and preparation.
Quality testing analysis, including operation of various pieces of equipment, such as NIR analyzer, CLP malters, Buhler disk mill, Pfeuffer friabilimeter, IEC mash bath, Anton Paar densitometer, UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, and Fisher Scientific Gallery analyzer.
Data collection, organization, maintenance, analysis and reporting, including upkeep of Quality Control logs.
Maintain laboratory cleanliness and maintenance.
The assistant will also:
Oversee genotyping
Aid in greenhouse, field and seed preparation when necessary
Support research, including project development and novel idea generation as well as supervising and empowering undergraduate and graduate research projects
Contribute to and submit research publications
Uphold lab safety protocols
Interact with the public through lab tours and present findings at industry meetings and conferences
Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Master's in plant science, molecular genetics, food or malt quality analysis or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience generating and managing data.
Experience with genetic markers.
Laboratory research experience.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Agricultural experience.
Experience in malt quality and/or food quality analysis.
Experience in managing a greenhouse.
The Successful Candidate Will
Attention to detail.
Work both independently and collaboratively with co-workers.
Effective written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
Organizational and time management skills.
Flexibility adapting to evolving lab needs.
Follow food safety and cleanliness requirements
Follow all university rules and policies.
Experience requiring organizational skills
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
Generally this position is a Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm schedule, however our lab functions as a team and schedules are flexible as long as they fit within the needs of the team and accomplishing the required work. Occasionally there may be a weekend task that needs covering, but we keep these brief and minimal.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
We keep our lab at a high level of cleanliness, however we do work with grain and dust in the air that can be bothersome to some.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on June 17, 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.
