Research Scientist - Associate

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Job Description:

The candidate will support advanced computational research in phylogenetic inference, evolutionary modeling, and open-source scientific software development. The position will independently lead and contribute to the design, implementation, validation, and maintenance of scientific software. The candidate will develop Bayesian inference and AI-based methods and implement them, when applicable, as tested components of established research software platforms, e.g., BEAST 2, RevBayes, and related C++ or Java-based applications. The position requires specialized expertise in scientific programming, Bayesian computational, software architecture, phylogenetic methods, and collaborative research software development. The position will also contribute to preliminary analyses for grant proposals, manuscripts, documentation, tutorials, conference presentations, and technical mentoring of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and collaborators.

Duties Include:
65% RESEARCH: Design, implement, test, document, and maintain scientific software for Bayesian and AI-based phylogenetic and evolutionary statistical learning. Develop models, algorithms, plugins, and computational tools in open-source research software platforms, including C++ and Java-based systems. Contribute to software architecture, code quality, performance, debugging, infrastructure testing, version control workflows, reproducibility, documentation, and long-term maintainability.

20% SERVICE, TRAINING & MENTORSHIP: Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and collaborators working on computational and software-related aspects of phylogenetic research. Train group members in scientific programming, C++, Java-based research software development, Bayesian computation, software design, version control, testing, debugging, documentation, code review, and collaborative open-source development. Help establish appropriate software development practices and standards for research projects.

15% SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PLANNING & COMMUNICATION: Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, grant-proposals, preliminary results for external funding applications, conference presentations, workshop materials, software documentation, tutorials, and other scholarly or community-facing research products.

Minimum Qualifications:
PhD in Computational Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, or closely related field with 5 year experience.

Specific experience required:

(1) Demonstrated record of independently designing, implementing, validating, and maintaining scientific, statistical, or computational research software;

(2) Demonstrated expertise in Bayesian inference, phylogenetic methods, evolutionary modeling, statistical computation, or closely related computational methods;

(3) Substantial programming experience in C++, Java, or comparable languages used in scientific software development.

Preferred Qualifications:
PhD in Computational Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, or closely related field with 8 years experience.

Specific experience preferred:
(1) Experience developing, maintaining, or making substantial contributions to open-source scientific software;

(2) Experience developing Bayesian phylogenetic software such as BEAST, BEAST 2, RevBayes, MrBayes (or comparable scientific software platforms), MCMC methods, probabilistic models, and high-performance scientific computing methods;

(4) Experience with collaborative software development practices, including version control, issue tracking, code review, testing, debugging, continuous integration, documentation, and software release workflows.

Job competencies:
Proficient in Programming in C++, Java, or comparable language used in scientific software development; Implementing and testing high-performance statistical inference algorithms in large software platforms; Documenting and maintaining large computational methods code bases, as well as releasing such methods to the user base; Developing methods, algorithms and models for use in evolutionary biology, with a focus on phylogenetic inference.

Advanced in Mentoring and providing technical support to graduate students and postdocs and

Communicating results clearly in written (manuscripts) and oral form (talks).

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Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

Essential Position (Y/N):

LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.

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