Job Description

The Hensley-McBain Lab at the Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University (formerly the McLaughlin Research Institute) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on inflammation as a key driver of aging and neurodegeneration.

Institutional Environment

Just beyond the Rocky Mountain Front, nestled among the river bottoms and sweeping plains of central Montana, the Weissman Hood Institute has been conducting biomedical research since 1954. Located in Great Falls, Montana, approximately 125 miles from Glacier National Park and 225 miles from Yellowstone National Park, the Institute supports biomedical and rural health research spanning basic, translational, and clinical science across a unique geographic region of the United States.

The Weissman Hood Institute is the only research institute in Montana with an integrated affiliation with a medical school, providing direct access to medical students, clinical training environments, and translational research infrastructure. Through established partnerships with the Benefis Health System, investigators have opportunities to conduct clinically informed research, including the collection and analysis of human clinical samples, supporting studies that bridge basic discovery to patient-relevant outcomes. Great Falls offers a high quality of life, abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, and a growing biomedical and rural health research community within Montana.

Research Focus

Research in the Hensley-McBain Lab integrates investigations of immune system function and genetics to understand how inflammation drives end organ damage in age-related disease. Our goal is to develop targeted approaches for prevention and treatment of age-related chronic disease. Current research focuses on inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, specifically investigating ApoE regulation of immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract, periphery, and brain as a driver of inflammation and cognitive decline with aging.  The successful candidate will lead projects examining how age, pathology, and genetics intersect to drive immune system dysfunction, inflammation and disease outcomes. The lab employs hypothesis-driven approaches combining immunology, neuropathology, microbiome assessments, and genetics.

Appointment and Funding

• Duration: Flexible and contingent on progress
• Start Date: Flexible
• Compensation: Salary will conform to current NIH postdoctoral stipend guidelines
• Career Development: Strong opportunity to transition to a long-term faculty position based on performance, research productivity, and funding potential

This position is structured to support the development of scientific independence, a strong publication record, and competitive extramural funding, with the goal of facilitating a transition to a faculty appointment at the Weissman Hood Institute.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D., D.V.M., or M.D. in immunology, neuroscience or a related biomedical field
• Demonstrated experience in immunology, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with flow cytometry, cell culture, histology, and microscopy
• Prior work investigating mechanistic immune responses in in vivo systems and tissues preferred

Expectations and Opportunities

• Lead independent, hypothesis-driven research projects
• Develop and write manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication
• Participate in grant writing and proposal development
• Projects will be tailored to the candidate’s scientific interests to promote intellectual independence
• Mentor trainees and contribute to shaping the scientific direction of the laboratory

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials by email to thmcbain@mclaughlinresearch.org

1. Curriculum vitae (CV)
2. A brief description of research interests and career goals
3. Letters of reference and contact information from 2–3 professional references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.