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Position Summary:
The Research Scientist will provide leadership to an interdisciplinary team of researchers and scientists to conduct research exploring topological frameworks in the context of RNA and DNA structures. Will identify, recruit, and train graduate students in collaboration with relevant departments at VT, especially the Department of Mathematics. Will develop collaborations with external faculty, especially those related to topological frameworks.
The Research Scientist is expected to identify and solicit for new funding sources in support of the research group's aims. In addition and on behalf of the research team, the Research Scientist is expected to publish in peer reviewed high impact journals and present at conferences on topics related to the group's research topics.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
• As Principal Investigator, provides leadership for personnel associated with the respective research projects and project management activities for deliverables and expenditures.
• Consults, develops and leads successful programs aligned with the overall mission of the Biocomplexity Institute. This includes collaborating with researchers in the development of successful grant applications.
• Mentor specific graduate students working on related areas as well as serving as a resource with expertise in topological frameworks in the context of RNA and DNA and fatgraph models of such structures.
• Participates in efforts to seek new research partners.
• Develops presentations that illustrate the current and future capacities of mathematical and computational methods in bioinformatics.
• Lead and co-author research papers in peer-reviewed high-impact scientific journals and present them at appropriate scientific venues.
• Develops materials and leads workshops and seminars on the low-dim topology portfolio of the research program.
• Engage in collaborative work with peers both within the group and outside with the aim to achieve the above objectives. Foster further team science environment within the research program.
• Become familiar with and actively participate in all activities in the group's research, including those which are not directly her/his own.
• Routinely communicate research progress with supervisor, peers and other appropriate staff.
• Collaborate with supervisor and other researchers or lead efforts in the development of grant proposals, scientific papers and other publications, as needed.
• Take the initiative in finding solutions to scientific problems that arise in day-to-day research.
In accordance with university policy for all non-student positions, this position will require a conviction check.

Required Qualifications:
• PhD in Mathematics, or related field
• Four Years experience with low dimensional topology and topological approaches to molecular structures.
• Two Years Experience with mathematical applications to biology, ideally with protein structures and working with fatgraph models in biology.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students as well as junior research staff; collaborating with and incorporating other mathematical disciplines and approaches in research pursuits; developing publications based on individual research and evidence of publications in peer-reviewed journals; submitting and obtaining extramural funding as PI or co-PI.
• Knowledge or experience of basic computer implementations, in particular having implemented fatgraph models in the context of proteins, RNA and DNA . In view of the fact that the candidate will work in a transdisciplinary group, a general openness to discrete math, combinatorics and theoretical computer science is expected.
• Demonstrated creativity, independence, high motivation, and good communication skills.
• Strong work habits and the ability to work independently as well as with research group.

Preferred Qualifications:



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