Opportunities

Rural Significance

Significant and unique challenges of rural health.

Unique challenges to rural health include limited access to diagnostics and treatments, uneven understanding of underlying causes and outcomes, and a sense of isolation in the absence of connection to healthcare, education, and research resources.

Significant opportunity to recruit and retain those who identify with the state of Montana.

Our recent recruitment process, resulted in more than 175 applications, with those who identify with the state of Montana greatly over-represented.

Significant combination of strengths and resources.

We bring to the table, the first center in Montana to combine the basic and translational research strength of the only independent biomedical research institute in the state, with training opportunities and research resources of the only nonprofit medical school in the state, and the clinical strength of the largest comprehensive health provider system in central Montana. This combination enables new opportunities as we move forward in terms of: Faculty recruitment, building of research infrastructure in a rural medical setting, training for physician scientists, internship and educational opportunities for faculty and students in adjacent regions, and for Montanans to access resources often confined to distant medical center strongholds.

Careers

  • Research Program Director in Center for Integrated Biomedical and Rural Health Research

    The Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University (WHIT) invites applications for the position of Research Program Director of an NIH-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (CoBRE): The Center for Integrated Biomedical and Rural Health Research (CIB-RHR).  We seek an individual who can take advantage of the unique environment and the recent establishment of the CIB-RHR in Great Falls, MT.  The Institute, formerly called the McLaughlin Research Institute, provides a novel environment for scientific studies and has been in operation for >70 years.  The recent addition of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Montana campus, adjacent to the Institute provides for a vibrant environment of research, education and outreach.  Great Falls is a city of approximately 60,000, located on the Missouri River near Montana’s Rocky Mountain front, approximately 125 miles from Glacier National Park and 225 miles from Yellowstone National Park.  The city provides a high quality of life with abundant outdoor opportunities.  For specific questions about the Institute, please visit our webpages at:  www.weissmanhood.org 

    This position provides day-to-day management of the CIB-RHR, in conjunction with the Principal Investigator, Dr. Renee Reijo Pera, and the Center team of faculty, research personnel and administrative core.  This position provides a high degree of independence and responsibility for timely completion of project activities.  Candidates should possess a master’s or doctoral degree, or equivalent. 

    Additional skills include:

    ·       Knowledge of grant submission, approval, and funding processes.

    ·       Proficiency with computer software such as Adobe and Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office products, reference programs such as Zotero and Endnote, and other common computer software.

    ·       Skill in use of computer databases for tracking, reporting, and recordkeeping purposes.

    ·       Strong leadership, planning, and organizational skills.

    ·       Excellent prioritization, interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills.

    ·       High level of integrity and a proven work ethic; desire to contribute to a positive environment.

    ·       Meticulous attention to detail; organized, efficient and able to function while completing numerous, simultaneous, high-priority tasks.

    ·       Ability to interact confidently with scientific community, leadership, and others. 

    ·       Ability to oversee daily program activities and manage scheduling of mentoring meetings, advisory committees and regular organizational meetings.

    ·       Web content development and editorial skills or willingness to develop for preparation of reports, websites, and other communications.

    ·       Ability to exercise high level of judgment and independent thinking to resolve project challenges.

    Responsibilities of this position include:

    ·       Lead or assist with the development of project proposals and reporting.

    ·       Ensure all grant guidelines and requirements are met.

    ·       Perform support functions for the project leaders including, but not limited to, coordinating meetings, developing presentations, and taking meeting minutes.

    ·       Create and maintain documentation including preparing presentations on Center activities.

    ·       Contribute to the development of the Center’s key initiatives and track and report on progress to the Director, Leadership Team, and Advisors.

    ·       Work closely with the Center leadership team to coordinate all Center-related activities, including setting up workshops and other educational programs.

    ·       Engages faculty, students, staff and other stakeholders throughout the Institute and partnering institutions, as well as, and other institutions in Center activities and events.

    ·       Writes and develops work products and deliverables (executive summaries, survey reports, online resources, requests for proposals).

    ·       Represents the Center at regional and national conferences, in meetings with community, and other outside groups, to promote the Center’s vision, goals, programs and objectives.

    ·       Analyze Center data to create dashboards to ensure the Centers’ research and development goals are met.

    ·       Responds to inquiries and requests for information with knowledgeable, developed, articulate, and engaging responses.

    ·       Promotes the Center and publicizes events on the Center website and social media and ensures regular press releases promoting scientific advancement, individual achievement and activities of the Center.

    ·       Independently establishes, maintains, and communicates timelines to coordinate complex grant applications, renewals, progress reports, and preparation and submission of other critical documents to ensure deadlines are met to ensure continued funding of the Center.

    ·       Draft components of grant proposals, reports and other supporting application and reporting material, edit and review applications to ensure language, overall consistencies and compliance with required instructions and guidelines for submission.

    ·       Create graphics, tables and images pertaining to grant applications and submissions.

    ·       Support quantitative and qualitative data analyses to complete research deliverables.

    ·       Conduct secondary research and co-author reviews of current literature to stay abreast of field.

    ·       Monitors, tracks and coordinates project progress to ensure timely completion of research milestones as outlined in Center project plans.

    ·       Responsible for interpreting and communicating the requirements for compliance with regulations and other guidelines/policies of research sponsors, the Institute, and other institutional bodies.

    ·       Provides oversight to ensure published manuscripts follow journal regulations and Public Access laws.

    ·       Willingness to continue training/education to be knowledgeable on novel state of the art implementation science methodology and shifts in the field.

    This is a unique opportunity to take part in building the future of biomedical research in Montana and to bridge the urban and rural gap in biomedical research and healthcare systems.   This position is funded by a CoBRE grant; continuation is based upon available funds. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.  For more information, please contact Dr. Renee Reijo Pera at reneer@mclaughlinresearch.org

    Applications should include a curriculum vitae and description of research and be sent to:

    reneer@mclaughlinresearch.org

    Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University; 1520 23rd Street South; Great Falls, MT  59405

  • Join Us in Montana!

    The Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University

    Senior Faculty Member

    The Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University (WHIT) and the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Montana invite applications for a faculty position at the associate or full professor level.  We seek an individual who can take advantage of the unique environment and the recent establishment of an NIH Center of Excellence in biomedical and rural health research in Great Falls, MT.  Areas of Institute strengths and strategy for future development include epidemiology, rural health, cancer, women’s health, behavioral health, neurology, psychiatric/psychology, or related areas. We have undergone a time of unprecedented expansion built on a foundation of translational research in neurological and neurodegenerative disease. Applicants with an active research program in basic, translational, clinical, and/or computational approaches to solving complex human health problems are encouraged to apply.  

    The Institute, formerly called the McLaughlin Research Institute, provides a novel environment for scientific studies and has been in operation for >70 years.  The recent addition of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Montana campus, adjacent to the Institute provides for a vibrant environment of research, education and outreach.  Opportunities for teaching and mentoring students are abundant.  Candidates should possess a medical or doctoral degree, or equivalent, and have a record of research excellence. 

    Great Falls is a city of approximately 60,000, located on the Missouri River near Montana’s Rocky Mountain front, approximately 125 miles from Glacier National Park and 225 miles from Yellowstone National Park.  The city provides a high quality of life with abundant outdoor opportunities.  Faculty benefit from interactions with the Scientific Advisory Committee, the university system of Montana and the support of local organizations.  For specific questions about the Institute or TouroCOM-MT, please visit our webpages at:  www.weissmanhood.org or https://tourocom.touro.edu/about/location--contact/

    This is a unique opportunity to take part in building the future of biomedical research in Montana and to bridge the urban and rural gap in biomedical research and healthcare systems.   Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.  For more information, please contact Dr. Renee Reijo Pera at reneer@mclaughlinresearch.org

    Applications should include a curriculum vitae and description of research and be sent to:

    reneer@mclaughlinresearch.org

    Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University; 1520 23rd Street South; Great Falls, MT  59405

  • No open positions.

    To learn more about what we do, see here.

Summer Internships for
High School & College Students

We are committed to serving as an educational resource for students and teachers in Montana. We offer summer internships for high school and college students, and also high school teachers as merited.  Successful applicants will spend 8 weeks, from Monday, June 15, 2026 through Friday, August 7, 2026, in the laboratory of one of the Institute’s faculty or in the Animal Resource Center actively engaged in a current research project under the direction of the scientist, postdoctoral fellow, or research assistant.

In addition to providing hands-on experience in investigatory science, the students will observe and interact with other high school and college students in a laboratory-learning environment rather than a classroom. Journal clubs and seminars supplement the research experience. Each student will give a formal presentation at the end of the 8 weeks summarizing his/her project.

Requirements

Students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school or freshman through senior year of college are eligible. Students should be on track for four years of math, biology, chemistry and/or physics.

Due to liability reasons, we will only accept local high school students unless proof of supervised accommodations can be provided.

Successful applicants to the program must agree to fully commit 8 weeks of their summer to the internship.

Applications will open December 1, 2025 and  close Jan 31, 2026. for preferred considerations.  Additional applications will be taken after Jan 31 if slots are available.  Please note applicants must be U.S. citizens. 

Submit application materials here: Internship Materials

Application

Applications will open December 1, 2025 and close Jan 31, 2026 for preferred considation. Additional applications will be taken until March 10, 2026 if slots remain open. Final decisions will be made by late March; each applicant will be contacted via email regarding their application status. Thank you for your interest in the summer internship program! Please note that applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Internships begin Monday, June 16, 2025 and final presentations will be held Friday, August 8, 2025.

TO APPLY: Include a letter of application highlighting your interest in science, a resume, high school or college transcripts, and two letters of recommendation, preferably from instructors in the science/math disciplines. Recommendation letters should be sent from the recommender’s email address and written on the recommender’s institutional letterhead.

Please email all materials to admin@mclaughlinresearch.org or submit through the application portal:  Intern application materials 

Transcripts can be mailed to:

MRI Internship Program
1520 23rd Street South
Great Falls, MT 59405

Questions?

Email us at: admin@mclaughlinresearch.org

Summer research internships for talented high school students have been available since 1954, when Great Falls High School student, Irving Weissman, worked in the lab of the Institute’s founder, Dr. Ernst Eichwald.  Dr. Weissman now chairs the Institute’s Scientific Advisory Committee, is a Professor at Stanford University and has co-founded several start-up companies.

Our internship program is made possible by the generous support of the community including: Gene Thayer, Randy Gray, David and Tanya Cameron, and Irv and Ann Weissman.

Program

Successful applicants will spend 8 weeks, from Monday, June 15 2026 through Friday, August 7, 2026, in the laboratory of one of the Institute’s faculty or in the Animal Resource Center actively engaged in a current research project under the direction of the scientist, postdoctoral fellow, or research assistant.

This is an in-person experience participating in cutting edge research at a center with world-renowned scientists and ties to prestigious research universities. Many of our interns have gone on to successful careers in research or medicine.

High School interns will receive a $3,500 stipend

College interns will receive a $4,600 stipend

Join our study!

In collaboration with Great Falls Clinic, Dr. Tiffany Hensley-McBain has launched a study investigating genetic and biological mechanisms of chronic inflammatory conditions, in which participants come in for a single blood draw.

Call Rebecca Brown, Clinical Research Coordinator, at (406) 454-6045

Or click the link below to join the HERO Registry for participation in this or future clinical studies!