Career Center

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health's Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) is searching for a full-time Associate Research Scientist for the research group of Associate Professor Dr. Ami Zota. Dr. Zota's work seeks to secure environmental justice and improve health equity through advancements in science, advocacy, communication, and training next generation leaders. Her interdisciplinary research identifies novel pathways linking social-structural stressors, environmental chemical exposures, and reproductive and children's health. Dr. Zota is equally committed to developing innovative approaches for science communication so that her research can more effectively be used to inform individual and collective decision-making.

This position will support scientific research and policies that protect people from toxic chemical exposures. In collaboration with Dr. Zota and her colleagues both at EHS and at local community groups, the individual will lead scientific analyses on sources and health consequences of environmental chemical exposures. The individual will be involved in multiples aspects of research including analyzing and interpreting data, preparing manuscripts and presentations, and developing research translation and outreach materials. The candidate will be expected to help Dr. Zota and community partners, such as WE-ACT, to develop effective strategies to share and disseminate their published work with the broader environmental health scientific and advocacy community. In conjunction with Dr. Zota, the individual will identify research opportunities and prepare proposals for new extramural funding. The individual may also be involved in other projects that address environmental chemical exposures and/or other aspects of environmental justice.

The position will also support the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice program. The individual will be a core member of the Agents of Change team, and play a critical role in curriculum development as well as the execution of the fellowship. The individual will help to facilitate monthly workshops.

The individual will also receive mentoring and direct guidance from the Principal Investigator in order to advance their career in academic research, public health practice, and/or public policy. This position may also help the Principal Investigator to lead and direct the work of lower level research staff and graduate public health students. This role performs work under the supervision of experienced researchers.

The Department of Environmental Health Sciences is currently supporting flexible and hybrid work arrangements. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct independent research; write and publish peer-reviewed manuscripts (15%)
• Analyze population health data using statistical software such as SAS, STATA, or R (15%)
• Assist in curriculum development and speaker selection of the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice fellowship (15%)
• Help facilitate online writing and feedback sessions for the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice fellowship (15%)
• Develop communications materials to disseminate environmental health information to a broad range of stakeholders including community groups using multi-media platforms (20%)
• Prepare and submit grant proposals (10%)
• Provide support and guidance to junior staff including student workers (5%)
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in environmental health, epidemiology, or related field.
• At least two years of experience working on research after a doctorate
• Advanced skills in computer programming and data management: Experience working with programming languages such as R, SAS, Stata, or other languages.
• Experience working with inter-disciplinary teams which include community groups
• Experience with science communication and publishing for non-academic audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication skills (e.g. evidenced by journal articles, websites, op-eds and other writing for general public)
• Enthusiasm for conducting applied research at the nexus of environmental health, health disparities, and policy
• Grant proposal writing and submission experience
• Ability to work and learn independently

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training.  The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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