Postdoctoral Associate: Occoquan PFAS Fingerprinting and Forensics projects Job Blacksburg area,Virginia USA,Research/Development

Job Description

The Furst Lab at the Virginia Tech Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory (OWML) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position in the area of per‑and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) research. The Postdoctoral Associate will lead research on the fate and transport of PFAS with a focus on the Occoquan Watershed, which supplies drinking water to approximately 1 million people in the Northern Virginia region.

This position will support several stakeholder‑driven projects, with the overall goal of developing novel analytical and modeling approaches for PFAS source fingerprinting and forensics in multi‑source watersheds. The Postdoctoral Associate will contribute to project design and lead laboratory work, data analysis and modelling in collaboration with the OWML PFAS research team and water utility and government stakeholders.

The Virginia Tech Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory (OWML) is operated by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). The Furst Lab at OWML conducts research on emerging contaminants, organic matter, redox and disinfection processes in One Water systems. OWML is located in Northern Virginia in the suburbs of Washington DC and houses a stakeholder‑funded, state‑certified water quality lab that has monitored the Occoquan Watershed – the nation’s first indirect potable reuse system – for over 50 years.

OWML is also home to seven CEE faculty and more than 30 post‑doctorial associates, graduate students, laboratory and field technicians, and office staff.

Responsibilities

Conduct literature reviews to identify cutting‑edge PFAS source fingerprinting and forensics techniques.

Perform advanced laboratory analyses for PFAS detection and quantification, including liquid chromatography‑tandem mass spectrometry (LC‑MS/MS).

Develop and validate QA/QC criteria for analytical methods and experiments, and prepare documentation and SOPs as needed.

Participate in meetings with utility stakeholders to present results and inform research directions.

Coordinate with OWML field and laboratory staff to plan and execute fieldwork and laboratory work.

Conduct data interpretation related to contaminant fate and transport in natural and engineered systems.

Lead and contribute to manuscripts for peer‑reviewed journals and reports for sponsors.

Assist in training and mentorship of graduate students and junior laboratory technicians.

Attend weekly lab meetings, support shared lab operations, and assist with proposal development.

Ensure timely completion of project milestones and deliverables, maintaining professional communication with internal and external collaborators.

Occasional travel may be required for field work, project meetings, and conferences.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, or a related field awarded within the last four years, with a minimum of one year of eligibility remaining.
Demonstrated expertise in fate and transport of emerging contaminants in natural or engineered systems.
Extensive training and experience with PFAS analysis and LC‑MS/MS instrumentation.
Strong scientific writing skills.
Competency in programming and statistical analysis for advanced data interpretation.

Preferred Qualifications

Record of peer‑reviewed publications and successful fellowship proposals.
Experience mentoring students or laboratory personnel.
Experience collaborating with governmental and industry partners.
Familiarity with environmental policy and regulatory frameworks.
Experience in data science, computational chemistry, and/or contaminant transport modeling.

Other Details

Overtime Status:
Exempt:
Not eligible for overtime.

Appointment Type:
Restricted.

Salary Information:
Starting at $63,000, commensurate with experience.

Hours per week: 40.

Review Date:
Application review will commence on January 26, 2026.

Additional Information:
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Kirin Furst at (kfurst) during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

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