Scientist III Environmental Epidemiologist

Job Summary

The Department of Population Health Sciences seeks a Scientist III to lead and support complex population-based environmental epidemiology and cohort-based research. This position will contribute senior scientific expertise in environmental exposure assessment, human biomonitoring, geospatial linkage, longitudinal cohort methods, community-engaged recruitment and data collection, grant development, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. The position will support studies examining environmental exposures, sleep, aging, respiratory and cardiometabolic outcomes, Alzheimer’s disease-related biomarkers, and other population-health outcomes using resources such as the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort.

The position is full or part‑time, 50%-100% and may require some on‑site work at a designated campus location. Some work may be performed remotely.

Applicants must hold a valid driver’s license and satisfy the University’s Pre‑hire Driver Authorization Check. University sponsorship is not available; applicants are responsible for maintaining eligibility to work in the United States.

This role is a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations and requires a caregiver check under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law every four years.

• Interest in environmental/respiratory/aging epidemiology
• Interest in large cohort study management and administration and epidemiologic study design
• Ability to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders in a hybrid work environment
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to problem solve and collaborate with colleagues

• Attend and assist with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations supporting professional development and dissemination of research information
• Conduct literature reviews, prepare reports and materials, and disseminate information to appropriate entities
• Monitor program budget and approve unit expenditures

Leads statewide human biomonitoring and environmental epidemiology initiatives focused on emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, micro- and nanoplastics, pesticides, metals), exposure assessment, and associated health outcomes through partnerships with Wisconsin state agencies.

Lead interdisciplinary research examining how environmental exposures and sleep interact across the life course to influence neurocognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers.

Leads development and implementation of life‑course geospatial exposure linkage methods, including residential history reconstruction, contextual neighborhood‑level environmental and social disadvantage metrics, and integration of environmental monitoring data with longitudinal cohort and biomonitoring infrastructure to evaluate exposure pathways and impacts on respiratory, cardiometabolic, and aging‑related health outcomes.

• Collect and analyze highly complex research data, conduct experiments and interviews, and document results according to established policies and procedures

Develop and lead community‑engaged and agency‑partnered research initiatives in collaboration with community leaders, public health agencies, academic investigators, and stakeholder organizations to identify emerging environmental health concerns, vulnerable populations, and priorities for translational environmental health research and public health action.

• Serve as an institutional subject matter expert and liaison with key internal and external stakeholders, providing expert level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area
• Identify research problems and develop highly complex research methodologies and procedures. Publish and present results to advance research
• May supervise the day‑to‑day activities of a research unit and staff and resolve routine personnel issues
• Identify, write, or assist in developing grant opportunities, grant applications, and proposals to secure research funding

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Population Health Sciences

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