Aerosol Scientist

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), a national leader in scientific research and development, is seeking an Aerosol Scientist to join our team.

At APL, we are passionate about delivering the right solutions to our government sponsors and end users. We are committed to integrity, honesty, and scientific excellence, and we strive to be a trusted, independent agent for the nation. In this role, you will:

• Work alongside creative, motivated problem solvers and life-long learners
• Tackle problems in biodefense, healthcare, and environmental monitoring
• Contribute to programs that directly strengthen the safety and security of our country
• Be part of a “One Team” environment of trust, transparency, collaboration, and accountability

Job Summary

Lead and contribute to research, development, and characterization projects in aerosol, atmospheric, and biological sciences aimed at understanding, detecting, and mitigating airborne chemical and biological hazards.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to and lead research, development, and characterization efforts involving aerosol, atmospheric, and biological sciences, as well as associated technologies. Application areas include biodefense, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.
• Design and conduct laboratory and field experiments, including development of test plans, integration and operation of aerosol and biological measurement systems, and collection, analysis, and interpretation of experimental data.
• Provide technical leadership by identifying and solving complex scientific and engineering challenges, guiding experimental activities, and contributing to the development of new research initiatives and proposals.
• Communicate technical findings clearly and effectively through written reports, sponsor briefings, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations to the broader scientific community.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or another field relevant to the duties as described above.
• Professional or Postgrad Experience with aerosol and/or atmospheric analytical equipment and laboratory methods, including hands-on experimental execution, troubleshooting, and data collection.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, along with excellent interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, apply careful and methodical work practices, and collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers.
• Are able to obtain a Secret level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Desired Qualifications

• MS or PhD in a relevant field, such as aerosol science, atmospheric science, bioengineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, biology, or a related field.
• Strong peer-reviewed publication record.
• Experience designing, developing, and operating experimental systems for biological or chemical aerosol sensing, sampling, characterization, and laboratory or field testing.
• Experience with biological or chemical agent/simulant aerosols, biological detection technologies, toxicological or biological effects assessment, and associated laboratory safety practices.
• Knowledge of statistical data analysis, uncertainty quantification, and experimental design principles.
• Experience applying data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or advanced analytics techniques to large or complex aerosol, atmospheric, or biological datasets.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience in research, project coordination, or mentoring.
• Secret security clearance

Special Working Conditions

This position involves approximately two weeks of travel per year and work in Biosafety Level 2 and 3 (BSL-2 and BSL-3) laboratories.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving…