Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

The Prairie Research Institute (PRI) is seeking to hire an Environmental Public Health Professional (Official Title: Senior Scientific Specialist, Environmental Public Health) to lead and administer research activities within PRI by developing, planning, and conducting applied research related to groundwater, water quality, and private wells with emphasis on emerging contaminants and drinking water contamination; conduct outreach activities to disseminate research results and provide education to stakeholders; ensure data meet the rigorous standards required for scientific research and analysis; and advance institutional public health goals related to One Health.

This position setting is in collaboration of the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC). ISWS & ISTC are part of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which is centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. ISWS research and service programs provide citizens, industries, and government agencies at all levels with timely, science-based information and analyses necessary to manage our water resources wisely for economic development and a sustainable environment. ISTC integrates applied research, technical assistance, and information services to advance efforts in the areas of pollution prevention; water and energy conservation; and materials recycling and beneficial reuse. Learn more at https://prairie.illinois.edu/

Job Summary
Lead and administer research activities within PRI by developing, planning, and conducting applied research related to groundwater, water quality, and private wells with emphasis on emerging contaminants and drinking water contamination; conduct outreach activities to disseminate research results and provide education to stakeholders; ensure data meet the rigorous standards required for scientific research and analysis; and advance institutional public health goals related to One Health.

Duties & Responsibilities
Engagement and Outreach
• Assist in the preparation of technical publications on data collected and analyses of those data.
• Serve as content specialist (public health and water quality) for development of specific groundwater and water quality publications for outreach and education to well owners, industry stakeholders, and the public.
• Serve as contact and expert for external partners to further collaboration and expand environmental public health research within PRI
• Work with other scientists in the section, survey and PRI in the preparation of proposals related to groundwater, drinking water, water/wastewater treatment, private wells, and One Health.
Research – Field work/data collection
• Collect high-quality data for research on the groundwater of Illinois, including the collection of groundwater level and water quality data from private wells.
• Exercise knowledge of hydrologic data collection practices and equipment to ensure that research quality data are collected in a variety of projects that require data collection.
• Execute complex tasks to meet the data needs of research projects.
Research – Data Analysis/Interpretation • Conduct data analysis, including processing of field data and producing data and graphics for reports; and constructing and processing papers, presentations, and reports. • Evaluate water quality data from a public health perspective to provide actionable results and conclusions to the benefit of water users nationwide. • Evaluate existing data housed within PRI to identify needs from a public health perspective.
Administrative/Grant Management
• Develop research ideas and write proposals for grant funding in support of our public health and water quality goals, including Legionella, Environmental Justice, and One Health.
• Serve as a PI or Co-PI on grant funded research projects.
• Provide material for, and assist in completing progress and final reports as part of grant deliverables.
• Work with project sponsors on cooperative projects and to support their staff.
Other
• Professional development activities such as attending and exhibiting at conferences, and giving presentations.
• Perform other duties as needed in order to further the mission and goals of the Survey, PRI, and the University of Illinois.
• Keep abreast of developments in this discipline.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Public Health. Alternate physical science degree fields will be considered depending on the nature and depth of the experience at it relates to this position. A minimum of two years’ experience or related graduate coursework in Environmental Public Health. Valid Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications
Masters of Science in Environmental Public Health.

Experience inspecting, drilling, or sampling water wells or research experience with a water quality-related, environmental public health focus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Demonstrated knowledge of groundwater, wells, and/or water quality/water treatment related issues. Effective communication, personal relations, collaboration, organizational, teamwork, and leadership skills. Must possess strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with other scientists, researchers, staff, and PRI clients. Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a diverse and fast-paced work environment consisting of multiple and changing priorities with stringent deadlines, under minimal supervision. Attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong conflict resolution skills. Proficiency in commonly-employed software and databases. Must possess strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with other scientists, researchers, staff, and PRI clients.