How to Apply
A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should be included in the same document as your resume and address your interest in this position and outline particular skills and experience directly related to this position.
Summary
The Department of Environmental Health Sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan has a position opening for a Research Area Specialist Intermediate with interests and expertise in exposome research and environmental exposures to work with a dynamic research team focusing on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Our multi-university and multi-disciplinary team includes neurologists, immunologists, basic scientists, biostatisticians, environmental scientists, epidemiologists, bioinformaticians, and data managers. This individual will be working with data from study participants, publicly available datasets, and environmental models to understand the role of environmental factors potentially involved with ADRD risk.
We are looking for a dynamic, committed and responsible individual with expertise in exposure assessment and environmental pollution, including air, water, and soil pollution. The development and integration of approaches and datasets pertinent to air quality is of special interest given the linkages to brain health and dementia. Research activities may include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the integration of ground-based, satellite and other datasets to develop a spatial-temporal understanding of environmental exposures; (2) the application of statistical and/or chemical transport models utilizing geospatial data (e.g., land use, meteorology, traffic, emissions, and other data types) to estimate environmental exposures; (3) the coupling of exposure metrics to health information to enhance ongoing research on brain health and ADRD disparities; and (4) the development of innovative approaches to apply precision geo-analytics to protected health information, thus allowing national level applications of exposome metrics.
Qualified applicants will have background in exposure assessment, air quality, environmental modeling, data science, and/or related fields. Knowledge, training and experience in the following areas is advantageous: geographical information systems (GIS); statistical software (e.g., ArcGIS, R, SAS); environmental modeling; datasets relevant to environmental exposures (e.g., from USEPA, USGS, NASA, Copernicus, USDA, DOT, Census and others); and advanced data techniques (e.g., data integration, machine learning). Background in environmental health sciences, epidemiology and health surveillance, biostatistics, and environmental engineering is appropriate. The individual should have the ability to: design, draft and implement data management protocols and analysis plans; work independently and collaboratively as a part of a team; and co-author and present publications. We desire an individual willing to learn and adapt to evolving geospatial and other technologies, and to have interests and strong interactions with project partners in informatics, biostatistics, environmental health sciences, neurology, and other fields. An advanced degree in Public Health, Informatics, Statistics, Geography, Engineering, or a related field and appropriate experience is desired. Applicants should have strong oral and written communication skills, and the ability to explain technical concepts and applications to project partners.
The term limited appointment is anticipated to be extended for two years based on available funding. The duties of the position follow but are not limited to the following over the term of the appointment:
Supervise and conduct literature reviews, including a critical review of candidate methodologies
Develop, apply and assess approaches for developing spatial-temporal exposures to support precision geo-analytics and epidemiological applications of exposome data.
Obtain, organize, verify and assess datasets and statistical and physically-based approaches for developing air quality and other exposure metrics.
Support interdisciplinary teams, including coauthoring reports, publications and presentations on the analytical approaches and finding.
Required Qualifications*
• Masters’ degree with 4 years experience with exposure related analyses (PhD with 1 year of experience).
• Minimum Bachelor degree in a recognized field of science related to the duties of the position.
• Experience with data management, GIS and/or statistical software, e.g., ArcGIS, SAS, and R.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team to provide exposure analyses.
• Ability to explain technical concepts and applications to project partners.
• Willingness to learn, adapt and apply evolving geospatial and exposome techniques.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to draft and implement data management and analysis plans based on study design.
• Knowledge of concepts and methods in environmental health sciences, epidemiology and biostatistics.
• Flexibility and ability to work independently and collaboratively with multiple researchers.
Desired Qualifications*
• Familiarity with environmental exposures, such as air pollution, and associated datasets and models.
• Creativity in adapting historical datasets to contemporary exposome issues.
• Experience with data integration, the analysis of chemical mixtures, and machine learning.
• Experience with other datasets, including longitudinal and survival data, and environmental exposure data.
Additional Information
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic employee with a commitment to contributing to a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all members of our community.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.