Air Quality Scientist

University of Maryland, United States

Updated: 4 months ago
Location: College Park, MARYLAND
Deadline: ;

Posting Details
Posting Details


Position Number: 128405
Title: Faculty Specialist
Functional Title: Air Quality Scientist
Category Status: 15-Fac.Non-Tenured,Continuing Con
Applicant Search Category: Faculty
University Authorized FTE: 100
Unit: SPHL-Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health
Campus/College Information:
Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.
Background Checks
Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.
Position Summary/Purpose of Position:
We will hire an Air Quality Scientist who will work at the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice and Health (CEEJH) directed by Dr. Sacoby Wilson, a national expert on environmental justice and health issues. The fellow will assist in a wide variety of tasks related to air quality- including monitoring, data processing, analysis, and visualization. 
The projects, tasks, and responsibilities of the fellow may include:
  • Maintenance of a hyperlocal air quality monitoring network in Cheverly, Maryland
  • Maintenance of a hyperlocal air quality monitoring network in Newark, New Jersey
  • Development of hyperlocal air quality monitoring networks in Washington, DC
  • Development of hyperlocal air quality monitoring networks in overburdened communities in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Expansion of a hyperlocal air quality monitoring network in schools in Maryland
  • Development of hyperlocal air quality monitoring networks in rural areas impacted by industrial animal agriculture
  • Providing technical assistance and research support on air quality efforts in communities impacted by environmental injustice in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast, and Gulf Coast
  • Providing support on projects examining climate change and air pollution issues in communities impacted by goods movement, traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), or other environmental justice issues
  • Participation in community engagement activities including implementation of community science and community-based participatory research (CBPR) frameworks
  • Analysis and geovisualization of data from stationary and mobile air quality monitors
  • Analysis of air quality data collected via remote sensing (satellites)
  • Ability to use state-of-the-art air quality modeling software and integrate data from meteorological stations to understand spatiotemporal variation in air pollution and to predict air pollution levels in communities experiencing environmental and climate injustice
  • Use of geovisualization tools to map the cumulative impacts of air pollution sources and environmental injustice including US EPA EJ SCREEN, Maryland EJ SCREEN, Maryland Park Equity Mapper, and the Maryland Climate Equity and Health Mapper.
  • Provide technical assistance and consultation to grassroots groups who have air quality monitoring needs
  • Assist with analyses/writing of manuscripts for publication
  • Assist with scientific communication activities including writing white papers, briefs, blogs, and testimonials, and providing expert guidance and testimony


Candidates will be required to submit two work samples.
Benefits Summary Top Benefits and Perks:

Faculty Benefits Summary

Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Air Quality, Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Climate Science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Intermediate to advanced skills in air quality monitoring including the use of state-of-the-art EPA monitors (FEM and FRM grade), low-cost sensors that measure criteria and hazardous air pollutants, and other monitoring techniques. 
  • Advanced skills in air pollution modeling. 
  • Advanced skills in data analysis and visualization including statistical, spatial, and geostatistical methods. 
  • Passionate about and experience in environmental justice research, scholarship, and advocacy.
  • Advanced skills in air pollution epidemiology, spatial epidemiology, and biostatistics are preferred.
  • Strong verbal, written, and science communication skills
  • The ability to work well in teams and lead projects and field data collection activities.
  • The ability to manage staff and students that will work on air quality projects.
  • Expertise in SAS, R, Stata, ArcGIS, and other statistical and geovisualization programs.
  • Experience with basic, intermediate, and advanced statistics
  • Ability to use interpolation techniques such as kriging and cokriging, and knowledge of spatial statistical methods and procedures.
  • Demonstrated commitment to working in a diverse workplace including valuing, respecting, and working with diverse executive leadership, staff, and students.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and being anti-racist in research endeavors.
  • Must be self-directed.
  • Must be a self-starter.
  • Must be able to multitask.
  • Must be a problem solver.
  • Must be able to work in an exciting, fast-paced, justice-focused, community-centered environment.
  • Must have experience leading a team including supervising other staff.
  • Must have strong critical thinking skills
  • Must have strong leadership skills
  • Must show high commitment and passion for environmental, climate, and energy justice.
  • Must show high commitment to racial, social, and economic justice.
  • Must show high commitment to applied, action-oriented community-engaged research including attending trainings, performing demos, and deploying sensors in the evening and on the weekends.
  • Must show high commitment, respect, and value in working with grassroots environmental justice organizations.
  • Must have a strong work ethic.
Preferences:
Preferences: 
  • Five years of post-graduate experience in air pollution monitoring and data analysis.
  • Experience with land-use regression models.
  • Some programming and scripting experience with .NET, Java, C++, Python, JavaScript, Flex, and/or Silverlight, iOS, Android, HTML5.
  • Knowledge of cloud computing concepts in addition to on-premises solutions.
  • Experience integrating software solutions with other business systems including data warehousing, BI, CRM, ERP, and analytics platforms.
  • Commitment to advance environmental and climate justice goals including the environmental and climate justice goals of the Center.
  • Experience in community-engaged research such as community science, citizen science, CBPR, or community-driven research endeavors.
Additional Certifications:
Additional Information:
Salaried full-time position: $85,000 to $100,000, salary is negotiable
Posting Date: 06/08/2023
Closing Date:
Open Until Filled Yes
Best Consideration Date 06/23/2023
Physical Demands
Must have visual acuity to read information from computer screen
Diversity Statement:
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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