Research Scientist 3 (Water Pollution)

Minimum Qualifications Minimum Qualifications : Non-Competitive : Bachelor’s degree and four years of professional research experience in the field of water pollution.

Substitutions : master’s degree in the field of water pollution may substitute for one year of experience, and . in the field of water pollution may substitute for an additional year of experience.

Duties Description Overview : The Research Scientist 3 (RS 3) will oversee the research agenda and perform independent original research for the Division.

• The RS 3 will be responsible for activities included in all phases of research, including regularly assessing research needs, problem exploration, definition, and formulation;
• planning research approaches and step sequences; conducting studies, including collection and processing of data; interpreting findings, involving classification, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of data;

and reporting findings. Projects are expected to result in publishable work products in professional papers, journals, or reports, based on interpretation and evaluation of results.

Research findings will be presented to Division staff as well as stakeholders outside of the Agency, where appropriate.

Preferred Experience : Demonstrated experience evaluating sediment data that may be applicable in developing remedial programs, experience applying scientifically defensible methods for determining data needs and for obtaining and evaluating such data, performing complex statistical analyses, writing grants or grant applications, managing funds to complete research, and conducting in-house training.

While working in DER, the RS 3 will spend approximately 80% of their time on research, 15% of their time on routine tasks, and 5% of their time on supervision.

The RS 3 will serve as a principal source of information for their own research pertaining to hazardous waste site clean-up and emerging contaminants in the soil, surface water, and groundwater.

The Research Scientist 3 (Water Pollution) will work within the Division of Environmental Remediation in Bureau D and perform the following :

• Regularly assess research needs of the Division pertaining to hazardous waste site clean-up including work on Hudson River polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) NPL Site, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sites, and other emerging contaminants.
• Provide technical assistance to DER project managers as needed in the field of PCBs and investigation and remedial action of sediment sites through the project review process and informal interactions to provide recommendations to project managers.

Conduct in-house training for DEC / DER staff covering topics related to PCBs and sediment sites issues.

Plan all phases of a research project that aid the Division in gaining a better understanding of areas that are not well known.

Examples could include PFAS plume tracking, PFAS fingerprinting, and sources for PFAS detections in soil and groundwater.

Research projects will be implemented independently, and research outputs would be in the form of publishable work in professional papers, journals, or reports.

Research findings will be presented to DER staff as well as interested parties outside of the Agency, where appropriate.

• The Research Scientist 3 will oversee the entire DER research agenda which includes managing contracts, establishing MOUs with public research institutions, and securing funds for such.
• The successful candidate will have experience in conducting research related to emerging contaminants with specific expertise in the presence and distribution of PFAS and 1,4-dioxane in soil, surface water, and groundwater.
• Provide technical assistance to Division project managers as needed.
• Supervise lower-level geology / engineering staff and may supervise lower-level research scientists.
30+ days ago