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Assistant Project Scientist of Environmental Toxicology

Position overview

Salary range: Assistant Project Scientist - A reasonable estimate for this position is $74,100-$96,600

Application Window

Open date: January 6, 2025

Next review date: Friday, Feb 7, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Apr 4, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Position description

NATURE AND PURPOSE
The Nguyen Laboratory through the Department of Environmental Toxicology at the University of California Davis is currently seeking a full time Project Scientist for ongoing projects in aerosol chemistry and chemical toxicology. Research tasks may include chemical analyses of toxicants in electronic cigarette emissions, quantification of radical species in water or organic solution, oxidation product identification, complex mixture analysis of unknown organic solutions, chemical analysis in biological samples, identification of gaseous analytes, and more.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

I. RESEARCH (90%)

This position requires creative contributions to, and collaborative development of, a research program aimed at advancing understanding the formation and chemical composition of aerosols generated from electronic cigarette vaping, environmental processes (such as atmospheric chemistry or wildfire smoke), and other applied systems. The candidate will help to determine research goals in consultation with the Principal Investigator. He/she will design specific experiments and analyses, including the selection of appropriate methods for GC/MS and LC/MS analysis and various spectroscopic techniques (e.g., FTIR, UV-Vis, NMR).
The candidate will assist in acquiring proposals for funding from federal and state agencies and other funding organizations. The candidate will prepare and assist in the preparation of reports as required by granting agencies. The candidate will interact with funding agencies and prepare modifications of budgets and other grant components as needed.
The candidate will publish research results in peer-reviewed journals, books and other outlets either independently or in collaboration with the Pl or other members of the research team.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (7%)
The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to analytical science, environmental science, or aerosol chemistry and will serve as a reviewer of research proposals and scientific publications in these research fields. The appointee will attend trainings to upgrade skillsets related to chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry methods. The candidate will attend seminars pertaining to aerosol science, environmental chemistry, or vaping chemistry. When appropriate, the candidate may coordinate and/or give presentations at seminars, laboratory meetings or educational functions.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (3%)
The candidate will mentor and/or train students or technicians regarding the technical aspects of the research, including sample generation, sample preparation (filtration, extraction, and concentration), analytical data acquisition, data and uncertainty analysis, and scientific communication with the broader team. Additionally, the appointee will supervise lab personnel in troubleshooting problems with laboratory equipment, interpreting results and planning follow-up experiments. Training will be provided for project-specific skills. The candidate will occasionally guest lecture or teach small training seminars.

-Initial appointment length will be for a minimum of 1-Year. Appointment may be extended dependent upon progress and funding.

-This position will be filled at the Assistant rank, generally reserved for academics with 1-6 years of experience following the completion of their PhD.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

A Ph.D. Degree in Chemistry (e.g., analytical, environmental, forensic), chemical engineering, or an appropriate related field by the start date.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

• 1+ years research experience after PhD.
• 5+ years of experience in analytical chemistry, aerosol chemistry, and/or electronic cigarette research supported by publications in this area
• Experience in method development for LC/MS and GC/MS
• Experience in sample preparation for chemical analysis (e.g., filter extraction, liquid-liquid extraction, separations, centrifuge)
• Experience in quantitative spectroscopy methods
• Experience troubleshooting and optimizing instrument performance.
• Strong problem solving, organizational, and critical thinking skills
• Multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Presented at national or international conferences.
• Communicates and collaborates well with lab members and colleagues in other labs and at other institutions, including international collaborations
• Experience supervising and training lab personnel including undergraduate researchers.
• Experience in project management including managing and prioritizing task objectives, managing timelines, and schedule organization
• Interpersonal skills to interact with diverse groups of individuals to facilitate collaborative research, provide information, and increase cooperation among individuals.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Statement of Research

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.

Reference requirements
  • 4-5 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06859

Help contact: dacrum@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their "Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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Job location

Davis, CA