Staff Scientist

The Health Effects Institute Energy (HEI Energy) seeks a person who has expertise in exposure assessment, epidemiology, environmental health, or related field to join our science team. The successful candidate will work closely with HEI’s scientific staff and Director of Energy Research in an intellectually engaging and collaborative work environment.

About HEI 
HEI is a nonprofit corporation chartered in 1980 as an independent research organization to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant science on the health effects of air pollution in the United States, Europe, and around the world. HEI typically receives balanced funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the worldwide motor vehicle industry. Other public and private organizations periodically support special projects or certain research programs.


The core air pollution program produces science to inform important environmental and health decisions in North America and Europe. Learn more.


The global health program offers opportunities to help advance the goals of clean air in countries around the world — especially in low- and middle-income countries with high air pollution levels. Learn more.


The energy program provides policy-relevant science about population exposures and health effects associated with onshore development of oil and natural gas from shale and other unconventional resources, including the process of hydraulic fracturing, in the United States. Learn more.


Position Description 
We seek a staff scientist with 1-3 years of work or research experience post-PhD. The position is entry-level with the opportunity for promotion to a more senior role over time. The successful candidate will engage in a broad range of activities aimed at understanding and communicating research funded by HEI Energy to inform national, state, and local policy related to oil and gas development and other energy topics. The candidate will manage the review and selection of studies for funding, oversee ongoing studies, review reports of completed HEI studies, and write commentaries on them, among other functions. The candidate will also contribute to the preparation of research briefs designed to educate HEI Energy committees, staff, and stakeholders and to support research planning; develop and host educational webinars on timely energy topics; and participate in strategic research planning, helping to define how HEI Energy can contribute to health-protective decisions amid the energy transition. The candidate will have the opportunity to participate in the preparation of comprehensive and authoritative reviews of important research related to energy and health and represent HEI at professional and other meetings. The candidate will collaborate closely with staff, directors, and our expert committees and will be engaged widely in science communication. Note that HEI staff are not actively involved in conducting independent research themselves and that this is not a research position, per se. HEI is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the environmental health sciences, and the candidate will be expected to contribute to these efforts.


Qualifications 

  • Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a quantitative discipline relevant to environmental health, energy, and policy.
  • Work or educational experience related to environmental health or energy and project management.
  • Excellent writing, public speaking, and science communication skills; fluent in English.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work with people from diverse technical and geographic backgrounds.
  • A self-starter, able to work independently, within collaborative teams, and across multiple projects.
  • Strong quantitative, analytical, and data-visualization skills; reference management skills a plus.
  • Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship required.


Compensation and Benefits 
HEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in its work and staff. We endeavor to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all at HEI, free from discrimination of all types, including race, gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, national origin, and disability. HEI offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a stimulating environment, including the following:

  • Excellent work-life balance.
  • Starting salary $78-108k, based on a 35-hr work week and factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, and internal team equity.
  • Generous vacation, holiday, parental, and sick leave.
  • Generous contribution by HEI to a 403(b)-retirement plan.
  • 80% of health and 100% of dental premiums are covered by the organization.
  • Fully paid life insurance.
  • Flexible spending accounts offered for health, child, and elder care expenses. 
  • Pre-tax commuter benefits.


HEI values opportunities for in-person interaction among staff and with its scientific committees but provides flexibility for working remotely.


The Health Effects Institute is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity within and across its work and staff. We maintain that staff from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and culture help us to fulfill our mission and therefore encourage candidates from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, and protected veteran status or other status protected by law to apply for this position. We endeavor to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all at HEI, free from discrimination of all types. 
 
How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit their applications to HR@healtheffects.org and include the following items:

  • Cover letter that briefly expresses interest in and qualifications for the position. Please include salary expectations, authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship, and any need for assistance or an accommodation due to a disability. Please also indicate where you saw the job advertised.
  • Curriculum vitae.
  • Two samples of independent writing.


HEI Energy will not consider incomplete applications. In case you have questions, please contact Mr. Quoc Pham at HR@healtheffects.org. Final candidates will be asked to provide names of three references who will not be contacted without advance notice to you.


Please include “Energy Staff Scientist 2023 Position” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin in August, with interviews in early September; however, the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Anticipated start date is in late September/early October 2023. All applications received before August 18, 2023, will receive full consideration. Interviews will be conducted virtually.

Human Resources
Health Effects Institute
75 Federal Street, Suite 1400, Boston, MA 02110

Please send your materials to:
Human Resources
Health Effects Institute
75 Federal Street, Suite 1400, Boston, MA 02110
HR@healtheffects.org

The Health Effects Institute (HEI), a leading independent, nonprofit research institute, has provided rigorous, impartial, and important science to the national and global public debate on the health effects of air pollution over nearly four decades. In recent years, HEI’s work has expanded beyond air pollution to include potential exposures and health effects associated with oil and natural gas development in the United States. Supported jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and industry (the motor vehicle industry and the oil and gas industry), and by other domestic and international partners, HEI provides science to inform key national and international regulatory decisions and other actions that are directly relevant to improving air quality and health. HEI’s approach is centered on funding high-quality, independent scientific studies that are strategically selected and carefully designed to inform upcoming decisions about air quality policy. HEI funds research at leading institutions throughout the world through competitive selection processes, oversees this research attentively, and publishes its findings broadly, enabling policymakers to apply it in their actions to protect the public health. Periodically, HEI also reviews various bodies of literature to reach overarching conclusions about the state of the science. Information on HEI is available at www.healtheffects.org.

Health Effects Institute is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in its work and staff.