Public Health Program Associate (Exposomics Research) - Rollins School of Public Health

Emory University•Atlanta, GA

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Health Program Associate will lead the gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) team in the Comprehensive Laboratory for Untargeted Exposome Science (CLUES), within Emory University’s Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health. CLUES measures environmental chemicals, micro- and nanoplastics, and metabolites in human biofluids, tissues, and other matrices for population studies examining how exposures affect health, including cancer, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and metabolic disease. The laboratory also develops methods to measure emerging exposures such as microplastics, PFAS, and persistent organic pollutants. Under limited supervision from the laboratory director, the associate oversees daily GC-HRMS research operations, including pyrolysis GC-HRMS methods for micro- and nanoplastics. The role applies public health and exposure science principles to analytical strategies for collaborative studies; supports the collection, analysis, and reporting of study data; and trains new team members. It includes regular collaboration with study teams on sample collection standards and the interpretation and presentation of results. Work is required in person at an Emory University location; remote work is not an option. Work-related experience will be considered in determining level and salary.

Requirements

A master's degree in Public Health, a Master of Science degree in Public Health or Health Education, or a master's degree in Development Practice; alternatively, a master's degree in another field and one year of public health experience.
Pay close attention to detail, communicate clearly in writing and in person, have strong quantitative laboratory skills, and follow good laboratory practices.
Be well organized, manage time effectively, and meet project timelines independently.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with GC-MS or GC-HRMS, including sample preparation, instrument operation, and routine maintenance.
Experience developing or validating analytical methods for environmental chemicals in biological samples.
Experience processing mass spectrometry data and working in R, Python, or another scripting language.
Experience training or supervising laboratory staff or students.
Familiarity with exposure assessment, biomonitoring, or environmental epidemiology.

Responsibilities

Lead daily GC-HRMS team operations, including scheduling, sample preparation, instrument runs, and project timeline tracking.
Prepare and analyze biological and environmental samples using GC-HRMS and pyrolysis GC-HRMS.
Oversee daily instrument performance checks and quality assurance/quality control, and troubleshoot results that do not meet pass/fail criteria.
Develop, verify, and optimize GC-HRMS methods, including assay suitability criteria.
Process, analyze, and summarize targeted and untargeted GC-HRMS data, and report results to the laboratory director and study teams.
Work with collaborating study sites to establish sample collection, storage, and shipment standards, including contamination control for micro- and nanoplastic analyses.
Provide technical assistance to collaborating research groups and organizations through presentations, written protocols, web-based resources, and study-design consultation.
Design and deliver training for laboratory members and students on GC-HRMS methods, data processing, and laboratory safety.
Contribute to grant proposals, study protocols, data analysis plans, reports, manuscripts, and presentations of study findings.
Coordinate project plans, goals, and timelines with external collaborators.
Maintain laboratory safety procedures and receive, catalog, and inventory samples for GC-HRMS projects.
Provide weekly study progress updates to the laboratory director.
Perform related responsibilities as required.