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Postdoctoral Fellowship Advancing the Science on Cumulative Impacts to Influence Public Health Policy

Postdoctoral Fellowship Advancing the Science on Cumulative Impacts to Influence Public Health Policy

Postdoctoral Fellowship Advancing the Science on Cumulative Impacts to Influence Public Health Policy

The Department of Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health would like to announce the availability of a postdoctoral fellowship in cumulative risk, environmental justice, and environmental public health policy. We are looking for a bright, talented, and highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to contribute to research and translation projects focused on 1) the cumulative burdens faced by communities living on the fenceline of petrochemical and other industrial facilities, and 2) human health risk evaluations performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to satisfy requirements of the updated Toxic Substances Control Act. The identified fellowship recipient will be jointly mentored by EHE faculty (Keeve Nachman and Mary Fox) and science and policy staff (Maria Doa and Lindsay McCormick) at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct cumulative impact assessments of exposures to mixtures of chemicals arising from petrochemical processing and other industrial releases for fenceline communities.
  • Innovate novel approaches to using data on environmental justice indices (e.g., EPA’s EJSCREEN, CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index) into quantitative and qualitative characterizations of risk.
  • Support analyses of chemical hazard and risk assessments and science policy proposals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
  • Advance efforts to integrate environmental justice considerations into TSCA to ensure that chemical policies identify and protect against the disproportionate risks to which environmental justice communities are subjected, including through cumulative risk assessment and fenceline assessments at chemical and petrochemical facilities.
  • Translation of research findings for policymaker and lay audiences.

Anticipated Outputs and Opportunities

  • Multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts
  • Comment letters to EPA
  • Outreach materials based on research findings for scientific and non-scientific audiences.
  • Presentation of research to stakeholders, including policymakers, federal, state and local decision-makers, and community organizations.

Qualifications

  • PhD in toxicology, epidemiology, environmental health, or a related field.
  • Coursework in risk assessment, toxicology, exposure science, environmental health policy, epidemiology, and health disparities research preferred. 
  • Experience with computational toxicology, chemical mixture assessment methodologies, and systematic review are highly desirable.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills; well organized, motivated, and detail oriented.
  • Ability to synthesize, interpret, and communicate scientific data for non-scientists.
  • Ability to work in both team settings and independently.
  • Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter and curriculum vitae to Keeve Nachman (knachman@jhu.edu).