Applied Scientific Researcher

This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause.

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

This is a three-year fixed term position with the possibility of renewal dependent on programmatic need and budgetary availability.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us 
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, click here.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment works to advance global sustainability through new knowledge and practical, fair solutions to pressing environmental challenges. As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Woods Institute provides an interdisciplinary research hub for scholars from all seven schools at Stanford. Offering targeted research incentives as well as convening, education, and leadership programs, the Woods Institute supports faculty, researchers, and students as they investigate and advance solutions to critical climate, environment, and sustainability challenges. Working on campus and around the globe, the Woods Institute and its hosted centers and programs combine cutting edge scholarship, diverse partnerships, and deep engagement across sectors and disciplines to advance just, practical solutions for people and the planet.

The Center for Human and Planetary Health, launched in October 2024, is the newest Center hosted at the Woods Institute, in close collaboration with the Center for Innovation in Global Health at the Stanford School of Medicine. The Center advances research, solutions, and education to improve health and sustainability. The Center’s flagship research initiative, now called Project Unleaded, is a critical part of the new Center. Drs. Jenna Forsyth and Steve Luby oversee Project Unleaded’s efforts, which have spanned 6 countries with 7 external partners over the past 5 years. Project Unleaded prioritizes policy-relevant research and deep engagement with local partners in affected countries to achieve lasting change. Project Unleaded’s mission is to create a healthier world by addressing lead poisoning at the source. Research priorities center around 3 goals:

1. To identify critical lead exposure sources linked with the human lead burden
    
2. To develop, test, and scale-up interventions to eliminate sources of lead
    
3. To advance lead detection techniques

This position reports to Dr. Jenna Forsyth and requires some international travel and a flexible work schedule to accommodate meetings with a large global network of partners.

Project Unleaded, within the Center for Human and Planetary Health at the Woods Institute for the Environment, is seeking an Applied Scientific Researcher to support and advance research to identify and prioritize the most important sources of lead poisoning globally, develop and test interdisciplinary interventions to mitigate and eliminate these sources, and advance field-appropriate rapid measurement techniques to detect lead in humans and the environment. The Applied Scientific Researcher will oversee the development and application of lead detection methods for a range of media, from contaminated consumer products to environmental samples like air, dust, and soil. The Applied Scientific Researcher will work closely with the Director while operating in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment. The work will have broad scientific and public health impact in the field of environmental health. The successful candidate will be highly independent, organized, enthusiastic, and a motivated problem solver, who enjoys working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

Your Responsibilities will include:

• Develop and adapt protocols for environmental sampling, analysis, and related survey instruments in collaboration with the Director, drawing on prior literature and local context in LMICs.
   
• Develop and adapt field and laboratory techniques for elemental and isotopic characterization of samples, including procedures for XRF, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and colorimetric methods.
   
• Produce and maintain detailed documentation—including protocols, standard operating procedures, and data dictionaries—to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and traceability of study data.
   
• Ensure all research documentation aligns with institutional policies, administrative requirements, and compliance standards.
   
• Develop systems and tools for secure and accurate data storage and management.
   
• Oversee logistics for environmental and biological sampling, including scheduling, transport, and use of handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers.
   
• Create and maintain processes for logging, tracking, storing, and inventorying samples both in the field and on campus.
   
• Maintain organized protocols for laboratory analyses and quality control.
   
• Oversee end-to-end experimental design, execution, and sample analysis using a range of laboratory techniques, including ICP-MS, ICP-OES, XRF, and colorimetry.
   
• Write and edit research materials, scientific reports, manuscripts, and summaries of findings for donors, collaborators, and internal planning.
   
• Proofread and edit drafts, providing feedback on clarity, organization, and presentation.
   
• Identify new funding opportunities and support proposal development in collaboration with the broader team.
   
• Contribute to the development of new research collaborations and projects.
   
• Support capacity-building with partners in low- and middle-income countries.
   
• Train research assistants, students, and interns on protocols, laboratory methods, and documentation practices.
   
• Maintain and update a lab manual and training materials for current and future team members.
   
• Supervise or manage students and interns as needed.

* - The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.