Virginia Tech · 1 day ago
Postdoctoral Associate: Occoquan PFAS Fingerprinting and Forensics projects
Blacksburg, VA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior LevelVirginia Tech is a leading global research institution dedicated to knowledge and discovery. They are seeking a Postdoctoral Associate to lead research on PFAS fate and transport, focusing on the Occoquan Watershed and supporting stakeholder-driven projects with the goal of developing novel analytical and modeling approaches.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Conduct literature reviews to identify cutting-edge PFAS source fingerprinting and forensics techniques
Perform advanced laboratory analyses for PFAS detection and quantification, including but not limited to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Develop and validate QA/QC criteria for analytical methods and experiments, and prepare documentation and SOPs as needed
Participate in meetings with utility stakeholders to present results and inform research directions
Coordinate with OWML field and laboratory staff to plan and execute fieldwork and laboratory work
Conduct data interpretation related to contaminant fate and transport in natural and engineered systems
Lead and contribute to manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and reports for sponsors
Assist in training and mentorship of graduate students and junior laboratory technicians
Ensure timely completion of project milestones and deliverables, maintain timely and professional communication with internal and external collaborators
Attend weekly lab meetings, support shared lab operations, and assist with proposal development
Receive training in project management and grant writing, and have opportunities to present findings at regional and national conferences
Occasional travel may be required for field work, project meetings and conferences
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, or a related field. PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining
Demonstrated expertise in fate and transport of emerging contaminants in natural or engineered systems
Extensive training and experience with PFAS analysis and LC-MS/MS instrumentation
Strong scientific writing skills
Competency in programming and statistical analysis for advanced data interpretation
Preferred
Record of peer-reviewed publications and successful fellowship proposals
Experience mentoring students or laboratory personnel
Experience collaborating with governmental and industry partners
Familiarity with environmental policy and regulatory frameworks
Experience in data science, computational chemistry, and/or contaminant transport modeling
Company
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is a public research university that offers a range of academic programs and conducts research across various fields.
Founded in 1872
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Virginia Tech has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (254)
2024 (146)
2023 (124)
2022 (196)
2021 (92)
2020 (81)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$24.09MKey Investors
Virginia Innovation Partnership CorporationNational Institute of Food and AgricultureAppalachian Regional Commission
2025-01-16Grant
2024-06-26Grant· $0.59M
2024-02-15Grant· $0.45M
Leadership Team
S
Steven McKnight
Vice President for Strategic Alliances
David Raymond
Associate Vice President for Security and Identity
Recent News
2026-01-06
PhysOrg.com
2025-12-17
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