Assistant Professor in Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment

Careerwebsite; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment. The role includes teaching, mentoring, and building an externally funded program focused on quantitative risk assessment methods.

The candidate should have a PhD in a related field, a publication record, and experience with ecological and/or human health risk assessment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biology, environmental science, public health, environmental toxicology, toxicology, or closely related discipline, by Sept 1, 2027.
• A record of publications in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Research that informs ecological or human health risk assessment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and teach graduate and undergraduate courses in ecological and human health risk assessment.
• Mentor MS and PhD students and serve on graduate committees.
• Establish externally funded research programs with quantitative risk assessment approaches.
• Provide service to department, college, and university.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Risk assessment

Computational methods

Data analysis

Peer-reviewed publications

Education

PhD in biology or related field

Tools

R

Python

ArcGIS

PBPK/PBTK

EPA ProUCL

EPA/REACH databases

Job description

The Department of Environmental Toxicology in the College of Arts & Sciences at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment to begin Fall 2027.

We seek a candidate whose research program advances the assessment of chemical and environmental risk to ecological and human health, with emphasis on quantitative approaches to hazard characterization, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Candidates whose work addresses human health risk assessment or ecological risk assessment through their research are encouraged to apply. Areas of specialization include, but are not limited to:

Areas of specialization include, but are not limited to:

• Ecological risk assessment, including species sensitivity distributions, population- and community-level effects modeling, and assessment of contaminant fate and effects in wildlife and aquatic systems.
• Human health risk assessment, including dose-response and benchmark dose modeling, quantitative uncertainty analysis, and integration of epidemiological or health surveillance data.
• Quantitative analysis of existing or newly generated datasets in support of risk assessment, including new and emerging computational approaches applied to large ecotoxicological or public health data, and cumulative or chemical mixture risk.
• Laboratory or field research that generates data used to inform preliminary risk estimates; programs that combine data generation with quantitative analysis are highly appreciated.

Work that translates to regulatory and public health decision-making, including the assessment of chemical mixtures, is especially welcome. Research that aligns with Texas Tech University’s strategic research area of Advancing One Health is of particular interest. The successful candidate will be provided a competitive start-up package and will be expected to establish an externally funded research program supported by agencies such as EPA, NIEHS/NIH, NSF, USDA, FDA, or DoD.

The successful candidate will contribute to graduate and undergraduate education by teaching courses that align with their expertise and departmental needs, including a course in ecological risk assessment, and by mentoring M.S. and Ph.D. students. A central aim of the position is to strengthen departmental training in ecological and human health risk assessment so that graduates are prepared for the quantitative demands of contemporary regulatory, industry, and academic practice.

The successful candidate will benefit from collaborative opportunities within the Department of Environmental Toxicology, which maintains strengths in human and ecotoxicology, analytical and environmental chemistry, and forensic science. Depending on their expertise, the candidate could also interface with other units on campus, including the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Natural Resources Management, and Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

About the Department/School/Area

The Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech (www.depts.ttu.edu/entx/) is a community of faculty, students, and staff committed to teaching and training students, producing innovative research that advances basic and applied science and engaging with the public. The department offers a doctoral degree in Environmental Toxicology, Master of Science degree in Environmental Toxicology and Forensic Science, and an undergraduate degree in forensic science. The department currently has 17 full-time tenured, tenure-track and professor of practice faculty and approximately 55 graduate students. In recent years, faculty from this department have been awarded over 5 million dollars in externally sponsored research, of which more than 70% were from federal sources. The department occupies several buildings to support research and teaching, affording significant laboratory and classroom space. Departmental research programs include campus, community, and national/international collaborations.

Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Jordan Crago, Search Committee Chair at [e-mail]. If you need assistance with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent Acquisition at [e-mail] or 806-742-3851.All prospective employees are encouraged to visit Work at Texas Tech to learn more about becoming a part of our campus community.

Major/Essential Functions

In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a dynamic student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with a breadth of student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

As a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Toxicology, you will be expected to:

• Contribute to the teaching mission of the department by developing and teaching graduate and undergraduate coursework in ecological and human health risk assessment and related areas, consistent with departmental curricular needs.
• Mentor and train M.S. and Ph.D. students, and serve on graduate advisory and dissertation committees.
• Develop a record of peer-reviewed publications and establish a sustained, externally funded research program that incorporates new and emerging computational approaches to ecological and/or human health risk assessment.
• Provide service to the department, college, and university, as well as to the profession.

Faculty Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biology, environmental science, public health, environmental toxicology, toxicology, or a closely related discipline, with the degree conferred by September 1, 2027.
• A record of publications in peer-reviewed national or international scholarly journals.
• Research that applies or informs risk assessment for ecological receptors, human populations, or both.
• Use of computational or quantitative approaches within that research (e.g., predictive modeling, exposure or dose-response modeling, QSAR, PBPK/PBTK, or analysis of large toxicological datasets).

In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Experience applying emerging analytical methods (e.g., Big Data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or advanced geospatial modeling) to large-scale ecotoxicological or public health datasets.
• Methodological skill with standard risk assessment tools, software, and databases (e.g., EPA ProUCL, R, Python, ArcGIS, PBPK modeling platforms, or the EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard, ECOTOX, ATSDR, and ECHA/REACH databases).
• A record of submitted or funded external grant applications
• Experience working on interdisciplinary or community-engaged research teams, especially those aligning with One Health initiatives.
• Evidence of preparation to teach a course in ecological and/or human health risk assessment (e.g., prior instruction, guest lectures, or a described plan for such a course).
• University-level teaching experience, including experience acquired as a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar.
• Postdoctoral, government, or industry experience related to ecological and/or human health risk assessment.

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities