Geoscience Associate

IEc; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

IEc in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Geoscience Associate to support natural resource damage assessments, oil spill analyses, and restoration planning. You will handle large environmental datasets, apply statistical methods, and conduct GIS analyses, contributing to technical deliverables across projects.

The role emphasizes data management, reproducible workflows using SQL/Python/R, and collaboration within project teams. Start date Fall 2026 with an office presence required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, hydrology, or similar field.
• Experience with data analysis in a scripting or database environment (Python, R).
• GIS, geostatistics, relational database design, or related scientific proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Gather, manage, and evaluate large environmental datasets and conduct quantitative analyses.
• Perform GIS spatial analyses and interpret results; write reports and present findings.
• Support groundwater and surface water assessments and assist with data management and QA for large datasets.

Skills

Data analysis in scripting/database

GIS analysis

Scientific writing

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in geology/geochemistry/hydrogeology/hydrology or related field

Tools

Python

R

ArcGIS Pro

SQL

Job description

Geoscience Associate

Full-Time in United States - $70,000 - $90,000 / year

Industrial Economics, Incorporated (IEc) provides consulting services for natural resource managers, regulators, attorneys, and other clients involved in public policy development and implementation. Our staff apply expertise in economics, science, engineering, computer modeling, and data management to cutting-edge environmental and natural resource policy and management issues. We are known for developing smart, objective analyses to address high-profile environmental and public policy problems, leveraging a unique combination of analytic rigor and creativity.

Position: Geoscientist to support natural resource damage assessment, oil spill assessment, environmental impact analyses, remedial investigations, applied natural resource management, and restoration planning.

Responsibilities: IEc Associates gather, manage, and evaluate large environmental datasets; design and implement quantitative analyses using a variety of scientific methods; synthesize existing information; conduct GIS spatial analyses; apply statistical methods; interpret and communicate results; write reports; and present findings. Science Associates often work on specific sites, assisting clients with natural resource damage assessments, impact analyses, field and literature-based research, and restoration project planning and monitoring, including recommending modifications to approaches or methodologies to achieve project objectives. In this position, the Associate will support groundwater and surface water assessments, including characterization of contaminant sources and pathways; evaluation of contaminated areas (e.g., groundwater plume thickness, porosity). The Associate may take a lead role in data management and quality assurance for large environmental chemistry datasets spanning multiple media and data providers, including documenting methods so that work is reproducible and defensible over multi-year cases. The role also involves reviewing remedial and technical documents as a primary source of site data, drafting technical and milestone deliverables (e.g., study plans, data gaps analyses, assessment and restoration planning documents), and working in database and coding environments (e.g., SQL, Python, R) and spatial analysis software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro). Associates are part of project teams, are responsible for independent work, and commonly direct and review the work of junior staff.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree or PhD (or international equivalent) in geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, hydrology, or similar field.
• Demonstrated experience with data analysis in a scripting or database environment (e.g., Python, R).
• One type of additional quantitative skill, such as GIS, geostatistics, relational database design, or other proficiency related to science (in the fields of aqueous geochemistry or contaminant hydrogeology preferred).

Compensation and Advancement:

• IEc offers competitive salaries ranging from $70,000 to $90,000 commensurate with experience, as well as an annual performance bonus averaging 10% of annual salary.
• We are committed to the health and well-being of our staff and provide excellent benefits, including quality medical and dental insurance with contributions to a Health Savings Account; generous contribution to retirement savings; an Employee Assistance Program; flexible vacation/holiday time; financial support for relevant professional development opportunities; sick time and short- and long-term disability; paid family and medical leave; commuter benefits; recreational and social opportunities; and more.
• IEc is committed to growth from within and supports the professional development of our staff. We frequently promote Associates to senior positions at the firm.

Position Location: IEc's office is located in Cambridge, MA. This position requires presence in the office at least three days a week, with remaining days as an optional hybrid working arrangement.

Position Start Date: Fall 2026

Industrial Economics is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable EEOC regulations. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.