Postdoctoral Scholar: Climate-Related Exposures, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences[...]

Postdoctoral Scholar: Climate-Related Exposures, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences

The Sklar lab in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington offers an outstanding opportunity for a Postdoctoral Scholar to join an interdisciplinary research group focused on policy-relevant environmental and occupational exposure assessment, epidemiology, and mixed-methods approaches.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will support a state-funded project developing a Climate Change and Natural Hazard Resilience Plan (CCNHRP) aimed at estimating climate‑related health risks and improving climate resilience and safety for incarcerated people and carceral workers across Washington State. The position involves close collaboration with state agency personnel and community stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

Anticipated Duties

• Develop and apply quantitative research methods that integrate data from multiple sources—including gridded climate and hazard data, facility infrastructure and operational records, DOC administrative healthcare data, and indoor/outdoor air monitoring data—to support facility‑level exposure and analysis of climate‑related health risks.
• Model indoor environmental conditions (temperature, particulate matter) by facility cooling and ventilation type, and apply climate projections across multiple Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) to estimate how health risks will change from historic baselines through mid‑ and late‑century.
• Collaborate with atmospheric scientist team members to interpret and apply environmental datasets derived from gridded climate products, historical observational records, and spatially interpolated hazard metrics.
• Participate in stakeholder engagement with custody staff, incarcerated populations, and inmate council groups to co‑design mitigation strategies through structured scenario‑based discussions.
• Other duties as may arise from the methodology development.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in environmental health, epidemiology, atmospheric science, or a closely related field.
• Experience with quantitative climate or environmental risk assessment methods.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis of environmental exposure‑health outcome associations, including experience with large administrative or healthcare datasets.
• Experience working with gridded environmental or climate datasets and spatial data analysis tools (e.g., R, Python, GIS).
• Strong technical writing skills, including experience preparing peer‑reviewed manuscripts or policy‑relevant technical reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams spanning government agencies, academic research groups, and community stakeholders.

Salary range: $5,705 to $7,083 per month ($68,460–$85,000 per year), commensurate with experience.

Appointment Details: This is a full‑time, 12‑month appointment based at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, with reappointment to subsequent years contingent upon performance and availability of funding. The anticipated start date is July 2026. Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

How to apply

Interested candidates should apply through Interfolio:

Include:

• A cover letter.
• A CV.
• Names of three professional references.

Priority consideration will be given to applications received on or before May 22 2026. Please send inquiries to Miles Schelling, Sklar Lab research coordinator:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, citizenship, marital status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

Benefits Information

The University is committed to providing excellent benefits to our faculty. For a summary of available benefits, please see UWHR benefits information.

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