Scientist Water Ecologist, Bureau of the Public Health Laboratory

The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is a public health leader serving over 8.4 million New York City residents from diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds. The NYC Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is one of the largest local public health laboratories in the United States offering a dynamic and innovative work environment where employees contribute to the health and safety of NYC residents by providing clinical and environmental laboratory testing services. With more than 100 years of leadership in public health, a team of over 200 scientific and support staff are committed to its mission to safeguard the health of all NYC residents by providing quality laboratory testing services that support the priorities of the NYC DOHMH and its community partners to prevent and respond to clinical and environmental public health concerns.

The DOHMH PHL seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Scientist Water Ecologist III in the Environmental Sciences Section. This position will play an integral role in laboratory testing and responding to public health threats, including but not limited to COVID-19, vaccine preventable diseases, HIV, Legionella as well as respiratory, foodborne, and waterborne disease outbreaks. This is an excellent opportunity to join our multidisciplinary team, and collaborate with local, state, federal, and academic partners. The staff will primarily work within the Water Microbiology Unit at PHL. The unit utilizes microbiological and molecular microbiological tools to detect and monitor pathogens in drinking and recreational water, and non-potable water systems such as cooling towers. This includes NYC's beach monitoring and Legionella response programs.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/nyregion/legionnaires-disease-new-york-lab.html McGibbon E, Iuppa Burke E, Watts E, Beaver-Timmons B, Law V, Leung YL, George A, Qiu L, Silver S, Reddy V, Omoregie E, Siemetzki- Kapoor U, Fung D, Schiff C, Ahuja SD. Outbreak of Legionnaires Disease Associated with Cooling Tower Systems in Central Harlem. NEJM Evid. 2026 Jul;5(7):EVIDpha2600062. doi: 10.1056/EVIDpha2600062. Epub 2026 Jun 23. PMID: 42334300.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• Perform routine water ecology and water quality laboratory testing and analyses on environmental and water samples, following established laboratory controls and QA/QC requirements.
• Conduct moderately complex analytical procedures using both manual and automated techniques, ensuring proper instrument setup, calibration, and maintenance.
• Utilize laboratory equipment including glassware, pipettes, slides, test tubes, microscopes, and molecular tools with the fine motor coordination needed for precise adjustments and measurements.
• Apply microbiological and molecular methods to support water quality research, environmental monitoring programs, and pathogen detection in water systems.
• Use laboratory software and mathematical models to perform data analysis and statistical interpretation of water quality and ecological data.
• Prepare, handle, and store environmental samples in accordance with standardized protocols, maintaining sample integrity and traceability.
• Maintain detailed laboratory records, technical logs, and documentation of testing activities and results.
• Follow safety protocols including wearing PPE (gloves, lab coats, goggles) and working safely in BSL-2 environments and confined laboratory spaces.
• Assist in method development and refinement of laboratory procedures, ensuring alignment with regulatory, accreditation, and programmatic requirements.
• Support cross-training initiatives within the lab and contribute to surge testing capacity during environmental or public health events.
• Participate in laboratory quality assurance programs, including QC reviews, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Experience working with pathogenic organisms in a BSL2 environment.
• Basic microbiology and molecular biology techniques including PCR.
• Ability to interpret complex laboratory data and communicate that data to internal and external partners using independent judgement and initiative.
• Experience in an environmental or clinical diagnostic testing laboratory.

Why you should work for us:

• Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.

o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position's associated union/benefit fund.

o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.

o a tax-deferred savings program and

o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.

• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
• Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Commitment to Equity:

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individuals sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

SCIENTIST (WATER ECOLOGY) - 21538

Minimum Qualifications

1. A masters degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following areas of study: environmental or chemical engineering, limnology, environmental science, marine science, geology, biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, or health science; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in ""1"" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least one year of satisfactory full time experience, which may not have been part of graduate or undergraduate course work, working in the field of water quality planning, management or

research or performing environmental laboratory analyses, and/or environmental field sampling of water; or

3. An associate degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in one or a combination of the areas of study described in "1" above, at least 12 of which must have been in one of these areas of study; and at least three years of satisfactory full time experience as described in "2" above.

Additional Requirements

To be assigned to Assignment Levels II or III, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university as described in "2" above and must have one additional year of the experience described in "2" above for a total of two years of experience.

Special Note

A masters degree from an accredited college in one of the areas described in "1" above may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individuals sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.