Research Associate

Research Associate Wildfire Conservancy Sacramento, CA Job Details Full-time $85,000 - $115,000 a year 1 day ago Qualifications Research ethical considerations Sample preparation Outdoor work Master's degree Collecting samples for laboratory testing Clinical research compliance Field research Research regulatory compliance IRB compliance

Full Job Description Wildfire Conservancy Research Associate Firefighter Health, Exposure Science, and Applied Field Research Position Type:

Full-Time, Exempt Position Summary The Research Associate will support multidisciplinary research initiatives focused on firefighter health, exposure assessment, and applied safety interventions across both field and laboratory environments. This position integrates human subjects research, biospecimen collection and management, exposure monitoring, and applied equipment evaluation. The position is also seeking a candidate with the ability to support projects related to improving attack effectiveness and community resilience. This position will play a central operational role in executing studies related to firefighter cancer risk, toxic exposure pathways, physiological stress, and effectiveness of protective technologies. The role requires strong technical competency, field adaptability, and adherence to rigorous scientific, ethical, and regulatory standards. The position is expected to also support research operations out of the Sacramento headquarters for the Wildfire Conservancy. Minimum Qualifications Master's degree (MS, MPH, MEng, or equivalent) in:o Public Healtho Environmental/Occupational Healtho Engineering (Environmental, Mechanical, Biomedical, or related)o Life Sciences or closely related discipline Demonstrated experience with:o Human subjects research (IRB protocols, consent procedures, compliance)o Biological sample collection (e.g., blood, urine, saliva) and handlingo Field-based research in dynamic or hazardous environments Preferred Qualifications Familiarity with:o Fire service operations, culture, and occupational hazardso Wildland and/or structural firefighting environments Experience with:o Smoke exposure assessment and air monitoring technologieso Environmental and physiological sensors (e.g., PM, VOCs, CO, temperature, heart rate)o PPE and respiratory protection systems (design, evaluation, or testing) Background in:o Exposure science, industrial hygiene, or toxicologyo Biospecimen repository (tumor bank/biobank) development and management Core Responsibilities 1. Field Research & Data Collection Conduct field deployments in active or simulated fire environments Collect environmental and physiological exposure data using monitoring equipment and sensors Coordinate and execute biological sample collection (blood, urine, etc.) in accordance with approved protocols Ensure proper chain-of-custody, labeling, and documentation of all samples and field data 2. Laboratory & Biospecimen Management Support processing, storage, and tracking of biological specimens Assist in the development and ongoing management of a firefighter tumor bank program in California Maintain laboratory standards for QA/QC, biosafety, and sample integrity Coordinate with partner laboratories and analytical facilities 3. Human Subjects & Regulatory Compliance Ensure strict adherence to IRB-approved protocols and informed consent procedures Maintain compliance with all applicable regulations (e.g., HIPAA, Common Rule) Support protocol development, amendments, and reporting requirements 4. Exposure Monitoring & Instrumentation Deploy, calibrate, and maintain air quality and exposure monitoring equipment Conduct QA/QC procedures for environmental and biological data collection Troubleshoot field instrumentation and ensure data reliability 5. Data Management & Preliminary Analysis Perform data cleaning, validation, and preliminary statistical or technical review Maintain organized databases for field, laboratory, and biospecimen data Support preparation of reports, technical memoranda, and research publications 6. Equipment & Field Logistics Maintain inventory, calibration schedules, and operational readiness of field and lab equipment Support logistics for mobile research operations and field deployments Ensure proper storage, transport, and maintenance of sensitive instrumentation 7. Applied Research & Technology Evaluation Support testing and evaluation of:o Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)o Respiratory protection deviceso Firefighter tools and emerging technologies Assist in design and implementation of applied research studies assessing effectiveness and safety Key Competencies Strong understanding of exposure science and occupational health principles High level of technical precision and QA/QC discipline Ability to operate effectively in field environments with elevated risk and complexity Working knowledge of biospecimen handling and laboratory protocols Familiarity with data management and analytical workflows Excellent organizational and documentation skills Work Environment & Physical Requirements Frequent fieldwork in wildland and structural fire environments, including exposure to heat, smoke, and physically demanding conditions Laboratory work involving biological materials and chemical exposures Ability to lift and transport field equipment (up to ~25 lbs) Irregular hours, including early mornings, extended field deployments, and travel Overall Scope of Work The Research Associate will serve as a core implementation resource across the Conservancy's research portfolio, with responsibility spanning: Execution of end-to-end field studies (setup → data/sample collection → demobilization) Operational support for statewide firefighter tumor bank development Integration of environmental exposure data with biological outcomes Maintenance of defensible, audit-ready datasets and protocols suitable for regulatory, academic, and contractual reporting Support of grant-driven deliverables, including reporting, publications, and technical outputs Strategic Importance of Position This role is essential to ensuring that the Conservancy's research is: Scientifically rigorous Operationally executable in real-world fire environments Defensible for regulatory, funding, and peer-reviewed applications Directly translatable into improved firefighter health, safety, and policy outcomes Below are two additional sections you can integrate directly into the job description or use as supporting justification for funding, HR classification, and audit defensibility. Alignment with State and Federal Contract and Grant Deliverables The Research Associate position is directly tied to the successful execution, documentation, and defensibility of multiple active and anticipated grant-funded programs supported by state and federal agencies. This role is essential to meeting contractual obligations, reporting requirements, and performance metrics associated with these funding streams. State Grant Alignment This position supports deliverables associated with state-funded initiatives focused on firefighter health, safety, and operational effectiveness, including: Firefighter Cancer and Exposure Researcho Collection, processing, and management of biological samples supporting statewide firefighter cancer research initiativeso Development and operational support of the California Firefighter Tumor Bank, including biospecimen tracking, QA/QC, and long-term storage coordination Exposure Assessment and Mitigation Studieso Field deployment of air monitoring and physiological sensors to quantify smoke exposure, heat stress, and toxicological risko Integration of environmental and biological datasets to support exposure pathway analysis and intervention development Equipment and Intervention Evaluationo Testing and evaluation of PPE, respiratory protection, and decontamination practices aligned with health and safety prioritieso Data collection supporting evidence-based recommendations for firefighter safety improvementso Design, testing, and development of new tools and technologies to improve firefighter health and safety, attack effectiveness, and community resilience Reporting and Deliverableso Contribution to required technical reports, white papers, and peer-reviewed publicationso Maintenance of defensible datasets consistent with state audit, QA/QC, and scientific standards Federal Grant Alignment This position supports federally-funded programs (e.g., Assistance to Firefighters Grants [AFG], Fire Prevention & Safety [FP&S]) through: Health and Safety Research Implementationo Execution of field and laboratory studies evaluating firefighter exposure risks and mitigation strategieso Support for national-level research priorities related to firefighter cancer, behavioral health, and occupational safety Data Collection and Performance Metricso Collection of high-quality, standardized data required for performance reporting and outcome evaluationo Documentation of project impacts, including exposure reduction, intervention effectiveness, and firefighter health outcomes Compliance and Documentationo Ensuring adherence to federal grant requirements, including data integrity, reproducibility, and audit readinesso Supporting timely submission of progress reports, final reports, and supporting documentation Cross-Cutting Grant Responsibilities Across all current and future programs, this position ensures:

Audit-Ready Operations:

Maintenance of documentation, QA/QC procedures, and traceable data systems capable of withstanding regulatory and financial audit scrutiny

Protocol Fidelity:

Strict adherence to approved research methodologies, including IRB compliance and standardized data collection procedures

Deliverable Execution:

Direct contribution to meeting milestones, timelines, and reporting obligations tied to grant funding

Program Scalability:

Support for expanding research efforts into statewide and national models for firefighter health and safety

Salary Range and Justification Base Salary Range:

$85,000 - $115,000 annually This range is supported by:

Educational Requirements:

Master's degree in a technical/scientific discipline

Specialized Skill Set:

o Human subjects research and biospecimen collectiono Exposure science and environmental monitoringo Field operations in hazardous environments

Operational Complexity:

o Independent field deployment and decision-makingo Management of sensitive biological and environmental data

Regulatory Burden:

o IRB compliance, QA/QC requirements, and audit readiness

Market Benchmarking:

o Comparable roles in California across public health research institutes, environmental consulting firms, and firefighter health research programs Growth Pathway This role provides a clear trajectory toward: Senior Research Scientist / Program Manager Principal Investigator (for applied field studies)

Pay:

$85,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Sacramento, CA 95811