Hourly Project Assistant II (Internship)

Compensation Grade:

Compensation Details:

Positions with a designated work location in New York City, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, or Westchester Counties will receive a $4,000 annual downstate adjustment (pro-rated for part-time positions).

Department

Job Description:

Responsibilities

Health Research, Inc. is seeking an Hourly Project Assistant II to participate in the work related too the hydraulic behavior of water disinfection contact systems, tanks, pools, and other vessels. The incumbent will use fluid mechanics modeling software and apply this knowledge to drinking and recreational water applications. The objective of this work will be to demonstrate how judicious vessel design provides a more efficient means for treating water in the event of a contamination event. Results gathered will be published in scientific literature and support local health departments and the engineering community in design review and developing guidance documents and best practices.

The Division of Environmental Health Protection (DEHP) is providing an opportunity for an individual to develop investigative skills with an endpoint that provides public health and technical professionals with knowledge that is both accessible and useful for the current practice of public health. The work will include literature surveys, development of skills in using modeling software, design of simulation experiments, execution of simulations, and the development of conclusions that are supported by the work. This type of investigative work is typically not available to public health or private sector engineers and design professionals. The information developed from this project will equip professionals with the needed understanding to incorporate better-quality designs in new and upgraded drinking and recreational water treatment systems. This information will also provide a means for more effective troubleshooting of drinking water systems where the source of the problem is not readily identified.

The incumbent will develop their understanding of water treatment and how hydraulic flow patterns affect the time that is required to decontaminate a vessel of a target agent (i.e., microorganisms, turbidity, dissolved chemicals). These analyses can also be used to model the time required to decontaminate the air in an enclosed space such as an auditorium, classroom, or other place of gathering.

While working with the DEHP team, the incumbent will learn how to and/or become familiar with the scientific method as it applies to applications in public health. The incumbent will learn how to formulate a hypothesis, develop a theoretical and/or numerical method to test it, use the method to obtain new data/information to test the hypothesis, and develop a theory that is supported by analyses. These analyses will be used to author journal articles that will assist in developing guidance. The incumbent will work with theoretical analyses, numerical methods, and the use of various software packages to develop plots, figures and documents that will be needed to memorialize the effort.

This position is part of the Pathways to Public Health Internship Program and the purpose is to strengthen career pathways to public health by bringing together individuals of all disciplines and academic levels with public health professionals to create a space of exploration, learning, and development.

Minimum Qualifications
Currently enrolled in a relevant training program or pursuing a related degree or certificate in a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience including use of Microsoft Suite Strong digital literacy

• Analytical and problem-solving skills

• Familiarity with MATLAB Software or other relational databases

• Undergraduate or Graduate Student enrolled in Engineering, Physics, or Public Health.

Conditions of Employment

Hourly, grant funded position expected to last through 05/08/2026. Compliance with funding requirements such as time and effort reporting, grant deliverables, and contract deliverables, is required.

Valid and unrestricted authorization to work in the U.S. is required. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Travel, up to 10% of the time, will be required.

The selected candidate must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the official work location specified in the job posting and must also be located in or willing to relocate to one of the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, or Massachusetts, prior to hire. Telecommuting will not be available.

HRI participates in the E-Verify Program.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer/Qualified Individuals with Disabilities/Qualified Protected Veterans

www.healthresearch.org

About Health Research, Inc.

Join us in our mission to make a difference in public health and advance scientific research! At Health Research, Inc. (HRI), your work will contribute to meaningful change and innovation in the communities we serve! At HRI, we are on a mission to transform the health and well-being of the people of New York State through innovative partnerships and cutting-edge public health initiatives. As a dynamic non-profit organization, HRIplays a crucial role in advancing the strategic goals of the New York State Department of Health (DOH), Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RPCCC), and other health-related entities.