Environmental Data Scientist Research Scientist 3

The State of Minnesota is seeking an Environmental Data Scientist - Research Scientist 3 in St. Cloud, MN. This role involves providing research and data modeling support for sustainable materials management and solid waste programs. Key responsibilities include analyzing environmental data, developing life cycle assessment models, and collaborating with internal and external partners. Candidates should have a Master's degree in a related field, programming experience in Python, R, or Julia, and strong communication skills. The position offers full-time hours with telework options.
About the position

The Environmental Data Scientist - Research Scientist 3 position at the State of Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency is a critical role focused on providing technical research and data modeling support for sustainable materials management (SMM) and solid waste programs. The incumbent will engage in a variety of tasks that include reviewing project objectives, determining data modeling strategies, and providing technical assistance during the development of project work plans. This role is essential for analyzing and interpreting data related to environmental indicators, such as greenhouse gas emissions and human toxicity, and for developing graphic displays of data trends and model results. In this position, the Environmental Data Scientist will work closely with internal staff and external partners to relay technical information effectively. The role requires a strong foundation in environmental research, particularly in programming and coding using languages such as Python, R, or Julia. The successful candidate will also be responsible for establishing coherent life cycle assessment (LCA) models and creating new databases to support these models. The position is designed for individuals who are passionate about environmental sustainability and are eager to contribute to the development of policies and programs that enhance the quality of life for all Minnesotans. The work environment is collaborative and supportive, with a commitment to equity and inclusion. Employees are encouraged to engage in ongoing training and development opportunities, ensuring they remain at the forefront of environmental research and data analysis. This position is full-time, with a day shift schedule from Monday to Friday, and offers the flexibility of telework options. The role is classified as exempt and does not require travel as a minimum qualification, although some travel may be necessary for state business.

Responsibilities
• Provide technical research and review for sustainable materials management and solid waste programs.
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• Develop and support data modeling strategies to meet project objectives.
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• Assist in the development of project work plans and data analysis.
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• Analyze and interpret environmental indicators related to resource inputs and waste outputs.
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• Create graphic displays of data trends and model results.
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• Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to communicate technical information effectively.

Requirements
• Master's degree in Sustainability/Sustainable Design, Engineering, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Industrial Ecology, Sustainable Development, or related fields.
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• Minimum two years of environmental research experience, including programming in Python, R, or Julia.
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• Ability to learn new software as it becomes available.
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• Experience in establishing coherent LCA models and creating LCA databases.
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• Ability to normalize data sets across various units of measurement.
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• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Nice-to-haves
• Certification in LCA modeling and analysis.
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• Experience performing quantitative research and developing statistical models in R or Python.
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• Two years of experience modeling life cycle impacts of materials and products.
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• Experience with life cycle assessments (LCA) modeling.
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• Demonstrated leadership in managing LCA projects.
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• Strong background in environmental engineering, toxicology, or product design.

Benefits
• Telework eligibility
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• Training and development opportunities
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• Support resources for employees
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• Commitment to equity and inclusion