Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Risk Assessment Research Scientist at UL Research Institutes, based in our Morrisville, NC office.

The Lead Risk Assessment Research Scientist will be responsible for serving as a technical expert contributing to the design, execution, and communication of risk assessment development efforts at Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI). This role leads the development of human health risk assessments for chemicals with potential exposure and human health impacts that represent priority chemicals for CIRI's partners and stakeholders. This position will be responsible for all technical related aspects for the development of human health risk assessments including verbal and written. The individual applies technical expertise in some or all of the following domains including systematic review, toxicology, hazard identification, dose-response, toxicokinetic modeling, and/or mode of action (MOA) for both non-cancer and cancer endpoints to inform chemical safety, regulatory policy, and public awareness.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Chemical Insights Research Institute, teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put it into practice.

Chemical Insights Research Institute:

The Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) contributes to the protection of public health and well-being by conducting scientific research. Our research and initiatives let people around the world know what chemicals are in the air we breathe and how they affect human health and the planet. We share our research and knowledge through information and application tools with leaders in the scientific, business, and policy communities to raise awareness of human health risks stemming from emerging technologies. To learn more, visit: chemicalinsights.org

What you’ll learn and achieve:

As the Lead Risk Assessment Research Scientist, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Assist in the design, execution, and dissemination of integrated chemical human health risk assessments aligned with CIRI’s mission to support partners and stakeholders.
• Develop comprehensive chemical human health risk assessments including qualitative and quantitative analyses for non-cancer and cancer endpoints.
• Participate in peer-review processes for human health risk assessments including presenting technical information, developing evaluations of existing literature and its utility, responding verbally or in writing to questions from peer-reviewers, and revising assessments based on peer-review comments.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including scientists, health professionals, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions.
• Translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences, including the development of educational and risk communication materials.
• Serve as an investigator or lead author on high-visibility projects, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Mentor and guide junior researchers, post-docs, and interns in chemical human health risk assessment methods and analysis.
• Represent CIRI at national and international scientific conferences, workshops, and technical forums.
• Continuously monitor emerging scientific research, technologies, and regulatory trends to inform strategy and maintain technical leadership in chemical human health risk assessment.
• Perform other duties as directed.

What you’ll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You’ll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today’s global challenges require.
• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what’s on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You’ll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.
• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.
• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.
• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Expert level proficiency in chemical human health risk assessment, toxicology, dose response assessment, and systematic review methods.
• Demonstrated experience in developing systematic evidence maps, performing systematic reviews, and developing human health risk assessments.
• Knowledge of in vitro, in silico, and in vivo toxicity testing data and its application to human health assessment.
• Working knowledge of chemistry, toxicokinetics, and exposure science.
• Ability to integrate scientific research with applied real-world solutions, particularly in human health risk assessment.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications, peer-reviewed human health risk assessments, and technical presentations to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated excellence in technical communication across written, verbal, and visual formats.
• Leadership and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously.
• Ability to foster cross-functional collaboration and build consensus among diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary research teams.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Bachelor’s degree in toxicology, environmental health/sciences plus 12 years directly related work experience; or
• Master’s degree in toxicology, environmental health/sciences plus 10 years directly related work experience; or
• PhD in toxicology, environmental health/sciences, or a related field plus 8 years of post-graduate experience in chemical human health risk assessment, toxicology, or related disciplines.
• Experience in developing scientific computing tools to extract and/or analyze information to answer complex toxicological questions is a plus.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.