Local recruitment: Wastewater Research Scientist

• Job ID: 21332
• Location: Statewide
• Agency: Health Services
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Classification Code: 46850
• Classification Title: Research Scientist

Introduction

The Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Public Health (DPH) is recruiting for a Wastewater Research Scientist within the Bureau of Communicable Diseases (BCD). DPH works with our local and tribal public health partners, and community groups statewide, on a wide variety of programs and services that protect the health of Wisconsin residents. 

This position offers the option to work remotely up to 5 days per week and will be headquartered at one of the DPH central or regional offices. This schedule may vary depending on training and operational needs. Up to 5% statewide travel and overnight stays may be required. 

As an employee of the State of Wisconsin, you’ll also have access to an amazing benefits package, including:

• 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time; limitations may apply for leave time usage in the first six months. 
• Top rated health plan options starting at $47/month for single plans and $117/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service. 
• Premium pension plan with at least a 7.2% employer match in 2026. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!  
• Several flex spending accounts: medical, dependent care, commuter, parking and High Deductible Health Savings.
• A casual office atmosphere, flexible work schedules, and telework options depending on the position’s requirements.
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.

Position Summary

As the Wastewater Research Scientist, you will operate as the strategic lead for the epidemiology and data analysis workstream converting raw wastewater data into actionable public health intelligence. This role is responsible for the scientific conduct of the program, including the design and oversight of surveillance systems for multiple pathogen targets. Duties of this position include:

• Providing scientific oversight to ensure all monitoring activities meet the highest standards of rigor. This involves designing the statewide framework for integrating new pathogens and establishing the protocols used to determine baseline levels, trend trajectories, and intensity thresholds. 
• Leading the development of public health action plans that scale pilot projects into core public health tools and providing expert consultation to federal partners like the CDC, as well as state and local health agencies, on the design of wastewater-based interventions.
• Directing advanced epidemiologic analyses and complex data integration efforts. This work requires conducting robust statistical comparisons between environmental data and clinical data to validate wastewater as a leading indicator of community health. 
• Overseeing the integration of genomic sequencing data to monitor variant prevalence and ensuring that all underlying datasets are managed with maximum statistical reliability.
• Collaborating closely with laboratory partners to align analytical methods with bench-science capabilities. This collaboration extends to the broader scientific community.
• Serving as the lead author on peer-reviewed manuscripts and technical reports, representing the program at conferences, and 

Salary Information

The starting pay is between $46.00 and $52.25 per hour (approximately between $95,600 and $108,600 per year), depending on qualifications, plus excellent benefits. A 24-month Career Executive trial period is required.

Pay for current or former state employees will be set based on the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction. The position is classified as a Research Scientist and is in pay schedule and range 81/02. 

Job Details

• All applicants who may be appointed will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled.
• DHS strives to hire individuals who demonstrate the ability to communicate and effectively interact with people across cultures, ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, and races.
• DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire. DHS is not an E-Verify employer nor a STEM-OPT eligible employer.
• For positions that allow remote working flexibility, working outside of Wisconsin or in bordering cities will not be allowed except in extremely limited circumstances due to the need to report to an office location in Wisconsin on short notice.
• Employees must have access to both a private workspace and secure high-speed internet for remote work option. Mileage reimbursement to the employee’s headquarter location is not provided. Remote work flexibility will be discussed in more detail during the interview process.

Qualifications

Minimally qualified applicants will have all of the following:

• Professional experience working within a public health department, academic institution, or healthcare agency designing, implementing, or managing infectious disease surveillance systems.
• Professional experience cleaning, merging, and managing large data sets from multiple data sources using statistical programming software (e.g. R, SAS, or Python) to conduct epidemiological analysis.
• Experience serving in a leadership role for a scientific or public health program such as a Principal Investigator (PI), as a project lead, lead data scientist, or epidemiologist.
• Experience synthesizing data into written deliverables and serving as a primary author on peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical agency briefings, or formal public health reports.

Well-qualified applicants will also have one or more of the following:

• Experience working directly with environmental surveillance data, including interpreting pathogen concentrations or establishing trend baselines from wastewater matrices.
• Experience or training in genomic epidemiology, including the integration of next-generation sequencing data or viral variant-tracking data with traditional population health indicators.
• Experience acting as a formal liaison between a team and external public health partners, policy makers, or federal agencies.
• Experience managing data timelines, epidemiologic metrics, and grant-funded projects for federal or state grant proposals.

Your letter of qualifications is limited to two (2) pages. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here. 

How To Apply

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process.  Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application. 

Helpful Information: 

• Once your application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click “Save” to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline. 
• You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
• Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above. 
• Please monitor your email for communications related to these positions. 
• Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered. 
• If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.
• For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Human Resources at DHSDPHHR@dhs.wisconsin.gov. 

DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. 

Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans’ hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran’s Affairs, click here.

Deadline to Apply

The deadline to apply is 07/23/26 by 11:59 pm.  

Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm.  Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.