Careers

Thank you for applying to work at the Center for Human and Planetary Health! Please note that we are unable to respond individually to all inquiries.

Research and Program Manager, Disease Ecology in a Changing World

The Disease Ecology in a Changing World (DECO) program strategizes and conducts solutions-oriented research to support healthy ecosystems and healthy people. This includes studying the ecological, environmental, and socioeconomic drivers of diseases that are transmitted through the environment. 

This position will focus on working with DECO faculty leadership to advance a research program for DECO that bridges knowledge and action, scales solutions, and engages diverse stakeholders in generating new evidence and recommending solutions. The DECO Research and Program Manager must be able to independently contribute to the research required for DECO’s current cornerstone projects while identifying and recommending opportunities to advance the scope and scale of the DECO program. In addition to conducting research, the incumbent will have the opportunity to lead program coordination and organization, fundraising and grant management efforts, and work to build strategic partnerships including within the Stanford disease ecology community.

For more information and to apply, please visit the Stanford Careers page.

Finance and Operations Coordinator

The Center for Human and Planetary Health is seeking a full-time Finance and Operations Coordinator to provide administrative and operational support for the Center and the Luby Lab. This role supports financial transactions including purchasing, reimbursements, and vendor payments, while coordinating operational activities such as travel, basic personnel processes, and general administrative support. The Finance and Operations Coordinator reports to the Finance and Operations Manager for the Center for Human and Planetary Health and Luby Lab.

Working closely with the Finance and Operations Manager, the Finance and Operations Coordinator will help maintain efficient financial and administrative systems that support the Center’s growing research portfolio. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with strong financial and administrative skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced academic environment.

For more information and to apply, visit the Stanford Careers page.

Program and Communications Coordinator

The Center is seeking a full-time Program and Communications Coordinator to support a wide range of activities including program coordination, event planning, communications and outreach, research efforts, and administrative duties. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced academic environment. The successful candidate will enjoy working collaboratively across teams, take initiative to solve problems, have a customer-service orientation, and bring creativity and enthusiasm to supporting the Center’s mission. The Program and Communications Coordinator reports to the Managing Director of the Center for Human and Planetary Health.

For more information and to apply, visit the Stanford Careers page.

Applied Scientific Researcher, Project Unleaded

Project Unleaded, within the Center for Human and Planetary Health at the Woods Institute for the Environment, is seeking an Applied Scientific Researcher to support and advance research to identify and prioritize the most important sources of lead poisoning globally, develop and test interdisciplinary interventions to mitigate and eliminate these sources, and advance field-appropriate rapid measurement techniques to detect lead in humans and the environment. The Applied Scientific Researcher will oversee the development and application of lead detection methods for a range of media, from contaminated consumer products to environmental samples like air, dust, and soil. The Applied Scientific Researcher will work closely with the Director while operating in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment. The work will have broad scientific and public health impact in the field of environmental health. The successful candidate will be highly independent, organized, enthusiastic, and a motivated problem solver, who enjoys working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities will include:

  • Develop and adapt protocols for environmental sampling, analysis, and related survey instruments in collaboration with the Director, drawing on prior literature and local context in LMICs.
  • Develop and adapt field and laboratory techniques for elemental and isotopic characterization of samples, including procedures for XRF, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and colorimetric methods.
  • Produce and maintain detailed documentation—including protocols, standard operating procedures, and data dictionaries—to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and traceability of study data.
  • Ensure all research documentation aligns with institutional policies, administrative requirements, and compliance standards.
  • Develop systems and tools for secure and accurate data storage and management.
  • Oversee logistics for environmental and biological sampling, including scheduling, transport, and use of handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers.
  • Create and maintain processes for logging, tracking, storing, and inventorying samples both in the field and on campus.
  • Maintain organized protocols for laboratory analyses and quality control.
  • Oversee end-to-end experimental design, execution, and sample analysis using a range of laboratory techniques, including ICP-MS, ICP-OES, XRF, and colorimetry.
  • Write and edit research materials, scientific reports, manuscripts, and summaries of findings for donors, collaborators, and internal planning.
  • Proofread and edit drafts, providing feedback on clarity, organization, and presentation.
  • Identify new funding opportunities and support proposal development in collaboration with the broader team.
  • Contribute to the development of new research collaborations and projects.
  • Support capacity-building with partners in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Train research assistants, students, and interns on protocols, laboratory methods, and documentation practices.
  • Maintain and update a lab manual and training materials for current and future team members.
  • Supervise or manage students and interns as needed.

For more information and to apply, please visit the Stanford Careers page.