Wastewater Surveillance and Epidemiology Subject Matter Expert

Wastewater Surveillance and Epidemiology Subject Matter Expert
Invoti L.L.C.

Duration: Part-time 2535% November 2026 July 2027 Remote with periodic travel to Kansas City MO

About the role
Project involves development of regional wastewater data and predictive analytics platform for our client. We need a scientific lead who will guide the data model normalization methods and disease forecasting models. You will work alongside our data engineering GIS and dashboard team.

Responsibilities

• Assess how laboratories and jurisdictions in the region sample and test wastewater and identify where methods differ.
• Define the scientific content of the common data model: targets assays recovery controls quality flags and method metadata.
• Recommend and document normalization methods (flow population fecal-strength markers) and agree them with clients laboratory partners.
• Design forecasting and trend-detection models for infectious disease and opioid prevalence and validate them against clinical surveillance data.
• Set model performance metrics and document assumptions limitations and responsible-use safeguards.
• Review dashboard content so public and agency messaging is scientifically accurate.
• Recommend future indicators for expanding the platform.
• Present methods to health departments state laboratories and advisory groups.

Required qualifications

• MPH MS or PhD in epidemiology biostatistics environmental engineering environmental microbiology or a related field.
• 3 years of wastewater-based epidemiology work with a public health agency public health laboratory or academic program.
• Working knowledge of qPCR/ddPCR results sampling methods and normalization approaches.
• Familiarity with CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) data standards.
• Experience building and validating time-series or forecasting models in R or Python.
• Ability to explain methods and limitations to non-technical audiences.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with opioid or drug-metabolite wastewater analysis.
• Experience with multi-jurisdiction or regional surveillance programs.
• Experience with geospatial or sewershed-level analysis.
• Published or presented work on wastewater surveillance.