Full-Time

Research Chemist

Eastern Research Group

Eastern Research Group

201-500 employees

Public health and environmental safety consulting

Compensation Overview

$60k - $84k/yr

+ Profit Sharing

Research Triangle, Durham, NC, USA

In Person

Category
Lab & Research (1)
Required Skills
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • Minimum of 2+ years of experience operating gas chromatography instrumentation, preferably including GC/MS instrumentation for EPA methods
  • Proficiency with instrument plumbing, including gas and liquid lines
  • Familiarity with standard laboratory hygiene practices and protocols
  • Legible and accurate scientific writing
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and analytical/scientific software
  • Ability to interpret technical manuals, equipment documentation, and laboratory procedures
  • Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
  • Experience applying EPA air emissions methodologies
  • Proven ability to author technical documentation, including safety plans, operational procedures, facility manuals, and technical reports
  • Occasional lifting up to 35 lbs. (<5% of work time)
  • Regular use of industrial PPE, including safety glasses, protective footwear, lab coats, and gloves (~80% of work time)
  • Ability to work in moderate industrial noise environments (<10% of work time)
Responsibilities
  • Provide professional technical support within allocated task resources and contribute to overall efficiency of scientific operations, achieving increasing levels of independent accomplishment
  • Adhere to Quality Assurance Program Plans, Work or Test Plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Health & Safety Plans; thoroughly and consistently document all laboratory activities in designated notebooks
  • Maintain laboratory spaces according to Safety, Health, and Environmental Management criteria; evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance or recommend improvements
  • Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests
  • Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct experiments
  • Perform preparation, extraction, and analysis of target compounds from various environmental sample matrices and sampling equipment or media (e.g., air sampling canisters, XAD, thermal desorption tubes, SPE cartridges, filters)
  • Prepare sampling media (e.g., XAD, filters, canisters, thermal desorption tubes) prior to field deployment and accurately document preparation procedures
  • Analyze sample preparations using GC/MS, LC/MS, or other analytical techniques; reduce sample data and report analytical results in a timely manner
  • Conduct quality control tests and evaluate results against data quality indicator goals; perform corrective actions as prescribed by QA and/or project management
  • Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory instruments to ensure proper functionality
  • Compile and analyze test information to evaluate process or equipment performance or diagnose malfunctions
  • Communicate processes, results, and challenges to supervisors and management teams
  • Assist in writing technical papers or reports, and prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests
  • Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods
  • Recommend and manage laboratory supply purchases, including chemicals, to maintain adequate working inventory
Eastern Research Group

Eastern Research Group

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Eastern Research Group (ERG) provides consulting services in public health, environmental safety, and worker health and safety. It works with government agencies, communities, private companies, and non-profits to address environmental and health challenges. The firm emphasizes assessing environmental and occupational exposures, ensuring safety of food and drugs, planning sustainable facilities, and improving worker health and safety. Revenue comes from consulting fees, often under long-term government contracts. ERG differentiates itself by its mission-driven focus on fairness, equity, and social justice, and by partnering with a diverse client base including small, disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Its goal is to protect public health and the environment, improve workplace safety, and promote inclusive economic growth through collaboration with diverse partners.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Acquired

Total Funding

$83M

Headquarters

Oslo, Norway

Founded

1984

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • ERG won an $85M EPA OECA BPA in June 2026.
  • CARB selected ERG in March 2026 for emissions-methodology and wood-combustion work.
  • ERG added 77 2026 job postings and grew headcount 26.4% since 2023.

What critics are saying

  • EPA concentration dominates; ERG has $383.3M across 768 awards, mostly from EPA.
  • Multiple 2026 contracts expire by August-September 2026, forcing painful recompetes soon.
  • A future EPA procurement reset or budget cut hits ERG’s existential revenue base.

What makes Eastern Research Group unique

  • ERG owns EPA air-quality tooling like SEE, built in 2014 and still upgraded in 2026.
  • ERG wins technical, noncommodity work: emissions methods, battery safety, and exposure-model updates.
  • ERG’s 960-person team spans environmental science, engineering, and regulatory support across federal agencies.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Leave

Hybrid Work Options

Profit Sharing

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Work Hours

Company News

ERG
Jul 2nd, 2026
ERG helps EPA develop Battery Collection Best Practices.

ERG helps EPA develop Battery Collection Best Practices. July 2, 2026 ERG is proud to support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in developing resources to help improve battery collection, recycling, and safety. Batteries can start fires when they are not handled properly - for example, when they are thrown in the trash or curbside recycling bin - endangering workers and communities. Additionally, when batteries are placed in the trash or curbside recycling, the critical materials in them cannot be recycled into new batteries. To support EPA in gathering insight on battery collection best practices and topics for resource development, ERG: * Coordinated over 20 virtual and in-person working sessions with industry professionals and state, territorial, Tribal, local, and federal governments. During these engagements, which reached 5,000 participants from 51 U.S. states and territories, participants and speakers shared the battery collection and recycling challenges and solutions in their communities. * Used feedback from the working sessions to help develop the online Battery Collection Best Practices Toolkit, a filterable repository of resources that supports communities implementing battery collection programs. ERG created case studies, how-to guides, tip sheets, and decision trees that span battery chemistries, uses, geographic contexts, and collection scenarios. The toolkit also provides links to additional tools and resources. * Developed a case study and comprehensive tip sheet that helps retailers identify applicable state and local e-cigarette disposal requirements and step-by-step guidance for establishing collection sites and safely handling, storing, and disposing of e-cigarettes. * Provided technical writing support for the Battery Collection Best Practices report, which EPA recently released to Congress. The report details best practices for collecting different types of batteries and provides guidance on communication, collection site design, and transportation. ERG has partnered with EPA since 2022 to develop resources that help states, Tribes, and local governments establish safe and effective battery collection programs and better understand battery collection and recycling best practices. "Batteries are a charged topic-in more ways than one! We're proud to support EPA in delivering practical tools that help communities safely collect batteries and advance a circular economy for the critical minerals they contain," said ERG Program Manager Alexandra Phillips.

ERG
Jun 4th, 2026
ERG to update emissions tool used for regional air quality planning in texas.

ERG to update emissions tool used for regional air quality planning in texas. June 4, 2026 The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) selected ERG to update the region's Spatial Emissions Estimator (SEE), a tool developed by ERG in 2014 and used by H-GAC to estimate on-road emissions and support transportation conformity analyses for plans such as freeway expansions. ERG originally developed SEE to support H-GAC's emissions analyses and make the modeling process more efficient and repeatable. This update will integrate EPA's latest vehicle emissions model, refresh key datasets, and provide training to H-GAC staff. ERG's Henry Byoun is leading project execution and driving this next phase of work with H-GAC. "This work continues our partnership with H-GAC and reflects ERG's focus on developing technically sound tools that support regional planning and air quality decision-making," said Vice President and Senior Engineer Allison DenBleyker.

ERG
May 21st, 2026
ERG to support California Air Resources Board with emissions quantification projects.

ERG to support California Air Resources Board with emissions quantification projects. May 21, 2026 ERG recently won two contracts with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), both of which focus on quantifying emissions that can negatively affect air quality. For the first project, ERG will develop emissions quantification methods for sectors that emit criteria pollutants and toxic emissions, with a focus on metal plating; print shops; and metal melting, smelting, recovery, reclamation, and recycling. ERG's work will culminate in the creation of a tool that CARB can use to calculate emissions of criteria pollutants and toxics. For the second project, ERG will support the development of a statewide residential wood combustion (RWC) emissions inventory, an important step toward better understanding a key source of fine particulate matter in many communities. RWC emissions (including emissions from fireplaces, woodstoves, inserts, and fire pits) are difficult to quantify, especially in a geographically varied state like California. Both efforts will contribute to the development of strong, science-based air quality management strategies in the state. "We are looking forward to bringing together talented ERG teams with experience in a diverse group of source types to better quantify these emissions for the state of California," said Brian Palmer, a senior environmental scientist at ERG.

ERG
Jan 15th, 2026
ERG and Opus Inspection to conduct 10-year emissions study for Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

ERG and Opus Inspection to conduct 10-year emissions study for Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. ERG, in partnership with Opus Inspection, Inc., has been awarded a 10-year contract with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to advance the state's understanding of real-world vehicle emissions. During the study, Opus will deploy remote sensing devices (RSD) every two years to measure on-road vehicle emissions across Oregon. After each deployment, ERG will conduct rigorous quality assurance reviews and perform in-depth data analysis. Under this contract, ERG and Opus will evaluate the effectiveness of Oregon's Inspection and Maintenance Program, which requires vehicles registered in the Portland and Medford metropolitan areas to pass an emissions test every two years. The study will also help Oregon DEQ assess the effect that commuting has on air quality and understand emissions trends categorized by fuel type, vehicle age, and vehicle type. "This work builds on our history of successful partnerships with Opus in what will become our longest-running and most comprehensive RSD project to date," said Alan Stanard, a staff engineer in ERG's Clean Transportation group. "A full decade of data collection will give us a detailed picture of changes in Oregon's vehicle fleet over time and how the state's inspection program shapes real-world emissions." ERG is excited to help Oregon DEQ translate real-world emissions data into actionable insights that result in cleaner air and healthier communities. Learn more about ERG's Clean Transportation expertise: https://www.erg.com/service/clean-transportation.

ERG
Aug 20th, 2025
ERG's Steph Tatham Speaks to a Full House on PFAS Panel at Legislative Summit

ERG's steph Tatham speaks to a full house on PFAS panel at Legislative Summit.