Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Aquatic Ecotoxicologist

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking an experienced Aquatic Ecotoxicologist to lead and execute laboratory and field-based ecotoxicology studies, perform ecological risk assessment (ERA) for aquatic ecosystems, interpret toxicity data for regulatory submissions, and communicate scientific findings to internal teams, clients, and regulatory agencies. The Aquatic Ecotoxicologist will design and implement acute and chronic toxicity tests (fish, invertebrates, algae), assess sediment and benthic impacts, evaluate bioaccumulation and bioconcentration potential, and produce high-quality reports and regulatory deliverables in compliance with GLP, OECD, and EPA guidelines. This role emphasizes strong technical expertise in aquatic toxicology, statistical and exposure modeling skills, and the ability to manage complex projects and client relationships.

Keywords: aquatic ecotoxicologist, aquatic toxicology, ecotoxicology, environmental risk assessment (ERA), acute and chronic toxicity, sediment toxicity, bioaccumulation, bioconcentration, GLP, OECD, EPA, LC50, NOEC, BCF, QSAR, R statistical analysis, exposure modeling.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Laboratory Technician or Research Assistant in ecotoxicology or aquatic biology
Junior Ecotoxicologist / Environmental Scientist with freshwater or marine sampling experience
Graduate student or postdoctoral researcher in ecotoxicology, aquatic toxicology, or environmental chemistry

Advancement To:

Senior Aquatic Ecotoxicologist / Principal Scientist
Team Lead or Technical Lead for Ecotoxicology & ERAs
Regulatory Affairs Specialist / Environmental Risk Assessment Manager

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Fate Scientist
Aquatic Biologist or Aquatic Ecologist
Environmental Consulting Project Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, plan, and conduct laboratory-based acute and chronic aquatic toxicity tests for a range of taxa (fish, invertebrates, algae, macrophytes), ensuring studies conform to OECD, EPA, ISO, ASTM, and national guidance and are performed under GLP when required.
Lead and execute sediment toxicity testing (whole sediment and porewater), benthic invertebrate assays, and elutriate tests to evaluate sediment-associated risks and generate defensible toxicity endpoints such as LC50, EC50, NOEC, and LOEC.
Perform bioaccumulation and bioconcentration studies (BCF/BAF), interpret tissue residue data, and assess potential for trophic transfer and biomagnification using established protocols and modeling tools.
Conduct environmental risk assessments (ERAs) and ecological hazard assessments for aquatic ecosystems, integrating exposure modeling, fate and transport data, toxicity endpoints, and uncertainty analysis to support regulatory submissions and permitting.
Develop study protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality assurance plans, and test plans tailored to client needs and regulatory expectations, and prepare them for internal and external review.
Manage sample collection campaigns and field programs for water, sediment, and biota sampling, oversee chain-of-custody, sample preservation, and transport, and ensure field QA/QC procedures are rigorously followed.
Analyze ecotoxicology data using statistical approaches in R, SAS, or similar platforms, including dose–response modeling, survival analysis, ANOVA, non-parametric tests, and calculation of standard toxicity metrics (ECx, LCx, NOEC).
Interpret complex datasets and translate results into clear, defensible conclusions and actionable recommendations for clients, regulators, and cross-functional project teams.
Prepare high-quality technical reports, scientific memoranda, regulatory dossiers, and peer-reviewed manuscripts that document methods, results, interpretation, and compliance with regulatory guidance.
Provide technical support and subject-matter expertise for regulatory submissions (EPA, EU REACH, provincial/state agencies), responding to data requests, regulatory comments, and preparing responses for dossier reviewers.
Oversee GLP study conduct and documentation; coordinate with QA units and CROs to ensure audit readiness, corrective actions, and full traceability of study records.
Lead or support ecotoxicology components of product stewardship, chemical registration, environmental impact assessments, and contaminated site remediation projects by providing toxicity-based benchmarks and cleanup criteria recommendations.
Evaluate and apply in silico methods and alternative approaches (QSAR, read-across, weight-of-evidence frameworks) to support hazard characterization where testing data are limited.
Collaborate with exposure modellers to combine toxicity endpoints with environmental exposure estimates (PECs, PNECs) and produce risk characterization ratios and mitigation scenarios.
Design and implement field mesocosm and in-situ exposure studies, including microcosm or streamside exposure systems, to assess whole-ecosystem responses and sub-lethal endpoints under realistic conditions.
Supervise, train, and mentor laboratory staff, junior scientists, and students in ecotoxicological methods, ethical handling of organisms, and data analysis best practices.
Manage project budgets, timelines, deliverables, and client communication for multiple concurrent studies while ensuring scientific integrity and timely delivery.
Serve as the primary technical point-of-contact on client projects, prepare proposals and scopes-of-work, participate in client meetings, and present findings at stakeholder workshops or regulatory hearings.
Review literature and scientific advances in aquatic toxicology, exposure science, and risk assessment to continually update testing strategies, methods, and models used by the organization.
Coordinate with analytical chemistry teams to align ecotoxicology studies with chemical characterization, spiking verification, and stability testing to ensure exposure concentrations are known and defensible.
Conduct pre- and post-study data review meetings, identify data quality issues, and implement plans for corrective action or supplemental testing as needed.
Contribute to cross-functional teams that evaluate environmental monitoring data, develop ecological benchmarks (e.g., water quality criteria), and advise on mitigation measures to reduce ecological risk.
Participate in peer reviews, external scientific committees, and professional societies to represent the organization and maintain technical credibility in the aquatic ecotoxicology community.
Ensure safe laboratory and field practices, maintain inventories of live cultures and test organisms, and manage biosecurity and animal welfare concerns in compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
Support new business development by helping prepare technical content for proposals, white papers, client presentations, and by leveraging scientific expertise to identify new service offerings.

Secondary Functions

Assist in the development and implementation of laboratory quality management systems and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance throughput and data quality.
Provide ad-hoc training and workshops for internal staff and clients on aquatic toxicology principles, data interpretation, and regulatory frameworks.
Support internal R&D projects aimed at method development (e.g., molecular endpoints, biomarker assays) and alternative test strategies to reduce reliance on vertebrate testing.
Contribute to grant writing, research collaborations, and university partnerships to advance scientific methods and expand the company’s technical capabilities.
Participate in health, safety, and environmental (HSE) committees and ensure lab fieldwork adheres to company HSE policies.
Take part in business development activities, including preparation of technical proposals, budgets, and scopes of work to secure new ecotoxicology projects.
Provide subject matter input for corporate sustainability and environmental stewardship initiatives, translating toxicity data into corporate environmental risk metrics.
Maintain and update knowledge bases, internal protocols, and training manuals to reflect evolving regulatory guidance and best practices.
Assist with laboratory logistics including organism culture maintenance, equipment calibration schedules, and supply chain coordination for consumables and reagents.
Support cross-disciplinary projects by contributing ecotoxicology expertise to multidisciplinary environmental assessments (e.g., combined chemical and ecological impact studies).

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Demonstrated expertise in aquatic ecotoxicology: design and execution of acute, chronic, and sub-lethal toxicity tests for fish, invertebrates (e.g., Daphnia, amphipods), algae, and macrophytes.
Proficiency with regulatory testing guidelines and frameworks: OECD, EPA/OPPTS, ISO, ASTM protocols, and familiarity with REACH/CLP or regional equivalents.
Experience conducting sediment toxicity assessments and interpreting benthic toxicity endpoints, including elutriate and whole-sediment tests.
Competence in bioaccumulation/bioconcentration testing and interpretation (BCF/BAF), tissue residue analysis, and trophic transfer considerations.
Strong statistical and data analysis skills: dose–response modeling, LC50/EC50/NOEC calculation, trend analysis, and use of statistical software (R, SAS, Python, ToxRat, GraphPad).
Experience with ecological risk assessment (ERA) methodologies: hazard characterization, exposure assessment (PEC), PNEC derivation, risk quotients, and uncertainty analysis.
Familiarity with in silico tools and alternative approaches: QSAR models, read-across, (Q)SAR software and weight-of-evidence frameworks.
Knowledge of GLP requirements, study documentation, chain-of-custody, and quality assurance processes for regulatory submissions and audits.
Practical expertise in field sampling design and execution for water, sediment, and biota (sampling plans, QA/QC, preservation, COC).
Ability to integrate analytical chemistry data with toxicology endpoints and understand spiking regimes, concentration verification, and chemical analyses.
Experience preparing regulatory dossiers, technical reports, study plans, and peer-reviewed publications that are submission-ready.
Hands-on laboratory skills: organism culturing, exposure system maintenance, water chemistry monitoring, cryopreservation and sample preparation.
Familiarity with exposure and fate models (e.g., PRZM, SWAT, fugacity models) and an ability to collaborate with modelers to derive realistic exposure scenarios.
Competence with data management tools, LIMS, electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), and reproducible workflow practices.
Prior experience interacting with regulatory agencies and responding to technical data requests.

Soft Skills

Excellent scientific writing and technical communication skills tailored to regulatory audiences, clients, and multidisciplinary teams.
Strong project management skills: planning, budgeting, scheduling, and delivering multiple concurrent projects on time and within scope.
Problem-solving mindset with attention to detail and ability to identify root causes and corrective actions for experimental or data anomalies.
Collaborative team player who can work across disciplines (chemistry, modeling, ecology) and with external partners (CROs, academic collaborators).
Client-facing skills: ability to translate technical results into clear recommendations and present findings to non-technical stakeholders.
Leadership and mentoring: ability to supervise junior staff, provide constructive feedback, and build technical capability within the team.
Adaptability and continuous learning attitude to stay current with evolving methods, regulations, and scientific literature.
Ethical judgement and commitment to animal welfare and environmental stewardship in experimental design and reporting.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance fieldwork, lab experiments, client deadlines, and manuscript/report preparation.
Critical thinking and data literacy to assess study quality, evaluate alternative hypotheses, and synthesize complex information into concise conclusions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master’s degree in ecotoxicology, aquatic toxicology, environmental science, ecology, marine biology, environmental chemistry, or a closely related discipline.

Preferred Education:

PhD in aquatic ecotoxicology, environmental toxicology, ecology, or related field with a strong publication record in relevant topics (toxicity testing, ERAs, sediment toxicity, bioaccumulation).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aquatic Toxicology / Ecotoxicology
Environmental Science / Environmental Chemistry
Ecology / Aquatic Ecology
Marine Biology / Fisheries Science
Toxicology / Environmental Risk Assessment

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–10+ years of professional experience in aquatic ecotoxicology or related environmental consulting/research roles.

Preferred:

5+ years of hands-on experience conducting regulatory aquatic toxicity tests, sediment toxicity studies, or bioaccumulation assessments.
Experience with GLP study management, regulatory submissions (EPA, REACH, regional agencies), and interacting with regulatory reviewers.
Demonstrated record of technical leadership on multi-disciplinary projects and a history of peer-reviewed publications or technical reports.

Certifications and Additional qualifications (preferred but not required): GLP training, Project Management Professional (PMP), professional membership (SETAC, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry), or specialized training in aquatic organism husbandry and welfare.

Note: This job description is prepared to attract qualified Aquatic Ecotoxicologists experienced in test design, regulatory compliance, and ecological risk assessment. It can be tailored to specific industry sectors (chemical manufacturing, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, mining, or environmental consulting) and to local regulatory requirements.