FIT NYC Project Associate (PRISM)

About the Role

The Project Associate supports PRISM (Precision, Regenerative, Intelligent, Scalable Materials), a five-year research program at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Columbia University, funded by the Bezos Earth Fund. The program focuses on developing high-performance regenerative textile fibers grown by bacteria on agricultural waste. This position is grant-funded and full-time for a one-year term, with the possibility of renewal.

Key Responsibilities

• Life cycle impact assessment of textile fibers: Support assessment of environmental and human health impacts, with particular attention to biofabricated fibers. Gather pain points from industry stakeholders across the textile value chain.
• Assessment framework development: Contribute to the PRISM assessment framework, including methodology, data requirements, and documentation, in coordination with research teams.
• Techno-economic integration: Integrate techno-economic analysis with environmental assessment to evaluate findings on cost and scale alongside impact results.
• Symposium planning and development: Plan and develop a scholarly symposium at FIT on life cycle assessment for fashion, including program development, speaker and stakeholder outreach, and logistics coordination.
• Reporting, dissemination and project support: Contribute to funder reporting, publications, presentations, project documentation, records, and partner communication.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Master's Degree required.
• Professional or research experience relevant to the responsibilities, including quantitative analysis, research or program support, and project coordination.
• Knowledge of environmental and human health impact assessment concepts.
• Familiarity with the textile or materials value chain.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze quantitative data.
• Ability to document methods and assumptions so that work is traceable and reproducible.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings to diverse audiences.
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, track deliverables, and meet milestones on a funded research schedule.
• Ability to work collaboratively with scientists, engineers, designers, and external partners across two institutions.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets and data analysis tools.
• Willingness to learn life cycle assessment software and databases.
• Discretion in handling pre-publication research data and partner information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or doctoral degree in public health, climate and health, environmental science or engineering, industrial ecology, materials science, sustainability science, or a closely related field.
• Experience with life cycle assessment (LCA) or life cycle impact assessment, including data collection, inventory compilation, and interpretation of results.
• Experience related to climate and health, including environmental and human health impact pathways.
• Experience with regenerative materials, bioinspired materials, or biofabrication for climate solutions.
• Experience integrating cost, scale, or techno-economic considerations into environmental, scientific, or policy analysis.
• Experience planning convenings, symposia, workshops, or stakeholder engagement.
• Experience with climate solutions connected to resilient and inclusive economic development.
• Experience working across disciplines and partner institutions, including public-private partnerships.

Additional Information

• Salary: $90,000 per year
• Work Schedule: M-F, 35 hours per week, in person.
• Appointment: 1 year with possibility of renewal.
• This position is grant-funded.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.