José L. Zambrana, Jr., Ph.D.

José is available for virtual presentations only.

My name is José L. Zambrana, Jr. and I am a Physical Scientist/Senior Science Advisor at the Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling within EPA's Office of Research and Development. I work to support states, tribes, and communities seeking environmental justice which are all at the forefront of environmental protection, and on special projects, such as dealing with contaminants of emerging concern, advancing community resilience, and understanding potential exposures from recycled tire crumb rubber used on playing fields. Issues arise which may require research and coordination, and I employ project management skills along with broader scientist expertise to move our efforts forward, and ensure the results are informative to those who need to make decisions to protect the environment and public health. I also enjoy working with and mentoring students and interns, and help lead a summer internship at the University of California - Riverside. 

I majored in chemistry and music at Houghton College, and then got a PhD in inorganic chemistry from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). I taught chemistry at Queens College after getting my degree. Because of my interest in a science policy career, I became a Science & Technology Policy Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where I worked at EPA focusing on environmental justice and spurring high-impact, transformative environmental science research. After this science policy post-doc, I was hired by EPA just over 12 years ago. 

I play the piano and keyboard in church, which helps keep my sanity and nurture my artistic/creative side. My husband works in TV writing, so I watch a lot of TV shows -- mostly drama and sci-fi. We live in Los Angeles with our Boston Terrier dog named "Boba."

PLEASE NOTE:

• The Speakers Bureau is available for scheduling presentations only. For questions about EPA Research, visit Contact Us About EPA Research. For general questions about EPA, visit Contact EPA.
• Travel is limited to approximately 50 miles from Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) area. All travel is up to the discretion of the speaker.
• There is no charge for a speaker.
• Submit requests at least 4 weeks in advance.
• Requests limited to two speakers per event.
• If you have a large event and would like to request multiple speakers from EPA, Contact the Speakers Bureau for assistance.

Confirmation Policy: 
If you need to cancel or reschedule, contact the speakers as soon as possible, but no later than 1 week prior to the presentation.