*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline. Click here for information about the selection process.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Public Health Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), Public Health and Environmental Systems Division (PHESD) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

Research Project: Under the guidance of a mentor, the research participant will have the opportunity to participate in research related to identification of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) source signatures and the health effect associated with the exposure to provide regional and national level estimates of the health burden derived from exposure to PFAS. The assessment study will examine the distribution of exposure and health burden with respect to community characteristics and identify high priority area for sampling. The spatial distribution of source signatures will be examined with respect to socio-demographic profiles of communities to assess equity of exposure and other measure of environmental justice. Environmental exposures will be linked to health outcome data selected from several Health Informatics Platforms including Electronic Health Records and Cancer registries.

Environmental exposures are often determined using large databases, model predictions, remote sensing data or similar methods. The successful applicant should be interested in and able to engage with utilization of large datasets. This research training opportunity presents a unique opportunity to collaborate with researchers at the leading edge of the fields that will drive the future of environmental health for years to come.

Learning Objectives: The research participant will have the opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team of investigators that are developing community-based indicators of vulnerability to a changing environment. Under the guidance of a mentor, research activities may include:

• Conducting data analysis, documenting statistical code and interpretation of results.
• Conducting and documenting quality assurance and review of data analysis and databases.
• Preparing reports, presentations and summaries of the data.
• Presenting results at at professional meetings.
• Publication of results.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Dr. Ana Rappold (rappold.ana@epa.gov) and co-mentor Elaine Cohen-Hubal (Hubal.Elaine@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Summer 2024. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. Click here for detailed information about start dates.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and may be renewed upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.A travel/training allowance will be provided to the candidate to present project-related research data and results at scientific meetings (e.g., conferences and workshops). Click here for detailed information about full-time stipends.

EPA Security Clearance: Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at EPA.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. Participants do not become employees of EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5-year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.EPA.ORD@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.