EPA Atmospheric Deposition Science & Assessment Fellowship

*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis and applications may close before the deadline.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), located in Washington, DC.

The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. EPA works to ensure that: Americans have clean air, land and water; National efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information; Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively and as Congress intended; Environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy; All parts of society have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks; Contaminated lands and toxic sites are cleaned up; and chemicals in the marketplace are reviewed for safety.

This research opportunity is currently available in EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Impacts and Ambient Standards Division (IASD). IASD provides evaluation and analysis of health, environmental, and economic impacts of air pollution to inform national air pollution regulations. These pollutants include criteria pollutants, air toxics, ozone depleting substances, hydrofluorocarbons, and volatile organic compounds. The Division leads review and revision of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and conducts quantitative assessments of exposure and risk for air pollutants. IASD analyzes benefits and costs of addressing air quality through regulatory programs and communicates health and environmental risk information to stakeholders. IASD is comprised of seven branches: Air Pollution Toxicology Branch, Ambient Standards Branch, Economic Analysis Branch, Economic Modeling Branch, Integrated Health Assessment Branch, Integrated Welfare Effects Branch, and Risk & Exposure Assessment Branch.

Research Project: You will do research with the Integrated Welfare Effects Branch within IASD. You may be engaged in one or more of the following training opportunities: 

• Applying systematic review methods to atmospheric and environmental information, including development and application of literature search and screening strategies, study evaluation, synthesis of evidence, and qualitative or quantitative analyses of air quality, deposition, and environmental impact data to inform scientific assessments and environmental policy development and implementation.
• Supporting logical, credible air quality assessments (particularly focused on the modeling, measurement, and deposition of criteria pollutants) that reflect current scientific knowledge, including drafting text, creating figures, and reviewing and responding to stakeholder comments.
• Developing analyses to support the assessment of air pollution concentration to deposition to ecological exposure in North America. Topics could include but are not limited to evaluating wet and dry deposition loadings and processes, interpreting observational and model datasets, and characterizing the relationship between deposition of S and N compounds and air quality concentrations of S oxides, N oxides and PM2.5.  
• Identifying and researching cross-cutting scientific issues that arise in EPA science assessments, policy development, and rulemakings.
• Conduct independent atmospheric science research projects, with guidance from an EPA mentor(s), with the potential opportunity to author peer-reviewed publications or develop conference presentations based on this.
• Synthesize information for presentation to EPA managers and appropriate stakeholder groups.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of the EPA mentor(s), you will have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of projects that can include qualitative or quantitative analyses of atmospheric observation (e.g. air pollutant concentrations and deposition) and modeling data. In particular, you will learn approaches for the evaluation, analysis, and synthesis of air pollution and atmospheric information to inform EPA scientific assessments. You will also gain an understanding of how scientific evidence is used to develop and inform EPA program priorities, rulemaking, and decision-making processes.

You will observe, collaborate with, and gain knowledge from staff in the Integrated Welfare Effects Branch, IASD, and potentially from other EPA Offices. You will have opportunities to conduct quantitative or qualitative analyses that may be used by EPA staff in scientific assessments, rulemakings, briefings for stakeholders, and potentially result in conference presentations or peer-reviewed publications. Through this process you will learn about EPA’s process for science and policy assessments and federal rulemakings, as well as gain exposure to a broad range of environmental policy, programs, and related issues, including how domestic regulation under the Clean Air Act, state laws, and international and domestic policy act to protect air quality.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Daisy Duarte (duarte.daisy@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: January 31, 2027. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors.

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

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

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.

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

Salary : $70,623 - $85,447