What are the responsibilities and job description for the EPA Development and Qualification of In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Models for Environmental Chemical Screening position at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
*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), Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), located in Durham, North Carolina.
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.
Research Project: The Risk Assessment Support Division (RASD) within the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) Office of Mission Critical Operations (OMCO) of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) supports Agency decisions by providing solutions-driven research to rapidly evaluate the risks associated with environmental chemical exposures. A key component of this work is the application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) including in vitro, in chemico, and in silico approaches to generate human relevant information for chemical hazard and risk assessment. These approaches support Agency's commitment to reduce or replace vertebrate animal testing while providing accurate and reliable data to safeguard human health and the environment.
RASD develops and applies physiologically relevant in vitro models, high-throughput screening assays, and computational and informatics approaches to advance predictive, human-relevant toxicological assessment. As part of our in vitro NAM development, we are actively seeking a research participant to join our team and learn about the advancement of in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models. You will gain experience with the establishment and optimization of in vitro BBB model systems, chemical exposure assays, and permeability and transport studies. Data generated through these studies will be used to inform in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation and support the development, parameterization, calibration, and evaluation of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models of chemical disposition and brain exposure. The overall goal is to improve predictions of chemical brain exposure and distribution while advancing human-relevant approaches for chemical safety assessment.
Learning Objectives: You will gain hands-on experience with human primary cell cultures, high-content imaging and image analysis, assessment of toxicokinetic assay endpoints, gene expression assays including qPCR and RNA sequencing, and advanced in vitro culture methods, such as 3D spheroids, organoids, and tissue chips. Additionally, you will be involved in curating scientific literature, preparing reports, presenting research at national meetings, and authoring manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Sreenivasa Ramaiahgari (ramaiahgari.sreenivasa@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 14, 2026. 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.OCSPP@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Salary : $52,693 - $64,453