EPA Developmental Neurotoxicity in Vitro Battery Development

*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. You will receive training in the Research Triangle Park, NC campus.

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: This research project will develop and validate components of the EPA developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) in vitro battery, a suite of new approach methods (NAMs) designed to evaluate chemicals for potential adverse effects on the developing nervous system. EPA performs research to identify and validate alternative testing strategies that reduce reliance on costly and time-intensive animal studies while improving the speed and throughput of chemical hazard assessment. There are tens of thousands of chemicals currently in commerce, and only a small fraction have been assessed for developmental neurotoxicity. The DNT in vitro battery offers a path forward by combining complementary cell-based assays that capture key neurodevelopmental processes, including neuronal proliferation, migration, synaptogenesis, and network activity, into a tiered, mechanistically-informed testing framework. Building confidence in this battery requires rigorous assay development, robust data analysis, cross-agency collaboration, and linkage of in vitro endpoints to apical outcomes and regulatory points of departure. 

The objective of this research project is to advance the scientific credibility and regulatory utility of the DNT in vitro battery through integrated wet lab and bioinformatic approaches. You will contribute to assay development and optimization, perform comparative analyses of new and historical datasets, evaluate assay transferability across partner agencies, and conduct predictive analyses linking in vitro endpoints to apical toxicological outcomes. Under the guidance of a mentor, you will synthesize findings for peer-reviewed publication and stakeholder communication. Research activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Hands-on participation in the development and optimization of in vitro assays comprising the DNT battery
• Bioinformatic analysis of assay data, including integration and comparison with existing historical datasets
• Collaboration with partner agencies to evaluate the transferability and reproducibility of DNT battery assays across laboratories
• Statistical and computational analyses to identify which assays are most predictive of apical neurotoxicity outcomes and regulatory points of departure
• Reading and interpreting relevant scientific literature on developmental neurotoxicity, NAMs, and regulatory toxicology
• Active participation in meetings of the project team, branch, and division
• Preparing reports, presentations, and summaries of research findings
• Opportunity to present research at professional and regulatory science meetings
• Authoring or co-authoring manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals

Learning Objectives: Through participation in this opportunity, you will learn how to:

• Perform and optimize key in vitro assays within the DNT battery, including cell culture techniques and endpoint measurement
• Apply bioinformatic tools and workflows to analyze high-content screening data and compare results across datasets and laboratories
• Evaluate assay transferability and interlaboratory variability in the context of test method validation and regulatory acceptance
• Use statistical approaches to assess the predictivity of in vitro endpoints relative to apical neurotoxicity outcomes and existing points of departure
• Integrate findings across multiple lines of evidence to build scientific confidence in a NAM-based testing battery
• Communicate complex scientific results to both technical and regulatory audiences through written reports and oral presentations

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Thomas Jackson (jackson.thomas@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 8, 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