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EPA Fellowship on Chemical Behavior and Ecotoxicity of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Other Emerging Contaminants
Job Description
- Agency
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Location
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Job Category
- Fellowships & Scholarships
- Salary
- TBD
- Last Date to Apply
- 10/27/2023
- Website
- https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/EPA-ORD-CCTE-GLTED-2023-06
- Description
- *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 Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology & Ecology Division (GLTED) located in Duluth, Minnesota. Research Project: Per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic contaminants found ubiquitously in the environment and biota due to their broad commercial uses and unique chemical properties that render them recalcitrant to degradation. While some PFAS like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) have received considerable attention in environmental and toxicological research, there remains a paucity of data on the distribution and effects of other PFAS. For example, within the past two and a half decades thousands of new PFAS have been identified with little to no information on their environmental occurrence or biological effects. Research is currently underway to test the effects of broad classes of PFAS on aquatic organisms, determine their uptake into those biota, and assess their partitioning behavior. The overall goal of this research is to inform the development of risk-based guidelines and to work with collaborators to develop models that predict ecotoxicity. Learning Objectives: The research participant will gain skills relating to laboratory techniques and best practices, which will provide the practical foundation for future employment in research, contract, or production laboratories. The research participant will also have opportunities for honing skills related to public speaking and technical writing by means of disseminating the results of high-quality research. The research participant will be part of a diverse and multi-disciplinary team of scientists who make up our research group. Participation in this group will facilitate opportunities to collaborate with highly regarded scientists within and outside of the EPA, which will provide opportunities for the candidate to grow their professional network. This training opportunity will provide the research participant a solid springboard for advancing their career in the scientific field or pursuing advanced education. Under the guidance of the mentor, the research participant may be involved in any of the following activities: Designing, planning, and executing sampling strategies to ensure accurate and representative analysis of complex aquatic toxicity experiments. Designing and implementing experiments to determine the uptake of PFAS into aquatic biota. Exploring the partitioning behavior of PFAS in biphasic systems. Following established QA/QC procedures associated with toxicological and chemical research while also considering, designing, and implementing new QA/QC as part of continuing quality improvement--where appropriate. Using advanced instrumentation (GC, HPLC, MS, MS/MS, and Orbitrap) to quantify PFAS in exposure systems, determine purity of chemical stocks, assess uptake into biota, and establish partitioning behaviors. Assisting in the setup and implementation of aquatic toxicity assays. Analyzing instrument data, employing statistical analyses, and distilling the results into reports of experimental results for group members, collaborators, and other interested parties. Presenting research findings at conferences and/or workshops at local, national, and international levels. Assisting in or independently preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication. Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Will J Backe (backe.will@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor. Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 4th, 2023. 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 three years 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 (i.e. The following range bachelor's ~ $46,692 - master's ~$57,120). 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.
- Qualifications
- The qualified candidate should have received a master's degree or bachelor's degree with work experience equivalent to a master's degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within five years of the anticipated appointment start date. Preferred Skills: Laboratory research experience beyond that encountered during undergraduate college courses. Experience with acquiring and processing water, sediment, and biota samples for chemical analysis. Experience using advanced analytical instrumentation including liquid and/or gas chromatographs; and mass analyzers such as single quadrupole, triple quadrupole, and/or Orbitrap mass spectrometers. Familiarity with different instrumentation vendors and their software (Thermo, Agilent, SCIEX, Waters, etc.) Statistical skills relating to data analysis and data comparison. Experience working with aquatic organisms as part of ecotoxicology research. Familiarity using Microsoft Excel and the R programing language.
- Contact Person
- ORISE.EPA.ORD@orau.org
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