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The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Epidemiology Research Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Chapel Hill, NC.

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

What the EPA project is about

The Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) at ORD provides the science needed to understand the complex interrelationship between people and nature in support of assessments and policy to protect human health and ecological integrity.  Within CPHEA, the Public Health and Environmental Systems Division (PHESD) focuses on the interrelationships between people and their environment, promotes human health and well-being, and fosters healthy and safe communities.

Within PHESD, the Epidemiology Branch (EB) conducts epidemiological research supporting EPA’s regulations and helping communities to make better decisions to sustain a healthy society and environment. A research team in EB is working to explore the beneficial and/or adverse health effects resulting from residential exposures to urban greenspace, deprived neighborhood conditions, other chronic stressors associated with the built environment, and environmental pollutants. In addition, the team is conducting studies to assess health risks associated with contamination of drinking water supplies and recreational water bodies. 

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, you will assist the EB team with providing technical laboratory support for epidemiological research projects including recruitment and examination of human subjects, biological sample collection, collection of questionnaire data, laboratory analysis of various biomarkers in blood, saliva, and stool samples, data processing, statistical analysis, and preparation of reports.

Technical laboratory support responsibilities will include assisting with:

• Contributing to preparation of Quality Assurance Project Plans;

• Contributing to preparation of survey forms and other data collection tools;

• Coordinating receipt and distribution of saliva, blood, and stool samples and associated documentation to the appropriate EPA laboratories;

• Processing of samples received, including filtration, centrifugation, and other manipulations;

• Analysis of human samples for antibody responses to specific pathogens, and biomarkers of immune, metabolic and neuroendocrine functions using various assay technologies including Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), kinetic assay, Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) electrochemiluminescence assay, and LuminexTM multiplex suspension fluorescence assays;

• Nucleic acid extraction and molecular analyses using a variety of commercial kits;

• Maintaining careful and accurate records in designated laboratory notebooks;

• Maintaining inventory of supplies and preparing lists of supplies to be ordered, as needed; and

• Data processing and basic statistical analysis of assay results.

Communications-related responsibilities will include:

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team;

• Interact with EPA scientists and other members of the laboratory team;

• Document experimental and sample collection efforts; and

• May be asked to assist with writing a manuscript or report describing the research.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Knowledge of general laboratory safety practices;

• Proficiency with general laboratory techniques, including aseptic and sterile technique;

• Substantial practical experience and demonstrated proficiency with various immunoassay platforms ;

• Demonstrated experience in molecular biology research, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, or quantitative (q)PCR;

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook);

• Strong communication skills in English including written, oral, and presentation abilities;

• Experience with data processing, cleaning, data quality controls, and data analysis techniques at a level enabling the applicant to produce and summarize results of laboratory tests with a minimal amount of instruction and guidance from EPA employees; and

• Basic knowledge of statistical analysis using SAS or R.

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Chapel Hill, NC.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $30.76 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be requested.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin July 2022. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The option year renews May 14th of each year through 2025.

For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

• Be at least 18 years of age and

• Have earned at least a Master’s degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, public health, environmental sciences, immunology or related field and

• Be a citizen of the United States of America or a Legal Permanent Resident.

EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Master's Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.00
• Discipline(s):
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at least a Master’s degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, public health, environmental sciences, immunology or related field of study from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months; a citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States of America; and not a current employee of EPA ORD or the spouse or child of an EPA ORD employee.

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