Click HERE to apply. 

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Air Sensor Evaluation Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, 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

Within ORD, the Center for Environmental Measurement & Modeling (CEMM) conducts research to advance EPA’s ability to measure and model contaminants in the environment, including research to provide fundamental methods and models needed to implement environmental statutes. The methods and models developed by CEMM are typically applied at the airshed, watershed and ecosystem level.  Within CEMM, the Air Methods and Characterization Division (AMCD) develops, evaluates and applies advanced laboratory and field methods to measure, characterize, and analyze concentrations of pollutants in the air and at a diverse array of emission sources.

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, you will provide field evaluation and data analysis support for on-going air sensor evaluation efforts. This is a combination of hands-on operation, data download, and troubleshooting efforts, as well as performing qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The team member will also provide market research and communication support that will include document and report generation and editing and updates to the Air Sensor Toolbox website.
 

Field Evaluation and Data Analysis Support Responsibilities will include:

• Hands on operation of low-cost air sensors
• Development and/or review of standard operating procedures
• Assistance with troubleshooting sensor operational issues
• Data download, formatting, and review of sensor and reference monitoring data
• Development of short data analysis summaries
• Review of calibration data to verify of reference monitor performance
• Identification of unique air pollution events

Market Research and Communications Support Responsibilities will include:

• Conduct research to identify new air sensor technologies
• Communicate with sensor manufacturers to catalog details about each new sensor
• Maintain the sensor database to identify models that have been updated or become obsolete
• Support updates to the Air Sensor Toolbox website
• Conduct literature review to identify relevant research to share with the team
• Facilitate webinars and conference calls
• Participate as a member of a research team
• Interact with other EPA scientists, EPA offices, collaborators, manufacturers, users, etc.
• Document research efforts
• Potentially present work performed as a poster at a scientific conference

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills
• Demonstrated education and/or experience in data analysis and research
• R-language programming (or other scripting language) experience
• Education and/or experience with electronics and measurement systems (e.g., microprocessors, sensors, circuitry)
• Experience in management of large data sets (100 thousand, 20 million, and up to 800 million data points depending on the sensor and project)
• A working knowledge of air quality and low-cost air quality sensors
• Comfort in working independently and in outdoor environments

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $22.91 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required

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

For more information, contact EPANSSC@ORAU.ORG. Do not contact EPA directly.

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree Engineering, Environmental Science, Statistics, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Computer Science, Information Science or a closely related field of study from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months 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: Bachelor's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (2 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
  • Physics (16 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (2 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (28 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at least a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, statistics, chemistry, math, physics, computer science, information science or a closely 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.

Click HERE to apply.