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The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Vapor Intrusion Research 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

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 Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division (WECD) conducts research to advance EPA’s ability to characterize the presence, transport, transformation, sources, and impacts of contaminants in watersheds and ecological systems.

As part of their mission, the Multimedia Methods Branch (MMB) supports EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment by conducting research to advance state-of-the-art sampling technologies, analytical methodologies, and analytical instrumentation to characterize ecosystems.  The branch develops, improves, evaluates, and applies methods to detect chemicals in a variety of media, including but not limited to water, soil, sediment, and biota.  Sensitive, sophisticated analytical instrumentation is used to develop methods for per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), toxic metals, nanomaterials and microplastics, pesticides and other volatile/semi-volatile organics. The research supports the Regions, Program Offices, collaborating Federal Agencies and States.  The data produced is used to support model development, regulatory decisions and environmental statutes including Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as Superfund), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). MMB research products are used to inform human and ecological exposure, hazard, and risk assessment.

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, you will work within a multi-disciplinary research team and will provide technical laboratory and field support for research projects on identifying and quantifying environmental stressors. Specific duties will include assisting research staff in (1) Conducting short and long-term laboratory and field projects; (2) Laboratory preparation and analysis of samples; (3) Equipment preparation including, but not limited to, modification and testing, and calibration; (4) Analytical instrumentation standards preparation; (5) Preparation of Standard Operating Procedures; and (6) Compilation and summarization of experimental data and literature references into organized computer files. General laboratory support duties may include maintaining research supplies and materials, routine maintenance of laboratory equipment, solution preparation, and other duties necessary to carry out the studies.

The student’s responsibilities shall include:

• Maintain and inventory research supplies and materials;

• Routine maintenance of laboratory equipment and instrumentation including, but not limited to, modification and testing, and calibration;

• Analytical standards preparation;

• Analytical laboratory preparation and analysis of samples;

  • Analytical instrumentation utilized for sample analyses

    • Therman Desorption/Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (TD/GC/MS) analysis of air/soil vapor samples utilizing a Markes AutoSecure TD/Agilent 7820A/Agilent 5977B Mass Selective Detector (MSD) with Agilent MassHunter Software.

    • Purge & Trap/GC/MS analysis of soil and water samples utilizing a Teledyne Tekmar Atomx/Agilent 6890N/Agilent 5973MSD with Agilent ChemStation Software.

• Documenting lab work and sample analyses;

• Quality control of sample and analytical data;

• Creation of metadata and fact sheets supporting the data products;

• Literature review;

• Participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team; and

• Interacting with other members of the development team as well as EPA scientists.

The student will perform duties, as requested, according to specifications and instructions provided by the mentor.  Where appropriate, the student will maintain careful and accurate records in designated laboratory notebooks.  These notebooks, and all other data produced under this order will be the property of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Demonstrated education and/or experience in operation and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation, data compilation and analysis;

• Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills;

• Training and/or experience in general laboratory techniques, and or environmental studies; and

• Experience with basic laboratory safety requirements.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience using Agilent ChemStation, Agilent MassHunter, and Microsoft office software.

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 $22.46 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Travel is not anticipated.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin August 2021. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial project is through May 14, 2022, with up to 3 additional option periods.

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 Bachelor of Science degree in the fields of chemistry, biology, environmental science, physical sciences, or a 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 received within the last 24 month(s).
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.00
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (1 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (46 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at least a Bachelor of Science degree in the fields of chemistry, biology, environmental science, physical sciences, or a related field 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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