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The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Chemical Safety Research Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Gulf Breeze, FL.

The Office of Research and Development (ORD) 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 Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division (GEMMD) provides leadership and specialized research in marine, estuarine, and watershed ecology and ecotoxicology to predict and assess the effects of human-generated stressors on the unique aquatic resources of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico & the Nation. GEMMD develops tools and the scientific basis that help facilitate sustainable environmental management decisions that maximize economic, ecosystem, social outcomes, and resiliency.

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, you will receive hands-on scientific experience in support of a variety of research projects related to evaluating risks of chemical contaminants to ecological communities. This includes database development, quality assurance, statistical support, preparing figures and tables, literature and web searches, supporting project management activities, coordination with staffing on schedules, and a variety of activities involving internal and external communications for development and validation of chemical effects models for the Ecotoxicological Assessment and Monitoring research area of the Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) Research Program of EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Primary responsibilities will include:

• Conducting literature reviews on the impacts of currently marketed sunscreen on aquatic organisms;
• Assisting in the development of models that translate endpoints measured in laboratory toxicity tests into long-term impacts to populations;
• Assisting in laboratory studies of fish, amphibians, and invertebrates, as needed;
• Supporting principal investigator with project management activities;
• Supporting principal investigator in the convening and organizing of internal and external project meetings and calls; and
• Assisting with writing and editing science articles and other communications materials.

Communications-related responsibilities will also include:

•   Participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team;
•   Interacting with EPA scientists; and
•   Effectively communicating both verbally and in writing.

The team member may have opportunities to participate in conferences, workshops, and/or seminars in support of the Statement of Work. This position seeks someone who is organized; works independently; exhibits articulate written and oral communication skills; and is team-oriented.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Training and/or proficiency in R programming language;
• Experience with compiling, organizing, and summarizing data;
• Academic coursework should include any science, preferably a mix of biology and statistics;
• Experience with basic probability and statistics, such as linear regressions and analysis of variance;
• Experience in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Outlook;
• Experience compiling, organizing, and summarizing literature references; and
• Experience developing graphics, tables and other products for scientific reports and manuscripts.

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Gulf Breeze, FL.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $22.24 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: No overnight travel is anticipated.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin November 2022. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The contract renews each year 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 in biology, ecology, marine biology, zoology, chemistry, statistics 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 (21 )
  • 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’s degree in biology, ecology, marine biology, zoology, chemistry, statistics or a 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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