Water Research and Communication Support

Organization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Reference Code
EPA-NSSC-0008-30-10-05-2020
Description

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Water Research and Communication Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Cincinnati, OH.

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 Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER) plans, coordinates and conducts an applied, customer-driven, national research and development program to improve decision making by EPA, federal, state, tribal and local agencies, when faced with challenging environmental problems in the built environment.  Within CESER, the Water Infrastructure Division (WID) conducts customer-driven research and support, providing scientific leadership on national-scale problems associated with water quality in the built infrastructure.

What experience and skills will you gain?

Included in WID’s activities is technical support to states, EPA Regions, drinking water consultants, and drinking water systems. This support encompasses a wide variety of contaminants and drinking water system issues, furthering EPA’s research while also providing valuable support back to the individual stakeholders.

How you will apply your skills

As a team member, you will provide data management, data analysis, and communications support to WID staff by completing the research activities described below:

  • Compiling data contained in Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, photographs, jpg image files, ascii text files, etc. into a single format (typically, Excel or Access);
  • Assisting with the organization of data received from the laboratory and field;
  • Drafting written summaries of various technical support efforts and results;
  • Assisting with quality control of data;
  • Assisting with literature reviews, gathering reference materials from textbooks, journals, libraries, the Internet, other researchers. Compile EndNote database of relevant publications;
  • Performing simple statistical and graphical summaries of data, such as mean, median, sum, standard deviation, line graphs, bar charts, percent probability, and box plots;
  • Developing scripts or macros/functions to provide reports on the data;
  • Preparing tables, figures, and graphics using software such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Power BI, Sigma Plot, Origin, Adobe Acrobat, or other similar tools;
  • Developing a tracking system for projects and timelines;
  • Assisting with the generation and formatting of reports, presentations and articles; and
  • Interacting with EPA scientists and members of an interdisciplinary team.

You will perform duties according to specifications and instructions provided by the mentor. All necessary instructions and training shall be provided by the EPA mentor.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

  • A working knowledge of relational databases;
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook); and
  • Strong written, oral and electronic communication skills.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

  • Experience with Microsoft Power BI; and
  • Experience using commercial scientific graphics and statistical analysis software packages.

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Cincinnati, OH.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $22.19 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin November 2020. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial project is through May 14, 2021, with up to 4 additional option periods.

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

Qualifications
  • Be at least 18 years of age and
Qualifications
  • Be at least 18 years of age and
  • Have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree statistics, mathematics, chemistry, physics, geology, computer science, information science, operations research, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, biological engineering, materials engineering, civil engineering, 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.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
  • Overall GPA: 2.00
  • Discipline(s):
    • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
    • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (16 )
    • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
    • Engineering (27 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
    • Mathematics and Statistics (10 )
    • Physics (16 )
Affirmation

 certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at least a Bachelor’s degree statistics, mathematics, chemistry, physics, geology, computer science, information science, operations research, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, biological engineering, materials engineering, civil engineering, 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 to Apply: https://careers-orau.icims.com/jobs/1048/water-research-and-communication-support/job

ORAU is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability); visit the ORAU website for required employment notices.