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The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Socio-Environmental Community Research position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Duluth, MN.

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 Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE) is a scientific organization working to support Agency decisions by providing solutions-driven research to rapidly evaluate the potential human health and environmental risks due to exposures to environmental chemicals and to ensure the integrity of the freshwater environment and its capacity to support human well-being. CCTE is made up of over 300 scientists, staff and contractors located in six locations across the U.S. CCTE’s Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division in Duluth, MN conducts research in freshwater toxicology and ecology with a goal of predicting and assessing the effects of stressors on the aquatic resources of the Great Lakes and the Nation and describing how changes in those resources affect the well-being of humans. In particular, within the Ecosystem Services Branch, scientists have developed methods for measuring ecological, public health, economic and social benefits of remediation and restoration of contaminated sites

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, you will provide data collection, transcription, and qualitative analysis services to support social science research. The social science research conducted at GLTED uses case study methods that apply both theory-testing and theory-building approaches. Data collection methods document the behavior, experiences, and decisions of different stakeholder groups through a variety of methodologies including participant observation, document analysis, social media mining, interviews, and surveys. There are two research goals: 1) investigate community level perspectives about trust building and engagement best practices, and 2) is to understand how citizen or public advisory groups may be organized and implemented in different program contexts. The team member will also have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to environmental decision-making for a real-world problem revolving around ecological outcomes and socioeconomic benefits of ecosystem restoration through a study of how actors navigate the process. The team member will work with other members of GLTED’s Sustainable and Healthy Communities and Homeland Security research teams to conduct participatory community research, incorporating ethnographic and other social science methodologies. Responsibilities include but are not limited to attending meetings, preparing meeting and/or interview transcripts, coding and analyzing interview data, analyzing literature, and assisting in background research, writing, and dissemination of results.

Data collection and analysis responsibilities will include:

• Assist a multi-disciplinary research team with field research, literature reviews, data management, and qualitative analysis
• Learn and apply concepts to code and categorize data, analyze transcripts, notes, and other documents (i.e., planning documents, grant applications, workplans, etc.)
• Analysis might include any part of the research process: initial analysis, recognition of emerging themes, maintenance of data source’s voice or intent, and background literature reviews

Communications-related responsibilities will include:

• Interact with other members of the development team, as well as EPA scientists
• Schedule and participate in meetings and/or interviews with case study stakeholders
• Co-author poster presentations and/or PowerPoint presentations for scientific conferences
• Co-author fact sheets, storymaps, and/or infographics for a general audience
• Co-author reports summarizing data and findings

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education 

• Demonstrated experience with qualitative social science research, inferential studies of human behavior, or evaluation methods used in education or public health through coursework, employment, or projects;
• Experience conducting research on at least one of the following topics: community development, participatory resource management, environmental perception, community engagement, and/or social dimensions of environmental restoration/remediation;
• Experience with systems-thinking approaches to problem-solving;
• Demonstrated organizational skills and experience working independently, as well as experience working in teams; and
• Possess strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills.

Location: This job will be located EPA’s facility in Duluth, MN

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $30.46 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Travel related to this position will be domestic, primarily limited to the case of study locations.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin June 2023. 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 master’s degree in anthropology, geography, environmental education, urban studies, urban planning, sociology, public health, human dimensions of natural resources, peace studies, 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: Any degree received within the last 24 month(s).
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.00
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (4 )
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (3 )
  • 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 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (3 )
  • 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 Master’s Degree in anthropology, geography, environmental education, urban studies, urban planning, sociology, public health, human dimensions of natural resources, peace studies, 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.

ORAU is a Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace. Drug-free workplace means at the site(s) for the performance of employee’s work, employees are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance as defined by federal law.