Research on the Impacts of EPA's Land and Emergency Management Programs

Organization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Reference Code
EPA-OLEM-OCPA-2019-0068
How to Apply

A complete application consists of:

  • An application
  • Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
  • A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
  • Two educational or professional recommendations

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, send an email to EPArpp@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

Application Deadline
1/16/2020 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), Office of Communications, Partnerships and Analysis (OCPA) located in Washington, DC.

OLEM programs and regional colleagues regularly work in communities across America-cleaning up Superfund sites, responding to emergencies, assisting tribes, state and local governments in the cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated properties, brownfield sites and underground storage tanks sites, and establishing protections for the management of hazardous waste. OCPA serves as the principal office to the Assistant Administrator for OLEM planning, facilitating, and conducting analysis of OLEM programs and policies. Current areas of focus are renewable energy on contaminated land (specifically, the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative), sustainability, economic impacts and benefits of land cleanup or prevention, program evaluation, and performance measurement.

Under the mentorship of an EPA economist, the selected participant will conduct research on the environmental, social, economic and/or health impacts of OLEM programs. The participant will have the opportunity to learn about OLEM programs and apply analysis skills through:

  • Collaboration with economists, program evaluation experts and program staff on analyses to identify the impacts of OLEM programs
  • Analysis of OLEM programs including research study design, statistical analysis, and geographic information systems analysis
  • Preparation of results for manuscripts, reports and briefing documents
  • Collection, review, organization, verification and analysis OLEM program data
  • Review of scientific literature to develop syntheses and summaries of information for technical and nontechnical audiences

Collaboration on research project-related manuscripts will be encouraged, and the participant may have the opportunity to present research at conferences. The participant will be exposed to and interact with researchers and program staff from a variety of disciplines and organizations. Latitude in exercising independent initiative and judgment in the research will commensurate with the level of training and experience. The participant will also gain an understanding of how scientific evidence is used to inform EPA decision-making processes.

The mentor for this opportunity is Karen Sullivan (Sullivan.karen@epa.gov).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: February 3, 2020 or later. Start date negotiable and dependent on EPA's security clearance.

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of EPA contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Funding may be made available to reimburse the participant's travel expenses to present the results of his/her research at scientific conferences. No funding will be made available to cover travel costs for pre-appointment visits, relocation costs, tuition and fees, or a participant's health insurance. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at EPA in the Washington, DC, area. Participants do not become employees of EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing one of the degrees and will reach completion by the start date of the appointment. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date. 

Preferred skills:

  • Experience in statistical analysis
  • Experience in geographic information systems and working with Census data
  • Experience in communicating science and/or policy to both technical and non-technical audiences

The program is open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, or status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran. U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status is preferred (but can hold an appropriate visa status; however, an H1B visa is not appropriate).

Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 6/1/2020 11:59:00 PM.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Earth and Geosciences (1 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (3 )
    • Mathematics and Statistics (10 )
    • Other Non-Science & Engineering (2 )
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences (27 )
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