• 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. Click here for detailed information about recommendations.

*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline. Click here for information about the selection process.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Policy (OP)/National Center for Environmental Economics (NCEE), located at EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Research Project: Economists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assist the Agency in applying sound economic science to important policy decisions designed to protect human health and the environment. The research participant will have the opportunity to collaborate with NCEE’s team of PhD economists on research to advance the agency’s ability to conduct economic analysis. Specific projects are described below.

EPA economic analyses often estimate the health benefits of reduced exposure to environmental contaminants. The Agency is interested in expanding its ability to include all relevant health effects in those analyses. The participant will have the opportunity to contribute to research to improve EPA’s capacity to perform benefits analysis. They will learn about valuation techniques for health endpoints and have the opportunity to engage in data collection on how health risks are quantified and valued. The project involves 1) Identification of quantitative health effects included in existing literature and EPA analyses and detailed characterization of how they were valued, 2) Identification of qualitative health effects and potential for quantification and valuation through future research, 3) Identification of health effects associated with contaminants that may be subject of future regulations, and identification of gaps and needs. This research could inform the agency’s approach to potentially placing greater weight on more serious health endpoints.

Another project will improve EPA’s ability to conduct economic analysis by assisting with research evaluating drinking water and wastewater affordability. The project will involve using administrative and other public datasets to better understand household spending on water services and the effect of unaffordable water on households. The participant will have the opportunity to contribute to discussions on defining drinking water affordability. Potentially relevant datasets include the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), the Panel Study on Income Dynamics (PSID), the American Community Survey (ACS), and publicly available data sets on water rates. The research will also involve geospatial analysis of available drinking water and wastewater service area boundaries.

The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. EPA works to ensure that: Americans have clean air, land and water; National efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information; Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively and as Congress intended; Environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy; All parts of society have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks; Contaminated lands and toxic sites are cleaned up; and chemicals in the marketplace are reviewed for safety.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Jennifer Bowen (bowen.jennifer@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 1, 2024.  All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. Click here for detailed information about start dates.

Appointment Length: The appointment will be three months.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Click here for detailed information about full-time stipends.

EPA Security Clearance: Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at EPA.

ORISE Information: 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. Participants do not become employees of EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should currently be pursuing a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g., Economics). Only candidates with studies in economics will be considered.

Preferred skills:

• Solid understanding of microeconomics 
• Strong quantitative skills
• Experience using analytic software (e.g., STATA, R, or Matlab) for data management and analysis

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (2 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (1 )
  • Engineering (2 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (3 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (5 )
  • Physics (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (4 )