EPA Fellowship in National Aquatic Resource Surveys Research
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- 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 postgraduate research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water (OW), Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW) located in Washington, DC.
Research Project: The objective of this project is to support scientific research activities as part of the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) in EPA's Office Water. The NARS are a series of statistical surveys of coastal waters, lakes, rivers/streams, and
wetlands designed to assess the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. This project will focus on conducting research related to indicators of ecological/recreational significance including developing and implementing processes for improving data quality, accessibility, transparency, and technology transfer. NARS is implemented through an EPA, state and tribal partnership and is a key activity in EPA's efforts to achieve national water-quality goals under the Clean Water Act.
- Conducting research on biological, chemical and physical data (e.g., vegetation, diatoms, nutrients, physical habitat, landscape metrics, eDNA, microplastics, etc.);
- Learning techniques to compile, perform quality assurance, and conduct statistical analysis on national-scale water quality data sets;
- Developing tools for analyzing, visualizing, and transferring data;
- Developing skills to communicate results of scientific analysis to diverse audiences of scientists, managers, and policy makers;
- Collaborating with a broad and diverse group of partners to accomplish water-quality assessment objectives; and
- Participating in scientific workshops, trainings, and meetings.
The selected applicant will gain an understanding of EPA's Clean Water Act programs and observe how EPA coordinates with states, tribes, and other federal agencies to meet national water quality goals. The applicant will have the opportunity to interact with resource managers and scientists from other agencies and across the country. The applicant will generate reports, analyze data, create outreach materials, and have opportunities to submit and present research and project results to interagency groups, professional societies and conferences, and scientific publications. At the end of their appointment, the applicant will have increased knowledge and experience on:
- Principles and practices used in statistically based analysis of water quality and wetland condition data.
- Using various data and spatial analysis tools (including GIS, python, and R statistical software).
- Collaborating with a broad and diverse group of partners to accomplish water-quality assessment objectives.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The current stipend rates for this opportunity are $64,950 (MS) and $78,950 (Ph.D.) per year.
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.
ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5 year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).
The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).
Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.EPA.OW@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
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 with completion before the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within the past five years.
The following experience/skills will enhance the research experience:
- Experience with collecting and analyzing water quality data from coastal waters, lakes, rivers/streams and/or wetlands
- Strong computational skills and experience using the R software environment for data management and analysis
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook)
- Strong organizational, written and oral communication skills
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
- Discipline(s):
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