Geology/GIS Research
A complete application consists of:
- An application
- Transcripts – 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 references
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.
A postgraduate research training opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 5, Superfund Division. This appointment will be served with the FIELDS Group in the Emergency Response Branch in Willowbrook, Illinois.
The mission of the FIELDS Group is to characterize, analyze, and communicate environmental contamination problems that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. The Group provides field assistance, rapid contaminant site characterization, statistically-based sediment and soil sample designs, and analysis of spatial data for individuals such as Remedial Project Managers (RPMs), On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), and Enforcement Officers.
Available opportunities to the research participant will include interactions with an assortment of professional staff from varying scientific fields who will be researching solutions to specific environmental problems which will require geotechnical background investigations, determinations as to what types of geotechnical instruments to use and how data must be collected, efficient and accurate means to collect data, data collection, application of concurrent confirmatory methods to further prove an effective solution and timely data interpretations.
Equipment available to the participant for environmental problem solving includes various surface and borehole geophysical tools including sampling equipment for collecting and classifying subsurface soil, water and soil gas samples. Geotechnical equipment typically uses portable field computers and positioning systems for efficient data collection allowing the candidate to work with the latest wireless data sharing systems. Examples of equipment often applied are, but not limited to, tools that measure geotechnical properties for magnetics, electromagnetics, seismic, resistivity, ground penetrating radar, natural gamma detection, and various physical properties of ground water. Other equipment operation opportunities include subsurface sample collection using a direct push mobile sampling unit (GeoProbe) capable of reaching depths to thirty feet.
This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA.
Applicants must have received a bachelor's or master’s degree in geology/geophysics or physical science with an interest in environmental geology within five years of the desired starting date or completion of all requirements for the degree prior to the starting date. A portion of this research opportunity will be outdoors collecting data to resolve geotechnical problems. This project requires a 40-hour certification course for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) to be provided by EPA.
The appointment is full time for one year and may be renewed upon recommendation of EPA and contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend. 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 participant’s health insurance. The participant must show proof of health and medical insurance. The participant does not become an EPA employee.
The mentor for this project is Brian Cooper (cooper.brian@epa.gov). The desired start date is February 1, 2017.
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
- Discipline(s):
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