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U.S. EPA Opportunity

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Research and Business Support Program has an immediate opening for an Ecotoxicology Research Support position at EPA with the Office of Research and Development at EPA’s facility in Duluth, Minnesota.

What the EPA project is about

The Mid-Continent Ecology Division (MED) is one of four ecology divisions of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL). The Mid-Continent Ecology Division is located in Duluth, MN. The MED is the focal point of ORD research related to both freshwater and avian ecotoxicology. A primary objective of the ecotoxicological research at MED is to provide the scientific basis and technological means to enable the prediction of whether or not an environmental agent will produce adverse effects in exposed organisms and minimize the uncertainty of such predictions.

The ecological modeling group at MED designs mathematical models that combine laboratory-collected data on toxicity and biology with life-history knowledge from the ecological literature to predict the population-level responses of animals exposed to environmental contaminants.

How you will put your skills to work

• Assisting with the collection and summary of life-history data on fish and birds from the ecological literature to local databases for use in model parameterization;
• Assisting in general laboratory activities, which may include one or more of the following: fish toxicity testing, acetylcholinesterase activity assays, calorimetry, maintenance of logbooks and chemical records, keeping track of inventories of chemicals and supplies, cleaning of laboratory glassware, and maintaining general cleanliness and function of the lab; and
• Providing assistance with developing new techniques/procedures, writing operating procedures, and performing experiments with established scientists.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated education and/or experience in ornithology or toxicology, and biology,
• Experience with database management, spreadsheet preparation, and data collection, and
• Experience with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Location: These jobs will be located at EPA’s facility in Duluth, MN.

Salary: Selected applicants will become temporary employees of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $20.65 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Working Conditions: The selected candidates shall be supervised by a mentor who will provide day-to-day direction, as well as coach, advise and counsel the candidates, and review their work. 

Work will be performed in both office and laboratory. The majority of the work will be Monday through Friday during regular business hours, however, monitoring, maintaining or completing experiments may require the selected candidate to work some weekends or after hours with prior approval from the mentor.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected Start Date: The position is full time and expected to begin May 2019.  The selected applicant will be a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The current contract period is through May 14, 2020, with a potential for additional option years.

For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org.

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, or closely 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: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (13 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at least a Bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, or closely 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.