USDA PFAS Environmental Science Fellowship
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- An application
- A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
- Two educational or professional recommendations
- A copy of an abstract or reprint of an article
All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
*Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.
ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Maricopa, Arizona.
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency with a mission to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. ARS will deliver cutting-edge, scientific tools and innovative solutions for American farmers, producers, industry, and communities to support the nourishment and well-being of all people; sustain our nation’s agroecosystems and natural resources; and ensure the economic competitiveness and excellence of our agriculture. The vision of the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.
Research Project: The research to be conducted, under the guidance of a mentor, will develop new and optimize existing extraction methods for Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) from soil, water, and sediments. In addition, the research will focus on optimizing LCMS methods to quantify extracted PFAS. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will develop new analytical techniques and optimize existing methods for PFAS quantification from environmental samples. There will be opportunities to use state of the art analytical equipment, present research findings at meetings, and report original research results in scientific journals.
Learning Objectives: The participant will learn how to develop new analytical techniques and have opportunity to gain experience with advanced analytical instrumentation including LCMS and GCMS. The participant will also be part of a research team where they can gain experience researching in a collaborative science environment. The learning objective for the participant includes learning to develop research plans, carry out the research, and report the research results through presentations and peer reviewed journal publications. The ultimate objective is to allow the new scientist to understand how to be a productive individual scientist within the framework of a larger team of scientists. This will provide the foundation for a productive career in science.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Clinton Williams (clinton.williams@usda.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2024, as soon as possible. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 18 months but may be renewed upon recommendation of ARS and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
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 ARS. Participants do not become employees of USDA, ARS, 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 visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.ARS.PacificWest@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past 18 months or is anticipated to be received by July 1, 2024.
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