Drivers and Effects of Coastal Acidification in the Eastern US

Organization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Reference Code
EPA-ORD-NHEERL-AED-2016-04
How to Apply

A complete application consists of:

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.

Description

A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL). This appointment will be served with the Atlantic Ecology Division (AED) in Narragansett, RI.

The participant will design and execute research that addresses gaps in scientific knowledge about the drivers of and/or ecological responses to changes in coastal carbonate chemistry (i.e., coastal acidification).  These gaps exist primarily because most research on acidification has focused on the open ocean and is difficult to apply to coastal environments.  This is due to a variety of potential factors, including: 1) differences in nutrient and organic loading, production and metabolism, mixing, and air-sea exchange; 2) effects of spatial and temporal dynamics on sampling and instrumentation requirements; and 3) uncertainties regarding the ecological sensitivity of wild populations and communities inhabiting historically variable environments.  The participant will not be expected to work in all of these areas, but all of them are appropriate areas of focus.  

Possible activities and approaches include field surveys and experiments, laboratory experiments, data synthesis, statistical modeling, biogeochemical modeling, ecological modeling, and GIS.  The balance among these activities will depend in part on the participant’s specific interests and career goals.  

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.

Qualifications

Applicants must have received a doctoral degree in physical, chemical or biological oceanography, marine ecology, coastal biogeochemistry, or a related field within five years of the desired start date or be currently enrolled in a doctoral degree granting program at an accredited U.S. college or university. Students should have completed course work in one of the subject areas with a graduation date by December 31, 2016. Students will be required to provide proof of enrollment each semester. 

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 Jason Grear (grear.jason@epa.gov). The desired start date is June 1, 2016.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
  • Discipline(s):
    • Earth and Geosciences (1 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (4 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (4 )
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