Improving Water Efficiency with WaterSense

Organization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Reference Code
EPA-Water-2016-383
How to Apply

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.

Description

A postgraduate internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water in Washington, DC. This internship will be served with the Office of Wastewater Management’s Municipal Support Division in the WaterSense Branch (WSB).

The WaterSense Program is an EPA partnership program working to increase the adoption of water-efficient products and services across the country. By reaching out to organizations and fostering public-private partnerships, EPA can greatly reduce water demand and realize major environmental, public health, and economic benefits by helping to improve water quality, maintain aquatic ecosystems, and protect drinking water resources.

The specific objectives of the program are to: reduce indoor and outdoor water use by making water-efficient products and practices more prevalent; help consumers differentiate among products and services; ensure product performance; promote innovation in product development and design; and support state and local water efficiency efforts.

The intern will be engaged primarily in the research and development of strategies that use market forces to encourage the adoption of more environmentally friendly practices, products and technologies and be involved in the development of content on the WaterSense website as well as other platforms (such as Facebook and Twitter).

The intern will be trained in the following activities: conducting and analyzing target market and industry research; developing content for the WaterSense web site, and other program publications; developing social media, program outreach materials, and program evaluation. The intern may have the opportunity to attend programmatic meetings.

Through this internship, the intern will learn how EPA functions and how it partners with utilities, local, state, and federal governments, and NGOs. He/she will also gain knowledge in the areas of:

  • performing, analyzing, and evaluating market data

  • preparing and developing website content

  • developing skills needed to develop and communicate water-efficient messaging.

The individual will be exposed to multiple-facets of the WaterSense program and will receive training in multiple program areas including specification/technical development, stakeholder involvement, and roll-out/ communication plans.

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 bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, environmental sciences, or a closely related field within five years of the desired starting date. Experience in a variety of computer applications and an interest in the areas of water and water efficiencies, green products, or green building is desired.

The appointment will be full time for a one year and may be renewed upon the recommendation of EPA and contingent on the availability of funding. The annual stipend will be range from $43,684 to $53,435 depending on educational level. 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 Beth Livingston (Livingston.Beth@epa.gov).

Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
  • Discipline(s):
    • Communications and Graphics Design (6 )
    • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (1 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (2 )
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