Ecological Responses to Carbonate and Oxygen Variability on the U.S. Atlantic Coast
Organization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Reference Code
EPA-ORD-NHEERL-AED-2016-12
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 research the ecological effects of co-occurring changes in dissolved oxygen and carbonate chemistry (i.e., coastal acidification) in coastal waters of the eastern United States. Ecological effects may include responses of marine populations, communities, and/or ecosystem processes and states, depending on the interests of the participant. However, the research should capitalize on the existing effort of our team to maintain strong linkage between field observations and seawater laboratory, mesocosm, and field experiments. Currently, these include studies of marine phytoplankton, crustaceans and bivalves, as well as the ecosystem scale processes that they respond to and control (e.g., eutrophication, acidification, isotope fractionation). However, the Atlantic Ecology Division and the adjacent waters of Narragansett Bay and southern New England are well-suited for studies of other processes and aquatic life forms that may be responsive to coastal carbonate chemistry and dissolved oxygen.

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 master's or 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 June 30, 2019. 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 April 3, 2017.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Master's Degree or 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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