Community Involvement

Organization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Reference Code
EPA-REG-5-SUPERFUND-LRO-2018-01
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 postgraduate research training opportunity is currently available with EPA’s Region 5 Superfund Program. The appointment will be served with the Community Information Office in Flint, MI.

The research participant will be mentored by the Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) stationed in the Flint office. Sites assigned to the Flint CIC include EPA’s Flint Drinking Water Response, Tittabawassee River/Saginaw River/Saginaw Bay Cleanup Site (Midland, Saginaw, Bay Counties), Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Cleanup Site (Kalamazoo, MI), Velsicol Chemical Cleanup Site (St. Louis, MI) and a number of other sites within Michigan.

The participant will be involved in a variety of environmental communication and education activities, including the maintenance of a robust innovative outreach program, including developing site outreach materials, and implementing community involvement activities.

The participant may be involved in the following activities:

  • participating in outreach activities
  • finding opportunities for outreach assigned to the Flint CIC
  • reviewing impact and effectiveness of community involvement activity
  • identifying communication strategies to share information on site-specific issues
  • researching and tracking local media stories
  • participating in EPA online communications
  • Interacting directly with local stakeholders

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. For additional information about this program, please visit https://orise.orau.gov/epa/.

The appointment may be full time or part time (50 percent of 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 Diane Russell (russell.diane@epa.gov).

Qualifications

Applicants must have received a bachelor's or master’s degree in communications, physical sciences, biological sciences, environmental sciences, environmental policy or a closely related field within five years of the desired start date. Applicants should have an interest in communications, education, and community involvement. Experience with science education and communicating to a non-technical audience about science, environmental issues or public health concerns is desired.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
  • Discipline(s):
    • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
    • Communications and Graphics Design (6 )
    • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
    • Other Non-Science & Engineering (5 )
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences (28 )