Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments of Lead Arsenate in Soil at the Hanford Site

Organization
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Reference Code
DOE-MSIPP-16-37-PNNL
How to Apply

A complete application must include the following to be considered:

  • Completion of all required fields in the application
  • Undergraduate transcripts
  • One Recommendation (minimum)

If you have questions, send an email to Elizabeth Nelson at Elizabeth.Nelson@orau.org . Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

Application Deadline
3/16/2016 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

The Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Internships is a new program to promote the education and development of the next generation workforce in critical science, engineering, technology, and math (STEM) related disciplines that complement current and future missions of DOE national laboratories.  The MSIPP Internship program is designed to provide an enhanced training environment for next generation scientists and engineers by exposing them to research challenges unique to our industry. 

MSIPP Interns will be given the opportunity to complete Summer Internships aligned with ongoing U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) research under the direction of a host national laboratory.  The internship will be performed at the host national laboratory, utilizing their facilities and equipment under the guidance of a research staff member.

Minority Serving Institutions are institutions of higher education enrolling populations with significant percentages of undergraduate minority students. 

PNNL is working for the U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, to conduct a remedial investigation of the lead arsenate pesticide residues in the soil around former orchards on the Hanford Site in Washington State.  During the summer of 2016, the remedial investigation will be conducting an ecological risk assessment of primary and secondary receptors (plants, terrestrial arthropods, herbivores, insectivores, omnivores, etc.) that will involve field and laboratory investigations as well as preparation of the assessment reports.  The intern will work closely with PNNL staff on the project and will receive all the necessary training to perform the field and laboratory investigations.  A research paper will using independent research by the intern on an aspect of the ecological risk assessment.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be a senior undergraduate studying agriculture, soil science, biology, wildlife management, chemistry, environmental science, civil engineering, environmental engineering or a related scientific discipline. At a minimum, the candidater will need to have completed general chemistry, calculus, and an introductory English class (composition or literature).  Preference will be given for students that have also completed courses in environmental science, biology, ecology, geology, environmental policy and/or advanced chemistry (such as analytical chemistry).  Interested cadidate will be trained to work with a radiation generating device (x-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF)), and will need to be prepared to work under the requirements for being a Radiological Worker.

Preferred skills:

  1. Proficient in Microsoft program (excel, word, ppt, outlook)
  2. Strong written, verbal, analytical, and interpersonal skills required
  3. Must display maturity and high level of professionalism
  4. Exposure or experience with problem solving, and rapidly learning and adapting in a professional environment
  5. Preferred (but not required) skills include chemistry, environmental science, biology, and statistics

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited Minority Serving Institution *see criteria for Minority Serving Institutions here http://srnl.doe.gov/msipp/internships.htm
  2. Be working towards a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree
  3. Have an undergraduate cumulative minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  4. Be a United States citizen
  5. Pass a drug test upon selection to participate in the MSIPP  *The process and timing for drug testing varies from lab to lab.  Use of Marijuana/Cannabis or its derivatives if prescribed is legal in some states.  However, having these drugs in your system is NOT legal at United States Federal Contractor sites and National Laboratories.
  6. Reference must be received by March 6, 2016 at 11:59 PM ET

For more information about The Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Internships, please visit http://srnl.doe.gov/msipp/internships.htm

To see all MSIPP position postings visit: www.orise.orau.gov/MSIPP

 

Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree.
  • Overall GPA: 3.00
  • Discipline(s):
    • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
    • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (16 )
    • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
    • Engineering (27 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
    • Mathematics and Statistics (10 )
    • Physics (16 )
    • Science & Engineering-related (1 )
Affirmation

I certify that I am pursuing or have completed coursework towards a degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a related field.