EPA Climate-Science Research & Communication Fellowship

*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline. Click here for information about the selection process.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). This research opportunity is with the Stratospheric Protection Division (SPD) located in Washington, DC.

SPD is responsible for a variety of programmatic and analytical activities related to protecting the stratospheric ozone layer and addressing climate change. SPD implements domestic regulations under the Clean Air Act (CAA) Title VI to phase out ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and transition to safer alternatives, and the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are potent climate-damaging greenhouse gases. In addition, SPD manages partnership programs (Responsible Appliance Disposal Program (RAD) and the GreenChill Partnership Program) that reduce ODS emissions through use of alternatives and advanced technologies in specific sectors, proper servicing practices, and responsible disposal of equipment.

Research Project: The selected participant will gain an understanding of EPA’s AIM Act and Clean Air Act programs, and related domestic and international activities by observing how EPA coordinates with other federal agencies and states to meet stratospheric ozone, climate, and related atmospheric protection goals

They will learn how to generate, manage, and dispense related information, which may include analysis and the development of documents and outreach material. The participant will learn how EPA works to protect air quality via regulatory and non-regulatory approaches. They will also learn the tools and strategies to effectively communicate SPD’s message and will have opportunities to submit/present research and project results to internal and external stakeholders, interagency groups, and conferences, where appropriate.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of the mentor, the participant will learn to:

• Review and analyze federal and other data sources to inform environmental policy development and implementation.
• Produce publications and other educational outreach in support of international, intergovernmental, and interagency collaborations on atmospheric science and policy.
• Synthesize technical and policy information for presentation to EPA senior managers and appropriate stakeholder groups.
• Understand how domestic regulation under the CAA, the AIM Act, state law, and international and domestic policy work to protect the stratospheric ozone layer and climate system.

Specific projects could include the following:

• Updated compendium of domestic (e.g., local, state, federal) and international actions on HFCs.
• Summary reports based on research and submissions to EPA documenting areas of potential non-compliance with CAA Title VI and AIM Act regulations.
• Summaries of relevant atmospheric science papers.
• Other research related to the phase down of HFCs under the AIM Act and the phase out of ODS under CAA Title VI.
• Infographics, social media outreach, and other communication and outreach products to support SPD’s programs.

The selected participant will observe and gain knowledge about how to represent SPD in several different venues with various stakeholders and gain exposure to a broad range of environmental policy, programs, and related issues.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Cindy Newberg, ([email protected]). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Summer 2024.  All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. Click here for detailed information about start dates.

Appointment Length: The appointment initially may be for one year and may be renewed upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. At this time, BA ~$55,924/year and MS ~$68,405/year. 

EPA Security Clearance: Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at EPA.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. Participants do not become employees of EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email [email protected] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received by 7/20/2024 and within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

• Relevant coursework, experience, and a strong interest in climate-science research and the effective communication of scientific information
• Superior writing skills
• Experience with communications tools including Web-based multimedia applications and social media 
• Enjoys operating in a team environment