EPA Fellowship in Science Communication, Data Analysis, and Public Outreach to Reduce the Risks of Lead in Water

*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: Two research opportunities are currently available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER), Water Infrastructure Division (WID) located in Cincinnati, Ohio. If selected for the opportunity, the participant will need to relocate to the appropriate EPA facility.  The relocation costs are not reimbursable.  The opportunity is not 100% remote, but limited remote participation may be considered at the mentor’s discretion.

The Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. A research opportunity is currently available at the EPA ORD’s Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER).

Research Project: Millions of Lead Service Lines (LSLs) remain in place across the United States, posing a health risk to those who drink water that is distributed from municipal water systems through LSLs and into homes. The Center for Environmental and Emergency Response is conducting applied research to evaluate technologies that help communities identify where LSLs are located, and data is being collected to determine their cost-effectiveness, accuracy and ease of use.  Information about this research will be provided to states, communities, and tribal nations to help them rapidly identify LSLs and remove them. This research is particularly focused on providing the data and information that small, disadvantaged, or undeserved communities may need to remove these sources of lead.

This research training opportunity will enhance the research participant’s ability to conduct science communication to help solve environmental problems. Under the guidance of the mentor, research activities may include:

• Collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.
• Contributing to the application of science communication to environmental problems using one or more research methods (e.g. comparative case studies, literature reviews, interviews, secondary data, data analysis, focus groups, surveys).
• Development and dissemination of oral and written communication of environmental data to diverse audiences (e.g. journal articles, reports, workshops and trainings, manuscripts, infographics, conference poster and presentations).
• Exposure to emerging research areas including environmental justice.

Under the guidance of the mentor, the research participant will have the latitude to exercise independent initiative, innovation, and judgment in their research. The research participant may have the opportunity to interact with EPA research partners in other federal agencies, state and local government, academia, and community stakeholders. The research participant may also have the opportunity to attend technical meetings and workshops to present research.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives for this research training opportunity will cover a wide range of activities that connect science and society. Common goals of science communication include informing non-experts about scientific findings, raising the public awareness of and interest in science, influencing people’s attitudes and behaviors, informing public policy, and engaging with diverse communities to address societal problems. Specific learning objectives include effectively presenting research results to various audiences at conferences and workshops and communication as related to public health and drinking water quality. 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Darren Lytle (lytle.darren@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Spring/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 will initially be for one year and may be renewed three to four additional years 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. Click here for detailed information about full-time stipends.

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.

ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5-year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.EPA.ORD@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a master’s or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields or be currently pursuing. Degree must have been received within two years of the appointment start date.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong record keeping skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong computer, mathematical and statistical skills.
• Ability to work both as a part of a team and independently.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Teams, Planner, Forms, Project, or similar applications.