Assessing the Health and Welfare Effects of Criteria Air Pollutants
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
A research training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD). The appointment is available in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Offices within ORD are responsible for health and environmental assessments informing regulatory offices of the EPA, regions, states, and authorized tribes. These assessments include Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs) on the human health and welfare (e.g., ecological, climate, visibility, materials) effects of the criteria air pollutants including particulate matter, ozone, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and lead. These highly influential science assessments form the scientific basis for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and have significant implications for national policy development and implementation.
The research participant will engage in research projects aimed at assessing the health effects of criteria air pollutants, which may include evaluating exposure and fate/transport of these pollutants. These projects will be conducted in collaboration with scientists across disciplines (epidemiology, toxicology, atmospheric science, exposure assessment, and ecology). Research activities may include:
- Designing and implementing analyses of the health and welfare effects of criteria air pollutants, including statistical analyses of existing data
- Developing, improving, or evaluating existing models of pollutant interactions with physical, chemical or biological systems
- Reviewing scientific studies and data
- Contributing to ongoing literature assessments of the health and welfare effects of criteria air pollutants, including contributing to sections of highly influential science assessments
- Preparing peer-reviewed manuscripts and reports
The research participant will benefit by learning approaches used in EPA’s scientific assessments for the evaluation, analysis, and integration of evidence on the health and welfare effects of environmental pollutant exposures. The research participant will have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of projects that can include qualitative or quantitative analyses of study findings and data to synthesize the findings to support highly influential science assessments. The research participant will gain an understanding of how scientific evidence is used to inform EPA decision-making processes. The participant will collaborate with scientific staff in the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment and potentially scientists from other EPA Labs, Centers or Offices, and universities. The research participant may also interact with policy staff since scientific assessments are used to support rulemaking.
The mentor for this opportunity is Barbara Buckley (buckley.barbara@epa.gov).
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing the degree and will reach completion by the start date of the appointment. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.
Preferred skills:
- Experience in designing and conducting animal toxicological or controlled human exposure studies involving inhalation exposures
- Experience in conducting literature reviews, interpreting scientific study results, and writing summaries of published research
- Excellent writing skills and proficiency in statistical analyses
If you have questions, send an email to EPArpp@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity (EPA-ORD-NCEA-RTP-2020-01) in your email.