Altitude and Environmental Research Support

The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), located in Natick, Massachusetts, is an internationally recognized center of excellence for Warfighter health and performance science and its applications. The Institute functions as a world-class laboratory for environmental medicine, physiology, and nutrition research. USARIEM's highly skilled scientists conduct research in Biophysics & Biomedical Modeling (BBMD), Military Nutrition (MND), Military Performance (MPD), and Thermal & Mountain Medicine (TMMD).

The Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division (TMMD) researches the physiological impacts of exposure to extreme environments (heat, cold, altitude, subterranean) to mitigate the adverse effects of these environmental stressors on the health, performance, and mission-readiness of military personnel. TMMD’s research seeks to optimize and enhance physical and cognitive performance and prevent illness associated with military operations at environmental extremes, such as heat, cold, high terrestrial altitude, and subterranean spaces. TMMD’s research supports physiological modeling and military materiel developers of clothing, equipment, food, and pharmaceuticals.

The Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division is offering an ORISE learning opportunity. As an ORISE participant, you will be involved in supporting research studies regarding human physiological responses to high altitude and other environmental extremes. During your appointment and under the guidance of a mentor, you will learn federal laboratory and operational protocols. This will include the use and day to day operation of the USARIEM hypobaric chamber, which can simulate a range of terrestrial altitudes and include interaction with human research volunteers, collection of physiological data such as heart rate, core temperature, ventilation, and other variables. You will learn and be involved with data collection during exercise or exposure to high temperatures in USARIEM environmental chambers. This learning opportunity will provide knowledge and understanding about physiology research methodology and physical properties associated with altitude exposure (e.g., the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide and how these variables change with altitude exposure).  

Please note this opportunity may include some travel. The ORISE participant may travel to Pikes Peak, CO to participate in research data collection for a study of physiology and exercise performance at high altitude.

This appointment is a 12-month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by USAMRMC-RIEM. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

Candidate should have skills and interests related to human physiology research studies at simulated altitude (hypobaric chamber) and other environmental extremes. Candidate should also have some coursework in biology, physiology or related discipline and/or equivalent work experience.