EPA Research Opportunity Advancing Environmental Justice and Community Engagement

*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 training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA), Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) located in Washington, DC.

The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. One or more full-time paid opportunities are available with the EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) in Washington, DC. ORCR works with state, tribal and regional partners to implement the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Our mission is to protect human health and the environment by ensuring responsible management of hazardous and nonhazardous waste. ORCR's goals are to conserve resources by reducing waste, prevent future waste disposal problems through regulations, and clean up areas where waste may have spilled, leaked, or been improperly disposed.

Research Project: The project supports the Environmental Justice and Tribal Programs in the Office of Resource Conservation Recovery.  The participant will conduct research, data gathering and analysis, co-write briefing papers, presentations and other communication materials. Participation in multi-agency efforts including collaborations with Indian Health Services, USDA, and other federal agencies may also be included.

The participant will be a part of two multi-disciplinary teams – the Environmental Justice Team and the Tribal Program Team and will take an active part in open dumps fieldwork and research supporting tribal nations; as well as the Community Engagement and Technical Assistance (CETA) project for Environmental Justice. The participant will take an active role in project planning, performing fieldwork, and communicating research findings through publications and presentations. The participant will learn how to apply their scientific and technical skills to assist underserved communities with having a stronger voice when government decisions and policies impact their health and their environment.

Learning Objectives: Benefits of this opportunity will include enhancing research and analysis skills, communication skills, and teamwork skills. The appointment presents opportunities to engage in critical thinking and problem solving and presenting results of research directly to senior leadership in the agency.

Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Denise Roy (roy.denise@epa.gov) and Caroline Klos (klos.caroline@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s) directly.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 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 up to three 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. The current monthly stipend for this opportunity is ~$4,660.33 (BA/BS) or ~$5,413.08 (MS). 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.

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.REG@orau.org 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 to be received before 7/1/2024 and within the past five years

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 7/1/2024 12:00:00 AM.
• Academic Level(s): Post-Bachelor's or Post-Master's.