EPA Non-Targeted Analysis (NTA) Gas Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry 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 available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Chemical Characterization & Exposure Division (CCED) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Research Project: The research participant will be part of an EPA team of experts (in chemistry, biology, pharmacokinetics, biological modeling, statistics, informatics, toxicology, and risk assessment for supporting regulatory decision-making) who are identifying chemicals to which humans are exposed. Non-targeted analysis has been increasingly used in recent years to elucidate structures of novel compounds of emerging concern, especially per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). Much progress has been made in discovering novel PFAS using liquid chromatography with high resolution gas chromatography (HRMS) but little focus has been placed on the use of gas chromatography (GC) with HRMS.
This research project aims to develop methods to elucidate the structures of novel PFAS using an Orbitrap Q-Exactive.
Research activities include:
- generating spectral databases of known PFAS from standard solutions
- developing thermal desorption, summa cannister, or liquid injection methods for GC as well as chromatographic and MS methods for both EI and CI sources
- developing workflows to process HRMS data from both EI and CI
- hypothesizing structures of unknown PFAS compounds and conduct experiments to confirm structures
- sharing results via presentations and publications
Learning Objectives: The research participant will learn to apply their creativity and intellect toward solving complex problems and generating ideas for further investigation. The research participant will also have the opportunity to further develop their technical skills, analytical capability, and communication skills. The research participant will learn to develop scientific methods that allow for a more intuitive and informative high throughput analysis of samples from an exposure and/or risk context.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Seth Newton (newton.seth@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Fall 2020. 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 up 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.
Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity (EPA-ORD-CCTE-CCED-2020-06).