EPA UVCB Data Analysis 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.

The EPA CCTE is responsible for developing new computational tools and providing quantitative analysis for improving public health and environmental risk assessments and regulatory decisions pertaining to chemical safety.

Research Project: The research participant will be involved in highly visible chemical safety efforts as part of the computational toxicology research projects and will be engaged with researchers world-wide.

This research project focuses on developing techniques to analyze the chemical composition of objects in our environment as well as biological samples (particularly, blood). Careful application of statistical and machine learning techniques will allow reduction in the uncertainty about what chemicals are in the environment and inside each of us. Quantitative information developed by this project is needed to understand the risks posed by chemicals in the environment to the public health. In particular, substances of unknown, variable composition, or biologicals (UVCB’s) pose a unique challenge that potentially may be addressed through methods developed by the research participant.

Learning Objectives: The participant will be mentored to conduct independent research, analysis of existing (but new) datasets, design of new experiments, development of novel algorithms for big data, and identification of chemical signatures for UVCB’s. The research participant will receive training that will lead to authorship and co-authorship on peer-reviewed scientific publications. The research participant will communicate project research at national meetings of professional societies and EPA work-in-progress seminars.

The research participant will develop skills in informatics and “Big Data” analytics and machine learning approaches. The participant will learn about chemical identification using mass spectrometry data from non-targeted and suspect screening chemical analyses (NTA/SSA). Mentoring in applied statistical methods will also be provided.

The research participant will be a part of a multidisciplinary research team including scientists at EPA and multiple external partners. Collaborating research contributors will include investigators from CCTE (Drs. Kristin Issacs, Antony Williams, Jon Sobus, Chris Grulke, Katherine Phillips, and Elin Ulrich). The research participant will have latitude in exercising independent initiative and judgment to participate and develop additional research projects commensurate with the level of training. 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is John Wambaugh (wambaugh.john@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-2020-03).