EPA Fellowship for Toxicokinetic Data Analyst

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), located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

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

Research Project: The EPA Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (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. This research project focuses on analyzing a database of in vivo and in vitro toxicokinetic data. Toxicokinetics describes the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of chemicals by the body. Toxicokinetic information is needed to understand the risks posed by chemicals in the environment to the public health.

The research participant will collaborate with a multidisciplinary research team including scientists at EPA and multiple external partners. Research activities may include include refining a workflow for standardized analysis of toxicokinetic data from EPA's TK Concentration vs. Time Database (CvTdb), developing statistical methods for curve fitting (that is, trend analysis), curating additional data to populate the database, and using the data to evaluate models including high throughput toxicokinetic (HTTK) models. HTTK models are used by the EPA to extrapolate from in vitro bioactivity data to predict in vivo effects without requiring new animal experiments. The participant will be involved in in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) for Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA).

The research participant may lead- and co-authorship on peer-reviewed publications. The research participants research may also be communicated at national meetings of professional societies and EPA work-in-progress seminars. 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. 

Learning Objectives: The research participant will develop skills in data sciences, statistical analysis, database management, computer programming, informatics, and toxicokinetics.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is John Wambaugh (Wambaugh.Joh@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 1, 2022. 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 or five 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.

ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5 year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

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.ORD@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should have received a master's degree in one of the relevant disciplines, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion by March 31, 2023. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills: