EPA Fellowship on Ecological Bioinformatics

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), Great Lakes Toxicology & Ecology Division (GLTED) located in Durham, North Carolina.

Research Project: The Agency is faced with significant challenges related to characterizing the modes of action of chemicals, the effects of exposures to mixtures of chemicals, and in finding ways to group chemicals that facilitates exposure and effects extrapolation from data rich to data poor chemicals for a range of ecologically relevant species. This research project evaluates transcriptomic and epigenetic responses using next generation sequencing (NGS)-based tools to develop biomarkers that can discriminate chemical classes and provide an understanding of impacted biological processes and pathways. There are also opportunities to explore and analyze other omics data including metabolomic and proteomic data from whole animal responses and multigenerational studies. The research participant will be involved in designing of laboratory experiments, NGS data analysis and data interpretation, design, and development of new statistical methods for integrated omics data analysis, and in the communication of results intra- and extramurally. The research participant will be trained in molecular genetics, bioinformatics, statistics, machine learning algorithms for big data analytics, and advanced statistical analysis of complex omics data sets.

Learning Objectives: With guidance from the mentor, bioinformatic and ecotoxicogenomic research activities may include:

The research participant will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team that includes biologists, bioinformaticians, and toxicologists. The research participant may author and/or co-author on peer-reviewed publications and will present at local and national meetings in bioinformatics and ecotoxicogenomics. This training opportunity will provide an early career scientist with knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to apply new technologies and associated data to regulatory decision-making at the local, national, or international scale and to pursue a professional career in life sciences research. 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Tom Purucker (purucker.tom@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 28, 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 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. 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 EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should have received a masters or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g., Applied Math, Applied Physics, Bioinformatics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Public Health, Statistics, Toxicology), or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before January 2023. Degree must have been received within five years of the anticipated appointment start date.

Preferred skills: