Chemical Mixtures Evaluation & Modeling Internship
*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 Public Health Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division (PHITD) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
The Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) is tasked to provide support to the Safe and Sustainable Waters Research (SSWR) program by implementing in vitro tools for chemical toxicity and screening purposes. These methods utilize molecular initiating events (MIEs) that have been shown to activate adverse outcome pathways and related physiological/population-level adverse outcomes. Therefore, these efforts secondarily support the Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) program.
Research Project: The research participant will have the opportunity to conduct research related to goals of the SSWR, and to a lesser extent the CSS, programs. Research activities may include collaboration with an EPA team of investigators involved in toxicology research to understand impacts of environmentally relevant individual compounds and mixtures on nuclear receptor signaling pathways (e.g. estrogen, ER; androgen, AR; glucocorticoid, GR; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, PPAR; aryl hydrocarbon, AhR signaling pathways). The participant may gain experience assessing and modeling in vitro and in vivo responses of individual compounds, defined chemical mixtures, and also environmental samples containing unknown chemical mixtures.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will be the following training activities:
- cell culture techniques
- in vitro chemical and environmental exposures and assessments
- application and comparison of chemical mixtures models
- in vivo physiological determinations relevant to ER, AR, GR and PPAR-related Adverse Outcome Pathways
- necropsy and preparation of tissues for biochemical analyses (e.g. hormone production and quantitative-real time polymerase chain reaction)
- data processing, statistical analysis, and graphical presentation
- evaluating scientific literature and toxicological databases for information relevant to the presence of novel environmental contaminants and mixtures models.
- maintain careful, easily legible, and accurate records in a laboratory notebook, electronic journal, or by other means acceptable to the mentor.
Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Elizabeth Medlock Kakaley (medlockkakaley.elizabeth@epa.gov) and Earl Gray (gray.earl@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Summer 2021. 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 or 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 ORISE.EPA.ORD@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.