EPA Fellowship on Characterizing and Model-Predicting Chemical Mixtures for Improved Water Quality

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 and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), Public Health & Integrated Toxicology Division (PHITD) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Research Project: The Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) is tasked to support the Safe and Sustainable Waters Research (SSWR) program by implementing in vitro effects-based 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.

Learning Objectives: The research participant will have the opportunity to conduct research related SSWR goals, and to a lesser extent CSS.  Under the guidance of a mentor, research activities may include collaboration with an EPA team of investigators involved in toxicology research to understand impacts of environmentally relevant 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 research participant will 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.

Under the guidance of a mentor, research activities may include:

• Cell culture and sterile laboratory techniques.
• Chemical and environmental exposures and assessments.
• Application and comparison of chemical mixtures models.
• Physiological determinations relevant to ER, AR, GR and PPAR-related Adverse Outcome Pathways.
• Necropsy and preparation of tissues for biochemical analyses.
• Data processing, statistical analysis, and graphical presentation.
• Literature and database searches for emerging environmental contaminants and mixtures models.
• Presenting research results and implications in writing and orally to institutional, local, and national audiences.

The participant will receive frequent and regular feedback from mentor throughout the duration of the opportunity to support the completion of research activities. Some components of this research opportunity may be completed remotely. Therefore participants may obtain telework flexibilities with mentor approval following completion of laboratory, program, and institutional trainings.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this project is Elizabeth Medlock Kakaley (medlockkakaley.elizabeth@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Spring 2024.  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 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.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing one of the degrees with completion by the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.  

Preferred skills/experience in one or more of the following techniques:

• Experience in molecular biology and cell culture experimental techniques.
• Experience in documenting and summarizing detailed experimental and modeling data, and statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of in vitro chemical exposure procedures, and reproductive biology.
• Experience with Adverse Outcome Pathway frameworks, toxicology theory and techniques.
• Preparation of data for scientific publication and presentations.