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EPA Fellowship in Drinking Water Treatment

*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 Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER), Water Infrastructure Division (WID) located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Research ProjectUnder the guidance of a mentor, the research participant will learn about ongoing EPA research related to small systems drinking water treatment and distribution. They will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of challenging and rewarding activities, such as:

  • Operating and sampling bench-scale experiments related to biofilms in distribution systems.
  • Analyzing telemetry data from rural small systems in Puerto Rico.
  • Conducting experiments to improve lithium removal from drinking water.
  • Reviewing and summarizing treatment options for contaminants of emerging concern, such as lithium and manganese.
  • Performing data analysis using spreadsheets, graphical software, and simple modeling.
  • Contributing to developing outputs, including presentations and technical manuscripts.

Instruction and guidance will be provided to teach new techniques and ensure ongoing quality assurance.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the learning objectives for this opportunity may include:

Understanding factors that affect water quality in the distribution system between the plant and customer tap.

Understanding how to conduct quality assurance/quality control during sample analyses.

Developing skills analyzing data and communicating results.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Asher Keithley (keithley.asher@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 3, 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 three 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 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. Degree must have been received within two years of the appointment start date. 

Preferred skills/experience:

  • Coursework related to drinking water treatment, aquatic chemistry and microbiology, public health, and/or civil/environmental/chemical/biological engineering principles or related fields.
  • Experience in a laboratory setting,
  • Ability to analyze data using Microsoft Excel, R, or other tools.
  • Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills.

 

Eligibility Requirements

 

  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
  • Academic Level(s): Post-Bachelor's.