Note: Full descriptions of each position are available as PDF files. You will need a copy of Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free from the Adobe Web site.
Recent Grads Needed Immediately
Research Participation Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Duluth, Minnesota
Project Description: A postgraduate research project training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Mid-Continent Ecology Division in Duluth, Minnesota. The research project is with the Ecosystem Assessment Research Branch of the Mid-Continent Ecology Division (MED). The nearshore is vulnerable to human and landscape-level impacts and contributes strongly to the ecological structure and function of whole lakes, yet is an understudied area of the Great Lakes. MED scientists have been leading the development of new assessment methods and technologies in the last decade. As EPA’s scientists develop the science of nearshore assessment, EPA also needs a new generation of scientists capable of implementing and continuing the technological advances. The participant will learn a variety of cutting-edge techniques to advance the ecological assessment of coastal and nearshore waters of the Great Lakes. Applicants must have received a master’s or a doctoral degree within five years of the desired starting date and have education/experience in aquatic science or a related environmental science discipline. See project EPA-ORD/NHEERL-MED-2010-01.
Internship Project Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A postgraduate internship project is available with the Water Policy Staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water in Washington, DC. The Office of Water (OW) Water Policy Staff has an opportunity for an individual who is interested in learning the development and implementation of OW’s climate change strategy. Over the past three years, EPA staff from throughout OW and the ten EPA regions have been working to understand the implications of climate change, and to adapt programs to ensure continued effectiveness. Climate change will affect every aspect of the national water program. The intern will gain knowledge of the entire National Water Program and will develop an understanding of the implications of climate change, including programs for clean water, drinking water, wetlands, oceans and estuaries, and water infrastructure. The intern will learn the processes and procedures to develop and implement a national environmental program. Applicants should have received a master’s degree in the natural sciences, environmental engineering, environmental policy, or a related field, within four years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date. See project EPA Water 2010-158.
Research Participation Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Public Health and Science
Office of Healthcare Quality
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: An opportunity is available in the Office of Healthcare Quality (OHQ), Office of Public Health and Science, at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C. The research participant will assist the Healthcare-Associated Infections Prevention team and will gain experience in the development of public health policy and implementation of various projects tied to the HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections. A master’s degree in public health, health sciences, or other science field is preferred. See project DHHS OPHS 2010-0003.
Internship Program Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: An internship project is available in the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water in Washington, DC. The intern will receive training and other learning opportunities in the Nonpoint Source Control Branch (NPS). Areas of potential focus for the intern include: environmental economics and engineering, integrated watershed management, watershed sensitive planning and design, low impact development (LID) approaches, stormwater program and policy development, green infrastructure, rainwater harvesting and use programs and policies and sustainable water resource management practices. The intern also may be involved in the implementation of the Office of Water’s Green Infrastructure Strategy. Applicants should have received a master’s degree in a related field within four years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date. See Project EPA Water 2010-157.
Internship Project Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A postgraduate internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW). The Monitoring Branch of the Assessment and Watershed Protection Division is seeking an intern to become a member of the EPA team that plans and implements the National Aquatic Resources Surveys. The team is involved with a number of operational and background research tasks for planning and implementing surveys and supporting state monitoring enhancements. The intern could be involved in team activities that include planning and implementing surveys through research and evaluation of field sampling protocols, analysis and interpretation methods for core indicators of ecological condition; design of the surveys including identification of core indicators and sampling protocols. The project will provide excellent exposure to a broad range of environmental and policy issues associated with assessing lakes, streams and rivers, coastal waters and wetlands. Applicants should have received either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental policy, environmental science, public affairs, or a related field, within four years of the desired starting date. See project EPA Water 2010-156.
Internship Project Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A postgraduate internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wastewater Management (OWM). The appointment will be served with the Sustainable Communities Branch (SCB) in the Municipal Support Division (MSD). SCB is looking for an intern to be part of the EPA Capacity Development Team. Team activities include 1) supporting the Sustainable Water Leadership Program; 2) researching opportunities for developing the workforce capacity of wastewater systems nationwide; and 3) researching sustainability and success of federal investments in small communities for water infrastructure and water operator training. The intern will learn about sustainable infrastructure practices, water system capacity, and water workforce training. The applicant must have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree (preferred) in environmental policy or environmental science, public health, geography, civil or environmental engineering, or marketing within four years of the desired starting date. See project EPA Water 2010-155.
Internship Project Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A postgraduate internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Science and Technology (OST) in Washington, DC. The Standards and Health Protection Division in the Office of Science and Technology directs the national water programs for water quality standards, advisories for safe fishing and swimming, and water quality modeling. The intern will be trained in the State, Regional, and Tribal Standards Support Branch (RSTSSB), one of the two branches in the Standards and Health Protection Division that work on water quality standards. The intern will be part of an EPA team involved in a range of activities supporting EPA’s Water Quality Standards Program, with a particular emphasis on numeric nutrient criteria. The applicant must have received a master’s degree within four years of the desired starting date and have knowledge of environmental management, policy, and science. See project EPA Water 2010-154.
Research Participation Program
National Vaccine Program Office
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A project is available for two research participants in the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C. The NVPO is responsible for coordinating and ensuring collaboration among the many Federal government agencies involved in vaccine and immunization activities. Master’s degree in health communications or related field; knowledge of the principles of risk communications and social marketing; knowledge of vaccine and immunization issues are required. Experience in website development and new media desired. See project DHHS NVPO 2010-0002.
Postgraduate Internship Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 Chicago Regional Laboratory
Chicago, Illinois
Project Description: A research project is available with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chicago Regional Laboratory (CRL) in Chicago, Illinois. Project elements will include, but not be limited to: detailed analysis of environmental samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS); optimizing instrument parameters to recover the more polar volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from sample matrices; using GC/MS data with both instrument software and spreadsheet databases; developing statistically based limits for surrogate recovery and using them to assess the impact of the matrix on recovery of the target compounds in different types of samples; and, preparing materials for oral presentations and for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The intern will be involved in an environmental laboratory as part of a team dedicated to developing better analytical methods for a variety of sample types using the latest technologies. Applicants should have received a bachelor’s degree in an environmental science discipline related to analytical chemistry within four years of the desired starting date. Relevant experience in analytical chemistry, preferably in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is a plus. See project EPA Region 5-CRL 2010-01.
Postmasters Research Associate in Computer Science and Mathematics
Computer Science and Mathematics Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Project Description: This position will work to extend the functionality of the Vampir tools set, from the Technical University of Dresden, to support running in a mixed environment of X86 processors and GPGPU processors from NVIDIA for large scale systems. See Project ORNL10-51-CSMD
Summer Research Participation Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Silver Spring, Maryland
Project Description: The Office of Biostatistics, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will appoint several research participants for Summer 2010. The research participants will be mentored by experienced statistical reviewers and will have the opportunity to develop statistical methods, programming tools, and databases in context of reviews of clinical trial data for drug products. Applicants should be advanced doctoral students in statistics or biostatistics and have an interest in the mission of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. See project FDA-CDER-2010-0010.
Research Participation Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Food Safety
College Park, Maryland
Project Description: Several projects are available in the Office of Food Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in College Park, Maryland. See project FDA-CFSAN-2010-0004.
Research Participation Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Food Defense, Communication and Emergency Response
College Park, Maryland
Project Desription: Several projects are available in the Office of Food Defense, Communication and Emergency Response, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in College Park, Maryland. See project FDA-CFSAN-2010-0003.
Research Participation Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment
Laurel, Maryland
Project Description: Several projects are available in the Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in Laurel, Maryland. See project FDA-CFSAN-2010-0002.
Research Fellowship Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Compliance
College Park, Maryland
Project Description: Several projects are available in the Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in College Park, Maryland. See project FDA-CFSAN-2010-0001.
Research Participation Program
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Operational Technology Division
Quantico, Virginia
Project Description: A postgraduate research project is available in the Operational Technology Division (OTD) at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Quantico, Virginia. The appointment will be served in the Tracking Technology Unit. The research participant will conduct extensive spectroscopic analyses to identify materials or signatures of interest. Using previously collected airborne and laboratory data combined with spectral analysis training, the participant will investigate potential search algorithms and develop methodology for implementation. Other activities may include disseminating research results through one or more internal reports and presentations. Training will be provided as needed, and in particular, on the software used for spectral image analysis. Applicants should have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemistry, physics, engineering, spectroscopy, or a related field within five years of the desired starting date. See project FBI-OTD 2009-01.
Internship Project Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A postgraduate internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) in Washington, DC. The intern will join a dynamic team focused on promulgation of final UIC regulations for CO2 Geologic Sequestration Wells. EPA is developing regulations to address future full-scale CO2 geologic sequestration projects. In July 2008, EPA published the proposal for these regulations for public review and comment and in August 2009, EPA published of a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) with request for additional comments. This publication supplements the information published in the July 2008 Proposed Rule. EPA is in the process of developing documents in support of the final rule. The intern will be involved with the team and appropriate project leads with document development management. As the rule schedule advances, the intern may also be involved in facilitating the docket management/coordination. Applicants should have received a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies or public administration within four years of the desired starting date. See Project EPA Water 2009-151.
Post-Master's Research Assistant in Gene Expression and Analysis
Bioenergy Science Center
Biological and Environmental Sciences Directorate
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Project Description: A post-master's research position is available immediately within the Bioenergy Science Center located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team of investigators undertaking a broad, integrated approach aimed at ultimately improving feedstock chemistry to enhance the conversion of biomass to biofuels. The approaches being used in this study include comparative and functional genomics, gene expression and protein interaction studies and imaging to better understand cellulose biosynthesis in plants. See project ORNL10-13-BSED.
Internship Project Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A postgraduate internship is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) in Washington, DC. The internship will be served in the Water Permits Division. The collection and treatment of municipal sewage and wastewater is vital to the public health in our cities and towns. EPA estimates that between 23,000 and 75,000 sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) events occur per year in the United States (excluding basement backups). Overflows of untreated wastewater may present serious risks of human exposure when released to certain areas, such as streets, private property, basements, and receiving waters used for drinking water, fishing and shellfishing, or contact recreation. Untreated sewage contains pathogens and other pollutants, which are toxic. OWM is seeking an individual who is interested in being trained to support efforts to implement the national SSO program regulations and initiatives, and to assist with evaluating and implementing ways to strengthen the program. The intern will gain an in depth knowledge of all aspects of EPA’s SSO program and an appreciation of the challenges that regions and states face in implementing the program. Applicants must have received a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in environmental science, engineering, biology, or related areas within four years of the desired starting date. See project EPA Water 2009-149.
Under Graduate/Graduate Research Opportunity
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Office of Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio
Project Description: An applied research project for an undergraduate or graduate level scientist is available at the Technical Support Center (TSC) of the Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in Cincinnati, Ohio. This research project will allow the participant to gain knowledge about current regulations regarding drinking water supplies, as well as an understanding of the current methods approved for sample analysis of drinking water supplies. The participant will be exposed to reviewing, analyzing, and interpret ting environmental data regarding the recovery of stressed/injured bacteria in drinking water samples. Applicants should have received an associate’s, bachelor's or master’s degree in microbiology or in biology with experience in microbiology. The degree must have been received within four years of the desired starting date. See project EPA Ground Water 2009-02.
Research Participation Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Center for Environmental Assessment
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Project Description: A postgraduate research project is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. NCEA is responsible for scientific assessment activities related to the effects of the criteria air pollutants (particulate matter, ozone, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and lead) as well as chemical assessments under the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program. This is an interdisciplinary project that will entail appointing scientists in a range of scientific disciplines to contribute to the assessment of scientific information. The participant will be involved in the review and evaluation of currently available scientific information for the purpose of developing integrated science assessment documents and communicating scientific information to other EPA program offices. Applicants should have received at least a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to environmental science, such as epidemiology, ecology, toxicology, biology, statistics, physics, chemistry, information sciences or related areas within four years of the desired starting date. See project EPA-ORD/NCEA-RTP-2009-01.
Research Participation Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Center for Environmental Assessment
Cincinnati, Ohio
Project Description: A university faculty and/or postgraduate research project is available with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. The participant will be mentored by scientific staff at NCEA to develop, validate and apply in epidemiological research a multiplex suspension immunoassay for measurement of salivary antibody responses to selected human pathogens including viruses, protozoa and bacteria that can be transmitted through water. The participant will have latitude in exercising independent initiative and judgment commensurate with their level of experience and education. Applicants must be either a faculty members at an accredited U.S. college or university have received a graduate degree (in a biological science, health science, microbiology, immunology or other relevant scientific field) within four years of the desired starting date. See project EPA-ORD/NCEA-CIN-2009-03.
Internship Project Opportunity
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office Of Water, Program Management Office
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: An internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water Project Management Office (PMO) in Washington, DC. The Office of Water (OW) is seeking an individual who is interested in learning more about Web development as well as gaining other project-related skills. The intern will gain valuable experience in a fast paced, high energy Web development environment. Applicants should have received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science or information technology within four years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date. See project EPA Water 2009-125.
Research Participation Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Secretary
Office of Public Health and Science
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: A project is available in the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) within the Office of the Secretary (OS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C. The participant will gain experience in the development of public health policy and implementation of various projects tied to the HHS Action Plan. A master’s degree in public health or health science or other science field is preferred. A bachelor’s degree is required. See project DHHS OPHS 2009-0003.
Postgraduate Research Associate in Fuels, Engines, and Emission Research
Engineering Sciences and Technology Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Project description: The successful candidate(s) will perform research on advanced emission control technologies and/or advanced engine combustion. Emission control research for internal combustion engines will likely have an emphasis on understanding the effect of chemical reactions taking place inside NOx abatement devices, oxidation catalysts, and/or particulate filters. Engine combustion research may include effects of fuel chemistry on PCCI combustion, HCCI combustion, and/or low-temperature combustion. Ph.D. or Master’s degree required. A background in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or chemistry is preferred, although other disciplines might also be considered. See project ORNL08-13-ESTD.
Postgraduate Research Associate in Systems Engineer in Enterprise Knowledge-Based Systems
Engineering Science and Technology Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Project description: Individual will conduct research and development in the areas of transportation security and transportation system planning and assessments and will help design, develop, and implement enterprise decision support systems. The individual will work with researchers in the Decision Engineering Group, Engineering Science and Technology Division, and across ORNL. Applicants should have an M.S./Ph.D. in operations research, systems engineering, engineering management, decision sciences, modeling and simulation, and computer science, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. See project ORNL08-14-ESTD.
Research Associate/Technician in Molecular Biosciences
Chemical Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Project Description: The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team that is developing multi-length scale physicochemical and modeling methods to analyze the structure of lignocellulosic biomass. The research objective is improvement of biomass conversion to bioenergy by understanding the micro- and nano-scale structure of plant-derived biomass. The candidate will be responsible for cultivation of plants and bacteria, purification of hydrolytic enzymes, and preparation of biomass for analysis by high resolution methods including atomic force microscopy, neutron and X-ray scattering. Applicants must have completed a M.S. or B.S. degree in biology, biochemistry, wood chemistry or a related discipline with relevant knowledge and experience. See project ORNL08-12-CSD.
Research Participation Program
National Exposure Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Project Description: A research project is available through the Research Participation Program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Under the guidance of a research mentor in the Atmospheric Modeling Division (AMD), the research fellow will participate in conducting statistical analysis in support of a health assessment. The assessment will examine approaches to track potential respiratory health impacts resulting from control actions. The applicant should have received a master’s in mathematics, statistics, or a related field within four years of the desired starting date. See project NERL-AMD-RTP 2007-04.
Internship Program Opportunities
Office of Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: An internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW). OWOW manages the ocean and coastal protection, wetlands and watershed assessment programs. OWOW’s Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (AWPD) is responsible for overseeing the national nonpoint source, total maximum daily load programs, and the national monitoring program. The intern will be involved with a number of operational and background research tasks for planning and implementing the Survey of the Nation’s Lakes and the Survey of the Nation’s Rivers. Key activities could include assisting with operational support for the Surveys including coordinating field training sessions and lab QA/QC activities, and assisting with communications/outreach activities in support of the Surveys. The applicant should have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree within three years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date in a scientific field emphasizing some aspect of environmental management, including ambient water resource conditions, aquatic biology, limnology, ecology, or natural resources. See project EPA Water 2006-77.
Internship Program Opportunities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project Description: The Office of Science and Technology (OST) is one of four offices within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water. OST applies science and technology to protect water quality. OST staff is multi-disciplinary and includes statisticians, biologists, chemists, engineers, economists, and others. The intern will be involved in projects that evaluate pollutants remaining in water discharges after treatment. In particular, the program is planning two studies on “Publicly Owned Treatment Works” (POTWs) for which data will be evaluated. The intern will be trained within the statistics program in OST’s Technology and Statistics Branch. As a member of multi-disciplinary teams, the intern will provide statistical analyses of pollutant and other data collected from POTWs. The applicant must have received a master’s degree in statistics or a closely related field within three years of the desired starting date or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date. Advanced coursework in statistical theory and expertise in SAS programming are desired. See project EPA Water 2005-40.
Plum Island Animal Disease Center Research Participation Program:
Postdoctoral and Postgraduate Research Appointments
Project Description: The Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) Research Participation Program provides opportunities for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, postgraduates, students and visiting scientists to participate in research activities on foreign animal diseases. This Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Research and Development, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Positions are available in veterinary medicine, pathology, immunology, molecular biology, virology, epidemiology, and other disciplines related to understanding pathogenesis, immune response and vaccine and antiviral development against foreign animal diseases. Plum Island is located off the eastern tip of Long Island, requiring daily travel by government ferry from either Orient Pt., NY or Old Saybrook, CT. See project PIADC.
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