*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: Two research opportunities are currently 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. If selected for the opportunity, the participant will need to relocate to the appropriate EPA facility. The relocation costs are not reimbursable. The opportunity is not 100% remote, but limited telework may be considered at the mentor’s discretion.
The Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. A research opportunity is currently available at the EPA ORD's Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER).
Research Project: Millions of Lead Service Lines (LSLs) remain in place across the United States, posing a health risk to those who drink water that is distributed from municipal water systems through LSLs and into homes. The Center for Environmental and Emergency Response is conducting applied research to evaluate technologies that help communities identify where LSLs are located, and data is being collected to determine their cost-effectiveness, accuracy and ease of use. Information about this research will be provided to states, communities, and tribal nations to help them rapidly identify LSLs and remove them. This research is particularly focused on providing the data and information that small, disadvantaged, or undeserved communities may need to remove these sources of lead.
This research training opportunity will enhance the research participant’s ability to conduct science communication to help solve environmental problems. Under the guidance of the mentor, research activities may include:
- Collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.
- Contributing to the application of science communication to environmental problems using one or more research methods (e.g. comparative case studies, literature reviews, interviews, secondary data, data analysis, focus groups, surveys).
- Development and dissemination of oral and written communication of environmental data to diverse audiences (e.g. journal articles, reports, workshops and trainings, manuscripts, infographics, conference poster and presentations).
- Exposure to emerging research areas including environmental justice.
The research participant will have the latitude to exercise independent initiative, innovation, and judgment in their research. The research participant may have the opportunity to interact with EPA research partners in other federal agencies, state and local government, academia, and community stakeholders. The research participant may also have the opportunity to attend technical meetings and workshops to present research.
Learning Objectives: Learning objectives for this research training opportunity will cover a wide range of activities that connect science and society. Common goals of science communication include informing non-experts about scientific findings, raising the public awareness of and interest in science, influencing people's attitudes and behaviors, informing public policy, and engaging with diverse communities to address societal problems. Specific learning objectives include effectively presenting research results to various audiences at conferences and workshops and communication as related to public health and drinking water quality.