Air Sensor Evaluation Support
The EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program has an immediate opening for a full-time Air Sensor Evaluation Support position with the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.
What the EPA project is about
The National Exposure Research Laboratory’s (NERL) Exposure Methods and Measurement Division (EMMD) is responsible for developing and evaluating methods to measure exposure to environmental pollutants. This work includes field and laboratory testing of low-cost air quality sensors, development of evaluation reports and other informational resources, maintenance of the Air Sensors Toolbox website to inform potential users, and market research regarding new air sensor technologies coming to market.
What you will be doing
As a team member, you will provide field evaluation and data analysis support for on-going air sensor evaluation efforts. This is a combination of hands-on operation, data download, and troubleshooting efforts, as well as performing qualitative and quantitative data analysis. You will also provide market research and communication support that will include document and report generation and editing and updates to the Air Sensor Toolbox website.
Required skills
- Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills;
- Demonstrated education and/or experience in data analysis and research;
- R-language programming (or other scripting language) experience;
- Education and/or experience with electronics and measurement systems (e.g., microprocessors, sensors, circuitry);
- Experience in management of large data sets (100 thousand, 20 million, and up to 800 million data points depending on the sensor and project);
- A working knowledge of air quality and low-cost air quality sensors; and
- Comfort in working independently and in outdoor environments.
How you will apply your skills
Field Evaluation and Data Analysis Support Responsibilities
- Providing hands on operation of low-cost air sensors;
- Developing and/or reviewing of standard operating procedures;
- Assisting with troubleshooting sensor operational issues;
- Performing data download, formatting, and reviewing sensor and reference monitoring data;
- Developing of short data analysis summaries;
- Reviewing calibration data to verify of reference monitor performance; and
- Identifying unique air pollution events.
Market Research and Communications Support Responsibilities
- Conducting research to identify new air sensor technologies;
- Communicating with sensor manufacturers to catalog details about each new sensor;
- Maintaining the sensor database to identify models that have been updated or become obsolete;
- Supporting updates to the Air Sensor Toolbox website;
- Conducting literature review to identify relevant research to share with the team;
- Facilitating webinars and conference calls;
- Participating as a member of a research team;
- Interacting with other EPA scientists, EPA offices, collaborators, manufacturers, users, etc.;
- Documenting research efforts; and
- Presenting work performed if asked in a poster session at a scientific conference.
Location: This job will be located EPA’s Research Triangle facility in Raleigh-Durham, NC.
Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $21.59 for hours worked.
Hours: Full time
Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.
Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin August 2019. The initial project is through May 14, 2020, with potential optional periods.
Working conditions: You will be supervised by a mentor who will provide day-to-day direction, as well as coach, advise, counsel and review your work. This position will mainly involve work in an administrative setting although some work at an on-site outdoor testing deck and within a laboratory (dry/electronics lab) is also expected. It is not expected that work would involve exposure to hazardous elements.
Qualifications
- Be at least 18 years of age and
- Have Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, statistics, chemistry, math, physics, computer science, information science, or a closely related field of study from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months and
- Be a citizen of the United States of America or a Legal Permanent Resident.
EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.