Asbestos Research Support
The EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program has an immediate opening for a full-time Asbestos Research Support position with the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.
What the EPA project is about
EPA’s National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) protects human health and the environment by developing and applying innovations in exposure science. NERL provides scientific leadership, understanding, and tools necessary to quantify exposure for humans and ecosystems. NERL’s Systems Exposure Division (SED) integrates exposure data, tools, methods and models to assess cumulative exposures to humans and ecosystems. This assessment uses systems-based approaches to organize current knowledge, simulate potential futures and synthesize results. SED translates information into decision- making frameworks that integrate human and ecological, multimedia, socio-economic and cumulative risk considerations to improve human well-being and the sustainability of the built and natural environment. The holistic view on exposure science and its linkage to sustainable solutions emphasizes cross-divisional and laboratory integration.
What you will be doing
The selected candidate shall support the review of information related to sampling and analysis of respirable elongated mineral particles (REMP) as these technologies apply to the measurement and modeling of asbestos in the Iron Range of Minnesota.
Required skills
- Proficiency in conducting a technical literature review within a prescribed timeline; and
- Experience applying knowledge of physical sciences to generate a report.
Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education
- Experience in air pollution and environmental sampling and analysis
How you will apply your skills
- Comparisons of environmental REMP concentrations to on-site worker exposure data from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health studies.
- Selection criteria for representative sampling locations.
- Comparison of various sampling protocols, including fixed site, personal monitors, and combinations of these sited in down-wind, environmental, as well as within communities (to support future measurements and modeling of residential exposures).
- Discovery of similar or applicable studies that have evaluated occupational, outdoor vs. non- occupational outdoor exposures.
- Review of current and cutting-edge technologies for measuring personal exposure to REMPs in real-time.
- Information to support other recommendations for further study.
If the information gathering and reduction stage is successful, the selected candidate shall assist in setting up and operating monitoring sites in various environmental and community settings.
Communications-related responsibilities shall include:
- Participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team of EPA Regional and ORD scientists;
- Interacting with other members of the REMP sampling and analysis team as well as with other EPA scientists;
- Adhering to the RARE Communications Plan;
- Documenting findings in word processing, spreadsheet and graphical files; and
- Possibly presenting work performed as a poster at a scientific conference and/or Regional/ORD briefings.
EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.
Location: This job will be located EPA’s Research Triangle facility in Raleigh-Durham, NC.
Salary: Selected applicants will become temporary employees of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $21.59 for hours worked.
Hours: Full time
Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required, especially if first phase is completed successfully.
Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin August 2019. The initial project is through May 14, 2020, with potential options 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. The position will involve work in an administrative setting and is not expected to involve exposure to hazardous elements
Qualifications
- Be at least 18 years of age and
- earned at least a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or engineering, occupational hygiene, or other closely related field 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.