• An application
• Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional recommendations.

• Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water (OW), Office of Science & Technology (OST), Standards & Health Protection Division (SHPD) located in Washington, D.C.

SHPD directs the national water programs for water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Research Project: The selected participant will be trained in the Division's Regional Branch (RB), one of the two branches in the Division that work on water quality standards. RB assists EPA Regional Offices in reviewing state and tribal water quality standard submission, promulgates federal water quality standards for states when necessary, conducts technical and economic analyses in support of achieving water quality standards, and coordinates with the National Branch (NB) in developing policies and procedures.

The goal of this research project is to support the review of state and tribal water quality standard packages. The research participant will be involved with OST and regional offices in reviewing state and tribal water quality standards submissions, conducting technical and economic analyses in support of achieving water quality standards, and coordinating with the NB in developing policies and procedures. This project will include evaluation of the effectiveness of various technical assistance tools and guidance / policy documents.

Learning Objectives: The participant will explore the role of water quality standards in achieving the goals of the CWA, and the relationship between standards and related core CWA programs such as the NPDES permit program and the Section 303(d) listing and TMDL programs. The participants will analyze and learn how to evaluate state-developed standards to determine their adequacy in light of CWA requirements. In addition, the participant will develop skills related to applying relevant EPA regulations and guidance documents. This opportunity will provide excellent exposure to: a broad range of water pollution control technical and policy issues; the process of applying technical data and information to policy development; interpretation of statutory and regulatory language and its application to state-specific water quality standards proposals and submissions; and synthesizing technical and policy information for presentation to EPA managers and staff and appropriate stakeholder groups.

The participant will be exposed to decision-making discussions with EPA managers, including opportunities to brief those managers. The participant will also be able to collaborate with EPA and managers across a wide range of disciplines and EPA offices. The participant will also hone the skill of communicating complex scientific or technical information to a non-technical audience.

Mentor(s)/Coordinator: The mentor for this opportunity is Jim Keating (Keating.Jim@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s) or program coordinator.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as a qualified candidate is identified. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment initially may be for one year and may be renewed 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. The current yearly stipends for this opportunity are $53,100 (BS), $64,957 (MS) and $78,590 (Ph.D.).

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.

ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5 year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.EPA.OW@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

• Familiarity and/or experience with the Clean Water Act and water resources science and management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Earth and Geosciences
  • Engineering
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences
  • Other Physical Sciences
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences