EPA Cardiopulmonary Physiology and Toxicology Internship

*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: A research opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Public Health Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), within the Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division (PHITD) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

PHITD research focuses on the characterization and biological mechanisms of adverse health effects of environmental pollutants. Results of this research are published in peer-reviewed journals and inform EPA’s environmental assessments and planning for air quality standards. The Division uses a variety of approaches to study toxicity of environmental pollutants, including cell cultures, animal models, and human studies. PHITD participates in several of EPA’s national research programs, especially the Air and Energy (AE) research program. Within the AE research portfolio, PHITD formulates and conducts research designed to: characterize the relationships between air quality, climate change, and adverse health effects; evaluate the health effects of energy generation and combustion products from biomass; characterize the health effects of individual major pollutants (such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and particles) and multipollutant mixtures; assess the toxicity of pollutants near sources such as roads, ports, wildfires, and urban areas; and identify susceptibility factors of at-risk human populations (such as asthmatics and those with cardiovascular disease) who are disproportionately impacted by pollution, and characterize the effects and mechanisms of responses to specific pollutants in susceptible populations.

Research Project: This research project addresses the growing need to assess the impacts of non-environmental factors that modify the body's response to a toxicant (e.g. air pollution). As such, investigations focus on the effects of psychosocial/noise stress or nutritional deficiency on the development of cardiovascular dysfunction. In particular, the goal is to determine how stressors modify toxicological responses and if environmental rejuvenation (e.g. greenspaces) can ameliorate the detrimental effects of exposure. We use in-vivo approaches in rodents to parallel human conditions and indicators, and assess resiliency.

Research activities may include: 1) rodent cardiopulmonary surgical techniques, 2) ultrasound echocardiography, 3) microbiome analysis, 4) cardiovascular physiology data analysis, 5) presenting study results, and 6) writing manuscripts.

Learning Objectives: While interacting with an interdisciplinary team, the research participant will have the opportunity to learn to 1) think critically regarding environmental air pollution and health concerns, and design and conduct hypothesis-driven research that addresses these issues, 2) learn rodent surgical techniques, 3) use state-of-the-art equipment to assess cardiovascular function in rodents in response to air pollution exposure using ultrasound technology, 4) perform cardiopulmonary data analysis, and 5) learn to prepare and submit manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Mehdi Hazari (hazari.mehdi@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: ~February 2021. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. Click here for detailed information about start dates.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and may be renewed up to three or four additional years 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. Click here for detailed information about full-time stipends.

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.

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity (EPA-ORD-CPHEA-PHITD-2020-14).