EPA Fellowship in Epidemiological Research

*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), Public Health and Environmental Systems Division (PHESD) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

Research Project: This predoctoral research opportunity aims to investigate markers of environmental quality or exposure and cardiopulmonary health effects among the elderly using multiple health and environmental datasets (e.g., Medicare, electronic health records, air quality data, water quality data).The research participant will have the opportunity to contribute to research projects related to cumulative environmental exposures and cardiopulmonary hospitalizations among different categories of adults in the US. 

The research participant will have the opportunity to be part of an EPA team of investigators that have developed the Environmental Quality Index (EQI). The EQI is a culmination of five different domains related to environmental health (air, water, land, built, and sociodemographic). Under the guidance of a mentor, the selected individual will have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of the EQI and contribute to epidemiologic data analyses relating the EQI and other environmental exposures (relating particularly to air and water) and cardiopulmonary hospitalizations and related outcomes. 

Learning Objectives: This research project will focus on the following areas where the research participant will have the opportunity to learn: techniques to evaluate cumulative environmental exposures, organization and management of large datasets, epidemiologic methods for evaluating environmental exposures and hospitalizations, and developing publications and presentations.

Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Stephanie Deflorio-Barker (deflorio-barker.stephanie@epa.gov) and Danelle Lobdell (lobdell.danelle@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 3, 2023.  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 upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.

Level of Participation: The appointment is part-time, between 10-20 hours per week.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. A travel/training allowance will be provided to the candidate to present project-related research data and results at scientific meetings (e.g., conferences and workshops). 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.

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.ORD@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

Preferred skills/experience:

• Knowledge of quantitative research methods, including statistical programming experience (R, SAS, or STATA)
• Experience managing, cleaning, and analyzing quantitative datasets
• Skills and experience in oral and written communications and environmental/public health