Environmental Research Assistant

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Environmental Research Assistant position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Ada, Oklahoma.

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

What the EPA project is about

The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER) plans, coordinates and conducts an applied, customer-driven, national research and development program to improve decision making by EPA, federal, state, tribal and local agencies, when faced with challenging environmental problems in the built environment. Within CESER, the Groundwater Characterization & Remediation Division (GCRD) plans, coordinates and conducts basic and applied, customer-driven research program to provide data, models, tools and technologies, training, and strategies to protect and restore groundwater. Additionally, researchers provide technical support to federal and state environmental regulators on issues regarding subsurface contamination, contaminant fluxes to other media (such as surface water and air), and ecosystem restoration.

To support these activities, GCRD laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation for chemical characterization of groundwater and surface water, as well as with numerous field instrumentation for investigation of soil and aquifer materials, groundwater, and surface water. The analytical and field functions of the Division are critical to supporting the research and technical assistance mission of GCRD. This project will involve analytical support for the analysis of water and aquifer samples to support research to protect groundwater and surface water resources; possible field support for collection of samples; review, organization, and analysis of literature data; spreadsheet and database support for file organization; and additional project support as needed.

The mentor is currently conducting research involving: 1) Enhanced Aquifer Recharge (EAR), and 2) Climate Vulnerability. EAR is one technique within the greater aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) which uses natural processes to infiltrate stormwater runoff into the subsurface. Research related to EAR is conducted under the Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR) program to evaluate the impact of EAR on groundwater quality and quantity. Climate Vulnerability involves the general risks of climate change. Sea level rise (SLR) influenced by climate change causes flooding, erosion, and damage to coastal infrastructure. More specifically, sea water intrusion can impact groundwater parameters such as water table level, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, etc. This research is conducted under the Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) program to provide better understanding of how SLR will impact performance of groundwater remediation projects at hazardous waste sites. The objectives of this research will incorporate both EAR and Climate Vulnerability.

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, you will be assigned office space where they may conduct computer-based work but may be required to conduct work in the field, analytical laboratory, and/or work to assist other research teams (i.e., EAR team) with research and/or administrative duties, as assigned by the mentor. The team members time may be split between the laboratory, field, desktop research, and administrative desk duties.

Responsibilities

The team member will conduct literature reviews and syntheses, participate in field sample collection, field trip planning, and provide data management and data analysis support. The team member will use appropriate field and laboratory equipment as well as conduct data analysis in Microsoft Excel (experience with R or Python are preferred). The team member will be required to travel to field sites across Oklahoma and may be required to travel across the United States for collecting data.

Primary duties will be assisting the mentor with reading and synthesizing pertinent literature, performing data input and analysis, collecting field data, and associated administrative duties. The literature review will follow criteria and guidelines set by the mentor and can include scientific writing for publication. Data management will range from manual input to statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel and/or R or Python or ArcGIS depending on team members expertise. Collection of field data will involve groundwater sampling, soil sampling, geophysical surveying, and downloading of weather station data. All data collection activities will involve carrying equipment upwards of 50-lbs, long days in the field in the hottest of summer and coldest of winter, as well as in isolated locations.

Secondary duties will be assisting other research team members in analytical support, preparation for field trips, and associated laboratory duties at GCRD. Secondary duties will follow protocols set by the mentor in conjunction with other PI and may involve long periods of standing and/or repetitive tasks.

Prior experience with the following equipment is beneficial, but not required. The team member may be trained in, and be expected to pass a proficiency test on, field and/or analytical equipment, sample preparation, and standard operating procedures for the specific equipment. Field equipment may include, but not be limited to Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), gasoline generators, and submersible pumps and controllers. Analytical equipment may include, but not be limited to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, UV/Vis Spectroscopy, and Raman Spectroscopy.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

Documented education with at least one course credit in geology or soils and one course laboratory credit in chemistry;
• Physical ability to carry large, heavy, and awkward shaped equipment for data collection, as well as tolerate hot/cold/wet field conditions during sample collection;
• Demonstrated experience collecting, preparing, and analyzing soil and/or water samples;
• Demonstrated experience with general laboratory techniques, such as using pipets, balances, preparation of solutions, etc.;
• Proficiency in oral and written communication in English;
• Advanced experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and
• Demonstrated organizational skills, including demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Demonstrated education and/or experience in either R, Python, MatLab, S12, or similar coding language; and
• Demonstrated education and/or experience in ArcGIS, QGIS, GRASS, or similar geospatial software.

Location: This job will be located EPA's facility in Ada, Oklahoma.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $23.13 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 March 2025. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA.

For more information, contact EPANSSC@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, physics, chemistry, geochemistry, geoscience, geology, earth science, hydrogeology, hydrology, soil science, or closely related science degree 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.