Friday, March 27, 2020

Postdoctoral Positions at the EPA

The US Environmental Protection Agency has multiple open postdoctoral positions in areas related to environmental toxicology.  These include positions in their Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, the Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, and their Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment.  More details can be found here.  Applications will be accepted until April 16, 2020.  [My thanks to my colleague Sunni Ivey for the information.]

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

EPA Position for New and Recent Graduates in its Drinking Water Division

The US EPA (through ORISE) is searching for US citizens at the BS, MS or PhD level who have graduated within the past 5 years (or who will graduate by June 1) to apply for a position in its Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) located in Washington, DC.  As described in its announcement, the project will focus on conducting drinking water data analysis and policy evaluation relating to health effects, occurrence, and treatment technologies of drinking water contaminants including microbes, disinfection by-products, as well as emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and cyanotoxins.  More information can be found here and at the ORISE Virtual Outreach Fair described in the previous post.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

ORISE Virtual Outreach Fair


 From a email that I recently received.  Note that this event is intended for college students and recent graduates, and that the agencies listed employ a significant number of toxicologists.

On March 25, from 12 to 3 p.m. ET, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is hosting a virtual outreach fair to highlight the variety of paid internships, fellowships and research associate appointments available within our Research Participant Programs.  

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to:

CHAT with scientists and mentors from government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and more! 

LEARN about the research conducted within those agencies.

EXPLORE our paid internships and research associate appointments.

CONNECT with recruiters and get your questions answered.


You can register here.  

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Danielle Stevenson Receives Honorable Mention in the 2020 Grad Slam Competition


Earlier this month, Danielle Stevenson, an ETOX graduate student working with Samantha Ying, an assistant professor of soil biogeochemistry, competed in the UCR 2020 Grad Slam competition during which graduate students give short "elevator" pitches to explain their research to a general audience.  Danielle described her work on microrrhizal fungi that can block the uptake of metals and increase crop yields, and received an honorable mention.  More information can be found on the Inside UCR webpage.  Our congratulations to Danielle (fourth from the left in red in the above picture) for competing in the contest and receiving this nice recognition.  [The photo is from the Stan Lim/UCR).

UCR Campus Closed Until April 30


In light of the ongoing pandemic, the University of California, Riverside is taking steps to limit exposure to the virus and reduce illness among its students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Under the direction of the Public Health Officer of Riverside County, UCR has been ordered to close all but a limited number of critical functions within the university.  Some ongoing research may be considered to be critical, but much of it will likely be curtailed until the most infectious period of the pandemic has passed or protective measures can be put in place.  The closure will last until April 30th but it is possible that it will continue past that time. All Spring Quarter classes will be taught online, most through videoconferencing. Graduate students will continue to work towards their degrees working, in most cases, on writing, data analysis and other activities that they can do from home. We hope that the steps that the university, the government, and all of us are taking will limit the progression of the disease, and allow campus to re-open soon.  We hope you all remain safe and healthy.
 

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Unpaid Internship positions at EPA in human health risk assessment and science policy

The following was forwarded to me by ETOX alum, Catherine Gibbons who works at the EPA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) is pleased to announce an exciting educational opportunity geared toward students and post-doctoral trainees. This program affords trainees to learn more about the intersection of science research and science policy, and work with EPA human health risk assessment scientists and staff starting this summer. Participants of this opportunity would work closely with CPHEA staff as part of a team conducting an assessment. Through this process students would learn about risk assessment (e.g. hazard identification, mode of action analysis, dose-response analysis), systematic review, and new computational tools being utilized in evidence analysis. These non-laboratory positions are ideal for students interested in learning more about the application of toxicological, epidemiological, and environmental research to support science decisions related to risk assessment.

CHPEA is currently seeking applications for student and post-doctoral interns for Summer 2020. Given the necessary lead time for onboarding, we encourage interested participants to submit their application by April 15th, 2020.  
Eligibility Requirements:
The applicant must be enrolled in good standing in a degree-seeking program (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree) at an accredited U.S. educational institution. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited college or university. Participants are required to show proof of enrollment and provide a
completed resume. 

The program will be for a minimum of 10 weeks, and 10-15 hours per week. This is an unpaid educational opportunity for academic credit. The participant does not become an EPA employee.

How to Apply:  Interested students should email a statement of interest/cover letter (no more than 1 page), proof of enrollment, and resume/CV to: Amanda Persad persad.amanda@epa.gov.Amanda Persad (persad.amanda@epa.gov) or Dahnish Shams (shams.dahnish@epa.gov). In the subject line, reference ‘CPHEA Education Program’. The statement of interest should clearly identify your academic and professional interests. EPA will accept applicants on a rolling basis. 

Feel free to contact Amanda Persad (persad.amanda@epa.gov) or Dahnish Shams (shams.dahnish@epa.gov) for call-in information for the upcoming sessions or for general inquiries regarding this program.