*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 and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), Public Health & Integrated Toxicology Division (PHITD) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Research Project: Research at ORD/CPHEA/PHITD/NETB and RDTB is focused on providing a scientific foundation to identify hazardous chemicals, assessing their potential risk and safeguard both public health and the environment. More specifically, we are interested in protecting women's health and prioritizing chemicals that may impact female reproductive health and offspring development. The focus is reproductive development, neuroendocrine regulation, milk production, prenatal/postnatal health following exposures in sensitive windows including gestation, juvenile, adult or aging adult. These vulnerable periods are important to explore changes that can result in permanent outcomes in postnatal development or altered fertility. The focus is also to explore the target or mechanism of action of the environmental chemicals. This can be studied using in vitro approaches to contribute to in vitro to in vivo outcomes in building out adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). The data from this project can contribute to predictive computational models for human relevance and hazard assessment.
Under the guidance of a mentor, the research participant will have the opportunity to learn to conduct both in vivo and in vitro studies evaluating the effects of environmental chemicals on specific cellular targets important for female reproduction, gestation and postnatal development. The research will provide data for the development of in vitro to in vivo extrapolation models and adverse outcome pathways that are necessary for establishing predictive models for both female reproduction, fetal development and maternal health.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, research learning objectives may include:
Design, plan, conduct and analyze data generated using either in vivo or in vitro approaches to evaluate the effects of prioritized environmental chemicals on female reproductive endpoints. Acquire specialized training in development of new approach methodologies for female reproductive targets. Acquire training on experiments to explore specific biomarkers of female reproductive and systemic dysfunction that can lead to altered fertility or postpartum outcomes. New methods to assess neuroendocrine or reproductive tract dysfunction. Acquire training on Body composition, pathology, cardiac assessments. Acquire training on imaging techniques and molecular tools to explore target sites of toxicants. Surgical manipulations to evaluate reproductive or systemic effects. Maintain data management/statistics in the area of toxicology. Maintain quality assurance documents, standard operating procedures, and records management procedures. Mentor(s): The mentor for this project is Tammy E. Stoker (stoker.tammy@epa.gov) and co-mentor Erin Hines (hines.erin@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Spring/Summer 2024. 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 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.
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.
