Application Deadline
7/17/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.
EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), located in Durham, North Carolina.
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. EPA works to ensure that: Americans have clean air, land and water; National efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information; Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively and as Congress intended; Environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy; All parts of society have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks; Contaminated lands and toxic sites are cleaned up; and chemicals in the marketplace are reviewed for safety.
Research Project: The participant will conduct research in collaboration with EPA staff in one of the following ongoing project areas:
- This project will focus on improving estimation and valuation of health effects of air pollution. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, characterizing uncertainty of health effect estimates at low ambient levels of air pollution and characterizing the uncertainty in health effect valuation, developing estimates of economic welfare cost of adverse health effects using methods other than contingent valuation, estimation and economic valuation of sub-clinical health effects of air pollution, and modeling behavioral responses which may mitigate air pollution exposure.
- This project will focus on estimating health effects of air pollution under varying environmental conditions. Environmental effect modifiers may include ambient temperature.
- This project will focus on estimating and valuing non-human effects of air pollution. This may include effects on ecosystems, non-human animals, and other environmental systems. There is particular interest in effects which can be valued economically.
- This project will focus on estimating and valuing air pollutants for which observational human reduced form concentration-response relationships are unavailable. There is particular interest in applying New Approach Methodologies to Hazardous Air Pollutants.
Learning Objectives: The participation will develop will experience in applying scientific and/or economic research to policy issues and may develop new methods to apply scientific and/or economic research. They will be trained and gain valuable experience in subjects related to their specific project.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Peter Maniloff (maniloff,peter@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 13, 2026. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and may be renewed three to four additional years upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full time or part time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $52,693 – 77,983 annually.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
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: If you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.EPA.Other@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields.
Preferred skills:
- Background in either (1) economic analysis including welfare analysis such as environmental goods and nonmarket valuation or (2) environmental health.
Stipend
$52,693.00 – $77,983.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
