A postdoctoral research project training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL). The appointment will be served with the Gulf Ecology Division (GED) in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
This research project aims to determine how change point analyses can be applied to time series data for environmental agents affecting human and ecological health. Addressing how to use novel state of the science approaches to identify possible causal agents responsible for significant increases in population level human and ecological impairments, the main research problem is determining whether change point analyses of time series data and the linkage between human and ecological health be used to identify causal agents. The research participant will be part of an interdisciplinary research team determining how change point analyses can be used in causal agent identification. Specific opportunities may include: evaluating selected time series data for significant environmental agents that can affect both human and ecological health understanding the exposure and effects of selected environmental agents with distinct time series change points using change point analyses to determine possible candidate environmental agents for selected case studies integrating exposure and effects with change point analyses to identify likely causative agents The research participant will have the opportunity to exercise initiative and judgment commensurate with their level of experience and education. S/he will be mentored by a senior scientist at GED and learn to develop approaches for predictive mode of action and toxicity model development. Specific learning opportunities include: understanding the integration of exposure and effects and the linkage between human and ecological health investigation and application of change point analysis approaches developing approaches to identifying causal agents This opportunity will provide the participant experience with using change point analyses of exposure and effects data to identify environmental agents affecting human and ecological health. Professional development opportunities could also include presenting work at scientific meetings, authoring publications, and collaborating with external (non-EPA) scientists and engineers. Qualifications: Applicants must have received a doctoral degree in biostatistics, environmental science, epidemiology, mathematical biology, mathematics and statistics, population biology, or systems science and theory within five years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date. The program is open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, or status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran. U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status is preferred (but a candidate also may hold an appropriate visa status; an H1B visa is not appropriate). The appointment is full time for one year and may be renewed upon recommendation of EPA and contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend. Funding may be made available to reimburse the participant's travel expenses to present the results of his/her research at scientific conferences. No funding will be made available to cover travel costs for pre-appointment visits, relocation costs, tuition and fees, or a participant's health insurance. The participant must show proof of health and medical insurance. The participant does not become an EPA employee. Technical Questions: The mentor for this project will be Dr. Mace Barron ([email protected]). How to Apply: An application can be found at http://orise.orau.gov/epa/applicants/application.htm. Please reference Project # EPA-ORD/NHEERL-GED-2014-03 when calling or writing for information.
