Postdoctoral Fellowship – University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health and Department of Environmental Policy and Management and US EPA based in Research Triangle Park, NC

Do you want to work in a fast-paced environment with a multi-disciplinary group of researchers and community collaborators working at the nexus of environmental health science, community-based participatory research, and environmental justice?

The Sustainability and Health Equity (SHE) Lab at the University of California, Berkeley seeks highly motivated applicants for a postdoctoral position to work on a project applying analytical chemistry methods and novel computational and statistical techniques to analyze complex high resolution mass spectrometry data involving non-targeted chemical analysis to characterize the presence of environmental chemical exposures in drinking water samples. This exciting work will be guided by a team of multidisciplinary scientists in environmental health science, analytical chemistry, and computational methods at UC Berkeley, US EPA, UCLA, as well as the Community Water Center. The position will primarily be based at the US EPA’s research facilities in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

The SHE Lab is a multi-disciplinary and committed group of scientists, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students, and community collaborators who advance scientific inquiry and knowledge, professional training, research translation, and environmental policies to reduce the impacts of toxic chemicals and other environmental hazards on human health. Based in the School of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, the SHE Lab investigates the health equity and environmental justice implications of a wide range of environmental health hazards, from toxic chemicals to climate change. We seek to advance scientific understanding of structural determinants of environmental health with a focus on inequality, racism, psychosocial stress and how these factors interact with environmental chemical exposures to produce health inequalities. We also mentor and promote early career scientists by supporting their training and enhancing their capacity to engage in environmental health research, policy, and education.

The SHE lab also collaborates with other scientists, communities, and regulators to develop science-policy tools for assessing the cumulative impacts of chemical and non-chemical stressors to improve regulatory decision-making and advance environmental justice. This work
has served as a foundation for Cal-EPA’s CalEnviroScreen, US EPA’s EJSCREEN, and the Biden Administration’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. Other tools include Toxic Tides, which projects sea-level rise flooding threats to hazardous sites in environmental justice
communities, and the Drinking Water Tool, which characterizes drinking water quality and access threats for communities relying on public water systems and domestic wells.

Some of our projects include:

  • Conducting community-driven water equity studies to reduce chemical contamination and improve community access to safe drinking water (UC Berkeley Superfund Research Center’s Water Equity Science Shop).
  • Examining the effects of prenatal chemical exposures (using targeted and non-targeted analytical techniques) and chronic social stressors on birth outcomes and infant development;
  • Conducting targeted and non-targeted human biomonitoring for potential breast carcinogens in women workers, including firefighters, office workers, nurses, hospital staff, and domestic workers (Women Worker Biomonitoring Collaborative).

The postdoc will be hired by UC Berkeley but spend the majority of their time working with EPA’s Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Chemical Characterization Division. CCTE strives to utilize the latest advancements in analytical chemistry, toxicology, and informatics. As such, the postdoc will be expected to extract
samples, collect high resolution mass spectrometry data, process that data using advanced software or custom scripts, and integrate the results with chemical hazard profiles. The postdoc will be expected to present and publish findings.

Knowledge/Skills:
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in analytical chemistry, computational and statistical methods, environmental health, and cheminformatics. Excellent problem-solving skills, creative and interdisciplinary thinking, and the ability to learn and work with multiple software tools are required. Because the successful candidate will be undertaking lab work at US EPA in North Carolina applicants must be a US citizen.

The successful candidate must have:

  • PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, analytical chemistry, computational informatics, environmental health science, cheminformatics, or other relevant environmental health or engineering related field.
  • Strong programming skills in R, Python, Stata and/or SAS or other relevant software.
  • Experience with mass spectrometry/metabolomics analysis and data processing.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Track record of published or forthcoming peer-reviewed publications.

The postdoc will join an interdisciplinary group of scientists at UC Berkeley, US EPA, and UCLA. They will also interact with our collaborators at the Community Water Center, a community-based water justice organization supporting low-income communities of color struggling with drinking water quality and access challenges in California’s San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast regions. The Postdoctoral Scientist will be advised by and work closely with Drs. Rachel Morello-Frosch, Seth Newton (US EPA) and Lara Cushing (UCLA). The appointment is for two years. Start date is in the first quarter of 2025. The initial appointment will be at 100% time for two years with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding. The postdoc must complete a security background check in order to access EPA facilities.

Interested candidates should submit the following application materials to:
Lauren Baehner baehnerl@berkeley.edu
Seth Newton Newton.Seth@epa.gov

  1. a cover letter that includes a statement of relevant research experience and interests,
  2. a curriculum vita,
  3. pdf copies of a recent publication or writing sample,
  4. contact information of three references. Any solicited letters or references will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law.

Specific questions regarding the recruitment can be directed to Lauren Baehner, Research Coordinator baehnel@berkeley.edu.

Salary and Benefits:
This position provides full benefits. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will range from $70,000 plus benefits. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:
http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

EPA Fellowship on Application of Non-Targeted Analysis of PFAS in Biota (#2)

Application Deadline: 11/22/2024 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Reference Code: EPA-ORD-CEMM-ACESD-2024-01A

Research Project: Non-targeted analysis (NTA) has been increasingly used in recent years to elucidate structures of novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), however, the majority of PFAS NTA studies have applied this technology in water or soil matrices. NTA in biota is complicated by the presence of endogenous chemicals that may interfere with identification of environmental contaminants like PFAS. NTA workflows in biota need to be further developed, tested, and applied in order to be widely adopted and used in decision making.

The goal of the research project is to apply PFAS NTA techniques in biological samples of interest to state and regional partners to identify chemicals of interest and produce data processing workflows optimized for PFAS NTA in biota. 

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the research activities will include, but not limited to:

  • Exploring the usefulness of sample preparation and clean-up on PFAS identification in biological samples.
  • Exploring and mastering software workflows used for PFAS NTA (e.g., Compound Discoverer, FluoroMatch, patRoon, etc.).
  • Writing QA/QC procedures and documents and writing programming code (R or other) for processing data output.

Applications of derived workflows will include identification of novel PFAS in biological samples originating near manufacturing facilities and from ambient offshore marine environments to test applicability of workflows across a range of exposure scenarios. 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Anna Robuck (robuck.anna@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 3, 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: This 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.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research training opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division (ACESD) located in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

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 EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

See the application page for Qualifications and Application information.

EPA Fellowship on Application of Non-Targeted Analysis of PFAS in Biota (#1)

Application Deadline: 11/8/2024 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Reference Code: EPA-ORD-CEMM-ACESD-2024-01

Research Project: Non-targeted analysis (NTA) has been increasingly used in recent years to elucidate structures of novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), however, the majority of PFAS NTA studies have applied this technology in water or soil matrices. NTA in biota is complicated by the presence of endogenous chemicals that may interfere with identification of environmental contaminants like PFAS. NTA workflows in biota need to be further developed, tested, and applied in order to be widely adopted and used in decision making.

The goal of the research project is to apply PFAS NTA techniques in biological samples of interest to state and regional partners to identify chemicals of interest and produce data processing workflows optimized for PFAS NTA in biota. 

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the research activities will include, but not limited to:

  • Exploring the usefulness of sample preparation and clean-up on PFAS identification in biological samples.
  • Exploring and mastering software workflows used for PFAS NTA (e.g., Compound Discoverer, FluoroMatch, patRoon, etc.).
  • Writing QA/QC procedures and documents and writing programming code (R or other) for processing data output.

Applications of derived workflows will include identification of novel PFAS in biological samples originating near manufacturing facilities and from ambient offshore marine environments to test applicability of workflows across a range of exposure scenarios. 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Anna Robuck (robuck.anna@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 3, 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: This 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.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research training opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division (ACESD) located in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

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 EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

See the application page for Qualifications and Application information

Analytical Senior Scientist with Claros Technologies

Claros Technologies is a venture backed, deep-tech company solving the worldwide challenge of destroying PFAS in the environment. PFAS remediation is rapidly becoming a multi-billion-dollar, global market and is at the center of regulatory action in the US, Europe and Asia that requires the removal of this carcinogen from drinking water, industrial processes and waste sites. Claros has developed a patented, scalable destruction technology proven to fully destroy 99.99% of PFAS in customers’ samples.   

We are a diverse team of scientists, business-builders, and impact leaders committed to solving problems without creating new ones. The company has just closed a $20M financing round with leading environment venture capital firms, which provides the credibility and resources required to convert current pilot users into full scale commercial customers as well as to sell easy-to-identify prospects across the globe.   

If you are a mission driven, highly motivated analytical scientist, join us as we solve one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.  

Position Summary: Claros Technologies is primarily focused on the research, development, scale-up, and commercialization of its PFAS destruction technology. We are seeking a collaborative, driven individual to join our Analytical Services Team as a Senior Scientist. The Senior Scientist will drive the research and development of analytical methods to support both internal and external customers of the Analytical Services Team. Reporting to the Director of Analytical Laboratory Services, this individual will be tasked with operating advanced analytical instruments independently, conducting critical research and analysis of data derived from the instruments, and acting as a subject matter expert to the team. 

Essential Job Functions:

  • Operate and maintain the IMS-HRMS instrument
  • Develop analytical methods and run samples to support Claros research and development
  • Engage and contribute in Claros’ analytical team technical discussions
  • Train and education other technical members
  • Maintain a clear record of experimental details and perform data analysis, including statistical analysis
  • Follow all lab operations and safety protocols

Competencies & Skills:

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Thorough understanding of the fundamentals of HRMS, LC, GC, and IMS
  • Organized, Flexible, and Quality-focused
  • Experience with extractable and leachable application strongly preferred
  • Experience with PFAS preferred

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, analytics, or a related field with at least 5 years of HRMS experience, or
  • Master’s degree in related field with at least 2 years of HRMS experience, or
  • PhD. in a related field with some direct HRMS experience

Job Specifications:

  • Salary: $80,000.00 – $100,000.00 per year
  • Schedule: 8 hour shift
  • Ability to commute/relocate: Minneapolis, MN 55413: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
  • Work Location: In person

Claros Technologies offers attractive salary and benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance, PTO as well as 401k plans and options.

For more information, please visit www.clarostech.com, or access the job posting here.

EPA Fellowship in the Investigation of Emerging Contaminants in Water, with Emphasis on Poly-and Perfluoroalkyl Substances and their Treatment

Application Deadline: 9/13/2024 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Reference Code: EPA-ORD-CESER-BIL-2024-03

Research Project: Consumption of contaminated drinking water is one of the most common routes of human exposure to environmental pollutants. As a result, evaluating the effective removal and/or degradation of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) – which include perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, cyanobacterial toxins – in water treatment processes is of great interest to the EPA. In practice, this entails interest in monitoring for disappearance of known CECs, potential formation of new transformation by-products, or identification of novel contaminants which are not being removed through treatment processes. This is a challenge for targeted analytical workflows, because while monitoring for disappearance of known contaminants is straightforward, identifying either unknown contaminants or formation of novel by-products is not feasible. The use of non-targeted chemical analysis (NTA) enabled by high resolution mass spectrometric (HRMS) instrumentation is an ideal tool for this application, as it collects data without a need for specific standards or structural knowledge in advance. For PFAS characterization, in addition to NTA, other analytical techniques include targeted analysis, suspect screening, and novel methodologies such as the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay and total organofluorine (TOF). The research participant will be part of a team within EPA and one or more drinking water utilities aimed at using non-targeted analysis to evaluate the effect of various drinking water treatment processes on the removal and/or transformation of PFAS and other CECs.

Under the guidance of the mentor, research activities may include:

  • Computer programming (Python and/or R) to develop tools for data processing and analysis.
  • Data interpretation from the application of existing analytical methods for non-targeted analysis of environmentally relevant samples using mass spectrometry.

Learning Objectives: A variety of skills will be developed and used in the pursuit of the overall research objectives in this project. Because of the complexity of non-targeted data, identification of chemical features of interest in analytical outputs is extremely complex and predicated on the use of a wide range of tools, including predictive models, machine learning techniques, statistical analysis, and fragmentation analysis to better characterize species being identified. There will also be opportunities to explore the use of theoretical modeling techniques including quantum chemical simulations to explore the underlying mechanisms and pathways for treatability/transformation of chemicals of interest in conjunction with experimentally obtained data. Further, the research participant will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of scientists to obtain a more holistic understanding of the underlying challenges and solutions to complex environmental problems. Under the guidance of a mentor, the research participant will have also freedom to pursue additional research objectives within the study areas as their own interests direct.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Toby Sanan (sanan.toby@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 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 three to four additional years 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.

See the application page for Qualifications and Application information

Stockholm Univeristy: Postdoctoral Fellow In Environmental Chemistry with an open research focus

Closing date: June 2nd, 2024

The Department of Environmental Science is one of the largest departments at the Faculty of Science. The Department is divided into four units with more than 170 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff from over 30 countries. Research and teaching focuses on chemical contaminants, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry and (eco)toxicology. As an employee at the Department of Environmental Science you will be part of a dynamic environment with research in leading research areas and a strong international profile.

Project description
To further broaden our research profile and strengthen our research environment, the Contaminant Chemistry Unit within the Department of Environmental Science is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Chemistry with an open research focus. We invite young scientists interested in a postdoctoral career development opportunity to submit proposals for a 2-year research project. The project should build on the existing strengths in the Department of Environmental Science while introducing new research questions or methods. The Contaminant Chemistry Unit currently consists of 6 research groups (MacLeod, McLachlan, Cousins, Posselt, Sobek, and Benskin). Our research programs examine the occurrence and behavior of pollutants in the environment and in the technosphere. Areas of particular interest include the discovery of new contaminants, understanding the physical, chemical, and biological pathways that contaminants follow, and the development of novel tools and techniques for sampling and analysis. We strive to synthesize our scientific understanding about the sources, transport, transformation, bioaccumulation and pharmacokinetics of environmental contaminants into mathematical models that inspire new scientific hypotheses, and support environmental decision-making.

Main responsibilities
The postdoctoral researcher is expected to take the lead on- and be responsible for experimental design and laboratory work, as well as interpretation of data, data management, writing, and publishing, in collaboration with the project team. Teaching is not required as part of this position, but opportunities to teach at both the graduate and undergraduate level are available.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to the strength of the research proposal, and its potential to complement existing research in the Contaminant Chemistry Unit.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for two years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date in September or as per agreement. The position includes full salary and social benefits.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from the Professor Jonathan Benskin, Head of the Contaminant Chemistry Unit,  telephone: +46 8 674 70  99, jon.benskin@aces.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University’s recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

  • Your contact details and personal data
  • Your highest degree
  • Your language skills
  • Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

  • Cover letter
  • CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
  • Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
    – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
    – why and how you wish to complete the project
    – what makes you suitable for the project in question
  • Copy of PhD diploma
  • Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
  • Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Apply here: https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=23557&rmlang=UK

FDA/CFSAN Post-Doctoral Fellow

The Office of Regulatory Science in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (US FDA/CFSAN) is seeking a post-doctoral fellow to conduct research in our food safety research program. This is a one-year position with possibility of renewal. The primary research goal for this position is to utilize established methods to quantify PFAS in non-stick cookware coatings and food processing equipment in collaboration with the Office of Food Additive Safety for the determinationof potential exposure to PFAS from food contact articles (FCAs).

A Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related fields is required and must have been obtained within the past 5 years. Applicants to this position should have a strong background and interest in learning and gaining experience with targeted liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques. Knowledge or experience with Shimadzu Nexera UPLC and Sciex QTRAP 6500+ systems, food science, and food analysis method development is highly desirable. The ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing is essential.

The primary responsibilities of this position will include planning and conducting laboratory experiments, analyzing, and managing data, and preparing manuscripts and presenting research findings at scientific conferences.

U.S. citizenship, permanent resident status, or a valid J1 Visa is required. Applicants must have resided in the United States for at least 36 of the previous 60 months to be eligible. The position is located at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in College Park, MD. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, names of references, and a statement describing how their experience, skills and interests are suited to this position to katherine.l.fiedler@fda.hhs.gov.

EPA Position: Using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and non-targeted analysis (NTA) to discover novel PFAS in environmental water samples

Research Area (s): Water

Project Description: The project focuses on research and technology transfer on the use of HRMS and NTA surface and groundwater for the discovery of novel per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS).   One or more of the following research topics could be included: wastewater discharge; groundwater and surface water monitoring studies; fate and transport studies; remediation studies; and contaminants of emerging concern in surface water and groundwater.  The project supports the EPA’s CEMM’s strategic goal of developing applied scientific and engineering solutions, technologies, and cutting-edge innovations to protect and remediate our air, land, and water resources, and critical infrastructure challenged by systemic and acute environmental contamination.

Lab, Region/Center, Office: Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), Office of Research and Development

Opportunity Location: Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Opportunity Funding (Duration): National Science Foundation Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (6 months maximum)

Fellowship Goal and Learning Objectives
Goal:  The fellow will learn the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry and non-targeted analysis techniques to identify novel PFAS contaminants in water samples. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Characterize PFAS in water samples using in-house developed workflows and OEM and open-source software.
  • Conduct experiments, analyze data, and write peer-reviewed journal articles.
  • Learn the use and operation of different analytical instruments (e.g. LC coupled to ion mobility, QTOFMS) and methodologies

Preferred Skills and Qualifications
Preferred Skills:

  • Strong verbal and writing skills.
  • Ability to work both as a part of a team and independently.
  • Basic knowledge of analytical instrumentation related to analysis of organic contaminants water including, but not limited to: solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS).

Qualifications:  Graduate student or Ph.D. in one of the relevant fields (e.g., Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Geo-environmental Engineering, Soil Science).

Point of Contact or Research Lead: Mark Strynar (Strynar.mark@epa.gov)

Click here for the original posting. For more information about EPA Research Fellowship opportunities, visit: https://www.epa.gov/research-fellowships/graduate-research-fellowship-program-grfp-intern

EPA Fellowship on Development and Application of Methods for Gas Chromatograph-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Non-Targeted Analysis

Application Deadline: 7/5/2024 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Reference Code: EPA-ORD-CCTE-CCED-2024-03

Research Project: Non-targeted analysis (NTA) has been increasingly used in recent years to elucidate structures of novel compounds of emerging concern, however, the majority of studies use liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography (GC) has the potential to be equally useful and compliment chemical space coverage but methodologies for GC data collection and processing need to be further developed, tested, and applied in order to be widely adopted and used in decision making.

The goal of the research project is to develop GC-NTA techniques to identify chemicals of interest in environmental samples.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the research activities will include, but not limited to:

  • Exploring the usefulness of combining data from various ionization techniques (e.g., electron impact, chemical ionization).
  • Exploring and mastering software features (e.g., Compound Discoverer, MSDial, etc.).
  • Writing QA/QC procedures and documents, and writing programming code (R, python, or other) for processing data output.

Applications of GC-NTA will include identification of novel per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in samples originating near manufacturing facilities and products of incomplete combustion formed from household items during a fire.

Learning ObjectivesThe research participant will be part of a multidisciplinary team of experts who are identifying chemicals to which humans are exposed. The research participant will be expected to actively participate in internal and external research groups such as the EPA NTA group, a GC-Orbitrap users group, etc. An emphasis will be placed on publishing in peer-reviewed journals with the aim of preparing the research participant for a successful career in science.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Seth Newton (Newton.Seth@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 15, 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.

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).

EPA Office/Lab and LocationA research opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Chemical Characterization & Exposure Division (CCED) located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.  If selected for the opportunity, the participant will need to relocate to the appropriate EPA facility.  The relocation costs are not reimbursable.  The opportunity is not 100% remote, but limited telework may be considered at the mentor’s discretion.

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 EPArpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

See the application page for Qualifications and Application information

Assistant Professor in Environmental Chemistry of Organic Contaminants with emphasis on Data Science Tools

Stockholm University is one of Europe’s leading higher education institutions. Located in the cultural hub and economic center of Sweden, Stockholm University provides attractive studying and working conditions for more than 34,000 students and 5,000 employees (within the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences).

Deadline for applications: 2024-06-03

Open position in the Department of Environmental Science

The Department of Environmental Science is one of the largest departments in the Faculty of Science. The department is divided into four units with more than 190 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff from over 30 countries. Research and teaching focuses on chemical contaminants, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, and (eco)toxicology. As an employee at the Department of Environmental Science you will be part of a dynamic environment with a strong international profile.

Research in the Contaminant Chemistry Unit focuses on the occurrence and behavior of pollutants in the environment and in the technosphere. Areas of particular focus include the discovery of new contaminants, understanding the physical, chemical, and biological pathways that contaminants follow, and the development of novel tools and techniques for sampling and analysis. We strive to synthesize our scientific understanding about the sources, transport, transformation, bioaccumulation and pharmacokinetics of environmental contaminants into mathematical models that inspire new scientific hypotheses, and support environmental decision-making.

The 21st century has seen exponential growth in both the volume and diversity of organic chemicals and plastic produced globally. As emissions increase, our ability to identify and
monitor these so-called “novel entities” in the environment using conventional tools becomes increasingly difficult. To address this problem, next-generation analytical and data science tools are urgently needed. For example, state-of-the- art mass spectrometers can now measure thousands of known and unknown chemicals simultaneously, providing unprecedented insight into the extent of chemical contamination of the global environment. At the same time, data science tools such as machine learning (and more generally, artificial intelligence) have opened up new possibilities for predicting, identifying, and quantifying problematic chemicals, and for improving our understanding of their environmental fate, behavior and effects. These emerging data science tools are increasingly in demand in a range of jobs in private industry and government, highlighting the need for their inclusion in our Department’s Educational programme.

Considering the rapid growth within environmental chemistry and data science, we believe it is strategically important to recruit an early career Environmental Chemist with expertise in emerging Data Science tools to support our core missions in research, teaching and outreach. The successful applicant will be encouraged to exploit our state-of-the-art interdepartmental Mass Spectrometry lab (MassSLab), as well as existing networks such as the Centre for Circular and Sustainable Systems (SUCCeSS), and Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), while building new connections which contribute to enhancing the Department’s reputation as a global leader in Environmental Science research and education.


Qualification requirements
The applicant must have completed a doctoral degree in Sweden or an equivalent degree from another country. In the first instance, an applicant should be considered who has received such a degree no more than five years before the deadline for applications (certain exceptions apply)

Assessment criteria
In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills. Teaching skills will also be considered. The assessment of research skills will focus primarily on merits within the subject area of the position.

Application
In order to apply for this position please use the Stockholm University web-based application form. You will find the application form in the appropriate announcement (Ref. No. SU FV-0022-24) at https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs.

More information
Visit our website at: www.aces.su.se.
Further information about the position can be obtained from:
Professor Anna Sobek, Head of Department
Tel: +46 8 674 7230, anna.sobek@aces.su.se
Professor Jonathan Benskin, Unit Head-Contaminant Chemistry
Tel: +46 76 426 5490, jon.benskin@aces.su.se