Environmental Qualitative Research

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Environmental Qualitative Research Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Duluth, MN.

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

What the EPA project is about

The Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE) supports ORD by providing solutions-driven research to rapidly evaluate the potential human health and environmental risks due to exposures to environmental stressors and ensure the integrity of the freshwater environment and its capacity to support human well-being.  CCTE researchers are developing and applying cutting edge innovations in methods to rapidly evaluate chemical toxicity, transport, and exposure to people and environments.  Within CCTE, the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED) focuses on freshwater ecotoxicity and freshwater coastal ecology. The Division encompasses traditional and predictive toxicity using advanced scientific tools to produce science to inform ecological risk assessments of chemicals by EPA’s Program Offices and Regions.

As a team member, you will assist in the provision of data collection, transcription, and qualitative analysis services to support social science research. The social science research conducted at GLTED utilizes case study methods that apply both theory-testing and theory-building approaches. Data collection methods document the behavior and decisions of different stakeholder groups through participant observation, document analysis, and social media mining. The research goal is to understand the decision-making process and how context shapes behavior and preferences related to the environment. The team member will also have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to environmental decision-making for a real-world problem revolving around ecological outcomes and socioeconomic benefits of restoration and redevelopment of an urban river through a study of how actors navigate the process. The team member will work with other members of GLTED’s Sustainable and Healthy Communities team to conduct participatory community research. Responsibilities include but are not limited to attending meetings, preparing meeting and/or interview transcripts, coding and analyzing interview data, and assisting in background research, writing, and dissemination of results.

How you will apply your skills

Data collection and analysis responsibilities will include:

• Assist a multi-disciplinary research team with field research, literature reviews, data management, and qualitative analysis;
• Learn and apply concepts to code and categorize data, analyze transcripts, notes, and other documents (i.e., planning documents, grant applications, workplans, etc.); and
• Analysis might include any part of the research process: initial analysis, recognition of emerging themes, maintenance of data source’s voice or intent, and background literature reviews.

Communications-related responsibilities will induce:

• Interact with other members of the development team, as well as EPA scientists; and
• Co-author poster presentations for scientific conferences.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Demonstrated experience with qualitative social science research, inferential studies of human behavior, or evaluation methods used in education or public health through coursework, employment, or projects;
• Have experience conducting research on one of the following topics: community development, outdoor recreation, participatory resource management, environmental perception, and/or social dimensions of place attachment;
• Have experience with systems-thinking approaches to problem-solving;
• Demonstrate organizational skills and ability to work independently, as well as have experience working in teams; and
• Possess strong written, oral and electronic communication skills.

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Duluth, MN.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $27.67 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Travel related to this position will be local, and mostly limited to the City of Duluth, MN.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin May 2024. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA.

For more information, contact EPANSSC@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, geography, environmental education, urban studies, urban planning, sociology, public health, human dimensions of natural resources, peace studies, or a related field of study and have completed at least 1 year of coursework and research towards a Master of Science (or equivalent) degree from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months and
• Be a citizen of the United States of America or a Legal Permanent Resident.

EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.