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EPA Fellowship on Identification of Streamflow Duration Indicators in the Caribbean
Job Description
- Agency
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Location
- Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- Job Category
- Fellowships & Scholarships
- Salary
- TBD
- Last Date to Apply
- 10/27/2023
- Website
- https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/EPA-ORD-CEMM-WECD-2023-02
- Description
- *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 training opportunity is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Environmental Measurement & Modeling (CEMM), Watershed & Ecosystem Characterization Division (WECD) and Region 2 located in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Research Project: Despite flow permanence being a fundamental characteristic governing ecological structure and function of streams, hydrological data to classify streams by flow permanence is limited spatially and temporally. The use of physical and biological features (indicators) that reflect the typical duration of flow is one approach to classify streams by flow permanence where continuous hydrological data is lacking. The research participant will be able to collaborate with a team of EPA scientists and collaborators in gathering baseline data specific to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with the goal of identifying locally accurate physical and biological indicators for the development of a rapid streamflow duration assessment method (SDAM) tailored for the U.S. Caribbean. SDAMs are single-visit, field assessment methods for accurately predicting flow duration classes (i.e., ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial) that regulatory and non-regulatory decisions for federal, state/territory/tribal, and municipal water resources programs. The research participant’s research may include synthesizing existing literature on physical, chemical and biological features of streams and their relationships to flow regime and to other confounding factors, identifying hydrographical frameworks that capture key gradients governing regional patterns in streamflow, identifying sites with existing hydrologic data, and piloting the standardized collection of candidate indicators and the direct measurement of streamflow duration for comparison across streams. Desired outcomes from the participants efforts are documents and databases that expedite development of a U. S. Caribbean-specific SDAM. Learning Objectives: The research participant will gain a working knowledge of how EPA regional and ORD scientists interact within the federal government and with relevant stakeholders regarding the use water body classification and assessment. The research participant will learn how to plan, track, report on ORD research activities and how stakeholders use streamflow duration classification to inform their management decisions. This opportunity is an ideal setting for building scientific and programmatic expertise needed by water resources institutions in the U.S. Caribbean. This research training opportunity will provide the research participant space to interact with EPA regional and ORD scientists and their collaborators from a broad range of disciplines and research topics. This includes efforts to develop novel technology and other tools used to assess, protect, and restore environments. The research participant will also gain experience reading and documenting information from the scientific literature. The training opportunity will include participating in an EPA-organized workshop of regional scientists and stakeholders, and co-leading presentations and publications of the study findings. Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are Ken Fritz (fritz.ken@epa.gov) and Sofía Olivero Lora (oliverolora.sofia@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s). Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 4, 2023. 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.
- Qualifications
- The qualified candidate should have received or be currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date. Upon request, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will cause loss of consideration for this position. Preferred skills: Knowledge or practical experience with the ecology and/or hydrology of rivers and streams (including intermittent and ephemeral). Demonstrate education and/or experience in ecological field research and qualitative/quantitative laboratory analysis of environmental samples (water, plant, and/or soil). Strong written and oral communication skills, and ability to comfortably interact with small and large groups of stakeholders. Fluency in Spanish. Experience working with large biotic community and environmental datasets. Strong statistical analysis skills, including machine learning, multivariate analysis, and detection ecological thresholds, would enhance the research experience. Invertebrate and riparian plant identification experience in the Caribbean.
- Contact Person
- ORISE.EPA.ORD@orau.org
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