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

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

Within ORD, the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) provides the science needed to understand the complex interrelationship between people and nature in support of assessments and policy to protect human health and ecological integrity. The Pacific Ecological Systems Division (PESD) located in CPHEA’s mission includes predictive (modeling) capabilities regarding the effects of future land, water, air and chemical use, as well as for evaluating climate and sustainability scenarios. PESD scientists address important scientific issues in formulating public policies and regulations to protect and manage ecological resources and achieve sustainable futures. They also collaborate with scientists at other EPA research facilities and at research institutions throughout the world.

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, you will perform information and data acquisition and analysis support to the “Visualizing Ecosystem Land Management Assessments (VELMA)” project. This will include development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environmental data layers in support for VELMA modeling projects in various U.S. study site locations. You will conduct a combination of internet and literature searches and contacting of federal and state agencies and other organizations to obtain resource information (such as data sets, QA information, etc.) relevant to VELMA projects. You will perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of the information as necessary. You will have the opportunity to work with other members of the VELMA team to process this information and put it into a form where it can be put applied to the VELMA model. You will also work with VELMA team members to calibrate and apply the model and analyze and visualize model results for research. You will perform these tasks according to an approved quality assurance plan and other documents and shall document their research activities. You will be a member of a multi-disciplinary research team and shall be trained to support the development, maintenance, and analysis of VELMA. Membership of the team will include participation in regular project calls and/or face-to-face meetings. Your work may involve travel to research sites or other EPA locations to interact with EPA partners and stakeholders (communities, tribes, state and federal agencies).  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Coursework and/or one year of experience in geographic information systems, management information systems, business information systems, or related area dealing with access to, and evaluation of, digital information;
• Demonstrated education and/or experience in GIS data gathering, especially as applied to environmental modeling;
• Demonstrated experience in ArcGIS and eco-hydrological modeling;
• Proficient in MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, etc.;
• Experience with GIS and modeling applications requiring the use of remotely accessed computers and databases; and
• Strong written, oral and electronic communication skills.

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Corvallis, OR.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $21.37 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin July 2020. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial project is through May 14, 2021, with up to 4 additional potential optional periods.

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

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree in environmental, social sciences, or a closely related field of study 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.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 24 months or anticipated to be received by 7/13/2020 11:59:00 PM.
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.00
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (16 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (10 )
  • Physics (16 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at least a Bachelor’s degree in environmental, social sciences, or a closely related field of study from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months; a citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States of America; and not a current employee of EPA ORD or the spouse or child of an EPA ORD employee.