Gulf of Mexico Water Quality Assessment
A complete application consists of:
- An application
- Transcripts – Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
- A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
- Two educational or professional references
All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
If you have questions, send an email to EPArpp@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.
A current community college internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA),Region 4, Gulf of Mexico Program Office in Gulfport, Mississippi.
This project is to evaluate water quality pollutants and sources, including but not limited to: E. coli, Vibrio species, water quality parameters, microplastics and source tracking techniques. The participant will have the opportunity to conduct studies to understand processes that affect water quality pollutant and/or pathogen levels and correlations in estuary and marine environments.
The participants may have the opportunity to be involved in the following activities:
- Developing field and laboratory experiments,
- Applying bacterial detection methods to determine correlations and risks.
- Interacting directly with community members to solve water quality pollution issues in their watershed.
The research study project includes data collection, analysis, and report preparation.
This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. For additional information about this program, please visit https://orise.orau.gov/epa/.
The appointment is part time (50 percent of 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 participant’s health insurance. The participant must show proof of health and medical insurance. The participant does not become an EPA employee.
The mentor for this project will be Dr. Troy Pierce (pierce.troy@epa.gov). The desired start date is October 1, 2017.
Applicants must be a student currently enrolled at a local community college (within 50 miles of the Gulf of Mexico Program’s office in Gulfport, MS) taking or haven taken college science classes in subjects such as biology, microbiology, chemistry and related science classes. Proof of enrollment will be required each semester.
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