Partnerships for Innovation
A postdoctoral research project training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. This appointment will be served in the Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Division (AMAD).
Project Description:
This project is a part of a larger effort at AMAD to evaluate and recommend improvements to the emissions inventories used for air quality modeling through application of various inverse modeling techniques. Decision-making activities at various regulatory agencies rely on well quantified emissions inventories at fine geographic and temporal scales. Improving these inventories will help achieve more successful air quality management approaches. As a part of this project, the participant will apply newly available adjoints of both regional (CMAQ) and global (GEOS-Chem) chemical transport models to perform inverse modeling and sensitivity analysis of PM2.5 and O3 NAAQS nonattainment.
Specific Tasks:
In collaboration with an AMAD mentor and other EPA team members, the participant may be involved in the following training activities:
The participant will have latitude in exercising independent initiative and judgment in the research commensurate with the level of training.
Qualifications and Skills:
Applicants must have received a doctoral degree in environmental engineering, atmospheric science, computer science, or a related field within five years of the desired starting date. Applicants must possess knowledge of chemistry models, adjoint methods, as well as communication and project management skills. To understand the key differences between the models, applicants should have experience in process-analysis and diagnostic evaluation techniques.
The program is open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, or status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran. U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status is preferred (but can also hold an appropriate visa status, however, an H1B visa is not appropriate). The participant does not become an EPA employee.
The appointment will be full-time for nine months and may be renewed for up to two additional years upon recommendation of EPA and subject to availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend. The participant must show proof of health and medical insurance. Funding may be made available to reimburse the research 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 interviews, relocation costs, costs of tuition/school fees, or a participant's health insurance.
The Research Participation Program for EPA is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Please reference Project # EPA-ORD/NERL-AMAD-2010-02 when calling or writing for information. For additional information and application materials contact: Research Participation Program/EPA, Attn: Betty Bowling, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117, Phone: (865) 576-8503 FAX: (865) 241-5219 e-mail: betty.bowling@orau.org.
An application can be found at www.orau.gov/orise/edu/EPA/app-gugrgpd.pdf.