Research Opportunity at the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Title:

Combining measurements and modeling to derive a holistic understanding of atmospheric chemistry

Research Area (s):

Air

Lab, Region/Center, Office:

Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling (CEMM), Office of Research and Development

Opportunity Location:

Research Triangle Park, NC

Opportunity Funding (Duration):

• National Science Foundation Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (6 months maximum)
• Other Programs (contact research lead)

Project Description:

This project encompasses a broad variety of topics within the field of atmospheric chemistry. Research topics can include, but are not limited to: PFAS (emissions, chemistry, transport & fate), mechanisms of SOA formation, and microplastics. Available tools to conduct research include laboratory studies with a mass spectrometer, box modeling (F0AM, and/or regional-scale modeling (CMAQ), with the potential for computational chemistry.

The project supports EPA CEMM’s mission to develop, evaluate, and apply measurements and models to characterize the sources, occurrence, transformation, transport and effects of pollutants and stressors in the natural environment.

Fellowship Goal and Learning Objectives:

Goal: The fellow will learn to identify and address questions within the field of atmospheric chemistry from an experimentally holistic standpoint.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify outstanding scientific questions in the field of atmospheric chemistry, and identify appropriate scientific tools to address the question
• Learn the use and operation of different laboratory and/or computational methodologies
• Collaborate effectively within the EPA with researchers with different skillsets and scientific backgrounds
• Conduct experiments, analyze data, and write peer-reviewed journal articles

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of one of the scientific tools of atmospheric chemistry including, but not limited to: mass spectrometry (PTR/CIMS), regional-scale modeling, box modeling, computational chemistry
• Knowledge of a programming language (MATLAB, R, Python, etc), or the motivation to learn
• Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and with researchers with different skill sets

Qualifications:  Graduate student or Ph.D. in one of the following fields: Chemistry (environmental, atmospheric, analytical, engineering, etc), Environmental Science, Physics (environmental, atmospheric, etc)

Point of Contact or Research Lead:

Emma D’Ambro (Dambro.emma@epa.gov)