EPA Airborne PFAS Toxicology Fellowship
Application Deadline
7/31/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.
EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Impacts and Ambient Standards Division (IASD), located in Durham, North Carolina or Washington, DC.
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. EPA works to ensure that: Americans have clean air, land and water; National efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information; Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively and as Congress intended; Environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy; All parts of society have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks; Contaminated lands and toxic sites are cleaned up; and chemicals in the marketplace are reviewed for safety.
IASD provides expert evaluation and analysis of health, environmental, and economic impacts of air pollution to inform national regulations. The division leads review and revision of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and conducts quantitative assessments of exposure and risk for hazardous air pollutants.
Research Project: This opportunity is suited for someone who is seeking an opportunity to learn about high impact policy relevant research and scientific assessments in support of EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.
The selected participant will engage in research projects aimed at assessing the human health effects of airborne per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure, which may also involve evaluating environmental fate/transport and other air toxics. Current evidence suggests that PFAS may be an emerging air contaminant with the potential for deposition to land or bodies of water. There are many PFAS and, to date, most PFAS exposure and toxicity evaluations have focused on the oral route of exposure. Thus, there is a need to better understand the potential health impacts of airborne PFAS.
The participant may be engaged in one or more of the following training opportunities:
- Applying systematic review methods to air pollution toxicology and epidemiology data
- Researching and reviewing existing inhalation toxicity data for PFAS and reviewing studies that characterize PFAS cycling across environmental compartments. These projects will be conducted in collaboration with scientists across disciplines (e.g. atmospheric science, exposure assessment, toxicology, epidemiology).
- Designing and implementing analyses of the human health effects of PFAS, including statistical analyses of existing data.
- Conducting literature reviews, interpreting scientific study results, and writing summaries of published research on existing approaches and relevant guidance for route-to-route toxicity extrapolation and potency across the class
- Develop an understanding of PFAS absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination across exposure routes, and the implications for risk assessment.
- Contribute to scientific assessments (e.g., white papers, protocols, analyses)
- Present research findings through potential peer-reviewed manuscripts, reports, or presentations.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of the mentor, the selected participant will have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of learning projects that can include qualitative or quantitative analyses of toxicological study findings and data. The participant will also gain an understanding of how scientific evidence is used to develop and inform EPA scientific assessments, program priorities, rule-making, and decision-making processes.
The selected participant will observe, collaborate with, and gain knowledge from staff in IASD, and potentially from other EPA Offices. The research participant will have opportunities to conduct quantitative or qualitative analyses that will contribute to EPA scientific assessments, briefings for stakeholders, and potentially result in conference presentations or peer-reviewed publications. Through this process the participant will learn about EPA’s process for science and policy assessments and federal rulemaking, as well as gain experience with a broad range of environmental policy, programs, and related issues, including how domestic regulation under the Clean Air Act, state laws, and international and domestic policy work to protect air quality.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Laura Carlson (carlson.laura@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 1, 2026. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and may be renewed three to four additional years 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. The anticipated stipend range is $52,693 - $85,447 annually.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.
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: If you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.EPA.Other@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. epidemiologist, environmental health, environmental chemistry, toxicology).
Preferred skills:
- Relevant coursework, experience, and a strong interest in public and environmental health sciences.
- Ability to read, evaluate, and integrate information from scientific publications related to PFAS toxicology or environmental fate/transport.
- Experience with statistical modeling techniques, oral/inhalation dosimetry, or chemistry related to environmental fate/transport of chemicals.
- Superior writing skills and effective communication of scientific information for technical and non-technical audiences
- Understanding of human health and/or ecotoxicology or food-web modeling experience
Stipend
$52,693.00 – $85,447.00 Yearly
Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.