EPA Fellowship in Air Quality Sampling with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)

*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline. Click here for information about the selection process.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is available at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Environmental Measurement & Modeling (CEMM), Air Methods and Characterization Division (AMCD), Source & Fine Scale Branch (SFSB), located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Research Project: Under the guidance of a mentor, the research participant will conduct research relating to development of lightweight sensor/sampler-based systems for aerial emission and meteorological sampling measurements using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on environmental pollution sources such as at-sea oil fires, waste pile fires, prescribed forest burns, and open burning/open detonation of military ordnance. The research participant will test the performance of new gas sensors, designing pump systems, developing control code programs, sampling method development, instrumentation testing, analyzing sensor/sampler data, data quality control, and field system trials. 

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, the research participant may be involved in:

• Researching methods used in measuring emissions from environmental pollution sources.
• Development and application of an UAS based sensor/sampler system to collect air emissions and meteorological data; design, construct, code, test,  calibrate, and optimize; algorithms to analyze data.
• Collaborating with EPA other federal colleagues, communicating research findings at conferences, writing and submitting journal papers, and problem-solving as part of a multidisciplinary research team/environment.

Mentor(s): The mentor(s) for this opportunity is Johanna Aurell (aurell.johanna@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 1, 2024.  All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. Click here for detailed information about start dates.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for three years and may be renewed up to four additional years upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.

Level of Participation: This appointment is full-time. 

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Click here for detailed information about full-time stipends.

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: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.EPA.ORD@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date. 

Preferred skills:

• Experience with gas phase measurements, small sensors, pump systems, batteries, gas cylinder operation, pump control and construction, Swagelok (or similar) use, laboratory testing, instrument calibration, particle samplers, PID operation, 3D printing/CAD, circuit board design, UAS FAA flight certification and piloting experience, meteorological instruments, camera/video operation, instrument interface with UAS, and analysis of visual and infrared video imaging. 
• Desirable software skills include Arduino programming, LabView, MatLab, R, Python, Excel and macros, and video processing.
• Experience in field work such as data/emission collection using UAS from open area combustion or fugitive sources.
• Experience working collaboratively as part of a research team.
• The ideal candidate will have excellent writing and verbal skills witnessed by publications in peer reviewed journals and presentations to international conferences.?

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.