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Wastewater Surveillance Epidemiologist

Environmental Protection Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

***This announcement has been amended to extend the closing date.***

This Title 42 position is located in the Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Water Infrastructure Division. If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement.  About ORD: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-research-and-development-ord

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
06/29/2021 to 08/16/2021
Salary
$95,799 to - $172,500 per year
Pay scale & grade
RG A
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Cincinnati, OH
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid by EPA according to applicable rules. You can read more about these expenses on this web site: www.relocatefeds.gov
Appointment type
Term - This is a Title 42 position of up to 5 years which may be renewed.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
RTP-ORD-42-2021-0008
Control number
605934300

Duties

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The Office of Research and Development's (ORD) Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER) plans, coordinates and conducts an applied, customer-driven, national research and development program to improve decision making by EPA, and State, Tribal and local agencies when faced with challenging environmental problems in the built environment. CESER's Water Infrastructure Division (WID) focuses on the management, treatment and remediation of microbial and chemical contaminants of concern in water infrastructure including drinking water, wastewater, source water, stormwater and water reuse.

Major duties for this position include:

  • Leading the public health aspects of innovative, interdisciplinary research on wastewater-based epidemiology.
  • Formulating concepts, developing hypotheses, preparing research plans, reviewing literature and clinical data, developing and/or applying conceptual and mathematical models, collaborating with engineers and biologists, and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting results.
  • Collaborating with researchers within and outside the Agency, as well as partners and stakeholders, to improve wastewater-based epidemiological tools and approaches.
  • Producing data, models, information and scientific publications, advancing the state-of-the-science, and developing new research programs.
  • Finding solutions for the early detection of viruses, pathogens, and other agents in wastewater that would allow for early detection and effective public health intervention.
  • Providing high-level substantive advice and recommendations to the WID Director, as well as the broader CESER and ORD, on matters related to public health and wastewater-based epidemiology research.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
  • You may be required to travel 1 to 5 days of each month.
  • Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
  • If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.

The Ethics in Government Act, P.L. 95-521 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, prior to assuming the Title 42 position, annually, and upon termination of employment.

This position is designated as Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.

Qualifications

To meet the eligibility criteria, you must have doctoral degree in a scientific discipline related to the ORD Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER), Water Infrastructure Division (WID)’s mission and substantive specialized experience in a type of work or a combination of functions directly related to this position. You should be recognized as a lead scientist in the conception and formulation of productive research ideas, preferably with demonstrated leadership of or significant participation in a productive team, working on epidemiological tools and approaches. You should demonstrate experience providing leadership and direction in using scientific data to solve complex environmental problems related to CESER WID’s mission.  As evidence of your qualifications and scientific contribution, you may also: 1) be regularly sought out for consultation on difficult problems in the field of expertise.; 2) have authored multiple, key publications, including several in the most prestigious scientific journals; 3) have received prestigious awards for research accomplishments; and 4) have demonstrated experience building coalitions and relationships with partners and customers to address wastewater-based surveillance to help combat public health threats such as SARS-CoV2, the causative agent of COVID-19.

Education

You must have a doctoral degree in a scientific discipline related to CESER's mission to qualify for this position.

Your academic record must demonstrate a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in the following: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences related to the work of this position.

For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

Additional information

The selectee's academic credentials will be verified upon selection.  

The salary may be up to $172,500 per year, however, this is dependent upon qualifications, experience and other factors (e.g. current salary and/or current market rates).

This position has portable work.  If selected for this position, you may be authorized to telework after meeting eligibility requirements if approved by the supervisor/manager. Telework is available based on agency policy. NOTE:  The agency is currently utilizing maximum telework flexibilities due to COVID.  Once normal operations resume, you will be required to report to the location stated in this announcement.

EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information:  EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This position is being filled through the Title 42 hiring authority.  We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be evaluated on the basis of meeting the qualifications stated previously. In determining the degree to which candidates possess the required or desired knowledge, skills, and abilities, an evaluation panel will consider related experience, education, training, awards, and professional references. The evaluation panel will rate you on the following criteria: 1) scientific expertise; 2) leadership and management; 3) communications; and 4) networking and collaboration.


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