Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Data Analysis

EPA; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 33,480 - 50,220; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly stipend

Potential travel expense reimbursement for conferences

Job summary

EPA in Washington, DC, is seeking an Intern for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. This role offers a postgraduate research project training opportunity to support safe drinking water initiatives, conduct research, and perform data analysis.

Applicants should hold a relevant degree and possess strong research skills. The internship lasts one year, full-time, with potential for renewal and includes a monthly stipend, but does not confer EPA employee status.

Qualifications

• Must have received a degree within five years or expect to complete all requirements before starting.
• Experience in scientific research and data utilization is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Conduct scientific research related to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
• Design data analyses linking fund usage to public health improvements.
• Engage in best practice sharing and outreach to stakeholders.

Skills

Research skills

Data analysis

Environmental policy understanding

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in environmental science, engineering, public policy, physical sciences, or computer science

Job description

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Data Analysis

• Intern

The Infrastructure Branch of EPA's Drinking Water Protection Division administers the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and provides information management and website / outreach support for the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW).

OGWDW leads the Agency’s efforts to implement the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and is responsible for developing and directing national policy with respect to the country’s drinking water supplies, including: establishing standards; developing regulations, policies and guidelines for drinking water quality and treatment to protect public health and welfare and to protect existing and future sources of drinking water; and developing and implementing policies to finance water system improvements. OGWDW also provides technical advice and guidance to other Federal agencies in the development of policies and regulations. In order to meet our program oversight responsibilities, EPA must track, analyze and report state grant expenditures and financing of water system improvements.

A postgraduate research project training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water (OW). This appointment will be served with the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW)/Drinking Water Protection Division (DWPD) in Washington, DC.

The participant will be trained to conduct scientific research that addresses the activities of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The DWSRF is a dynamic and innovative federal-state water financing partnership program that helps ensure safe drinking water. Created by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the program provides financial support to water systems and to state safe water programs across the U.S. including Tribes and Native Villages. State funding from various sources (including “set-aside” funds) combine into a dedicated revolving fund that provides loans and other authorized assistance to water systems for eligible infrastructure projects that help to ensure safe drinking water.

The participant will gain experience in researching, evaluating, and promoting the effective use of DWSRF infrastructure and non-infrastructure “set-aside” funds by being engaged in best practice sharing, identifying innovative projects and activities, ensuring effective partnerships exist between the DWSRF and other federal and state funding programs, and in outreach to EPA Regions, states, multi-state organizations and other stakeholders. Additionally, the participant may be involved in enhancing the Internet presence of EPA’s infrastructure efforts.

The participant will be trained to design data analyses that link usage of DWSRF funds to public health improvements. He/she will be involved in crafting these analyses by strategically using our project database and the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) to determine whether projects meet the intended SDWA compliance objectives. These analyses may be used to inform leaders regarding future compliance strategies and tactics.

The participant will gain experience with EPA managers and staff on this multidisciplinary program. This includes interacting with others through the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities and the State-EPA Work Group.

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA.

Applicants must have received a bachelor's or master’s degree in environmental science, engineering, public policy, physical sciences, computer science, or a closely related field within five years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date.

The appointments are full time for one year and may be renewed upon recommendation of EPA and contingent on the availability of funds. The participants will receive a monthly stipend. Funding may be made available to reimburse the participants’ travel expenses to present the results of their research at scientific conferences. No funding will be made available to cover travel costs for pre-appointment visits, relocation costs, tuition and fees, or health insurance. The participants must show proof of health and medical insurance. The participants do not become EPA employees.

The mentor for this project is Felecia Fort, Fort (dot)Felecia(at)epa(dot)gov. The desired start date is December 5, 2016.