Internships at the EPA

Internship Program Opportunities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, D.C.
Project # EPA Water 2009-127
Climate Ready Estuaries Team Internship
An internship is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW), Ocean and Coastal Protection Division (OCPD).

About the Program: Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) is an EPA program working to build capacity in the National Estuary Programs (NEPs) for local leadership and expertise to adapt to the effects of climate change through a joint effort with the NEPs and EPA. The national program includes two major efforts: 1) a toolkit of information products, data, tools, webinars, workshops and technical assistance available to all NEPs and other coastal managers on techniques for climate vulnerability assessment, local decision making, and adaptation; and 2) targeted support to several NEPs (six pilots in 2008, with more added in following years) to further identify vulnerabilities, develop adaptation plans, and begin to implement these plans. Upon completion of these adaptation plans, EPA will recognize the NEPs and other coastal communities as “climate ready,” allowing the coastal leaders to implement climate adaptation and market their needs and actions to public and private interests.

Project Description: OCPD is looking for an individual who is interested in coastal environmental science and issues and, in particular, strategies and techniques to respond to expected impacts to coastal areas from climate change. The individual will experience, first hand, the analytical evaluation that goes into the development of a voluntary program as well as direct involvement with local estuary programs and their stakeholders. Also, the intern will have the opportunity to help the EPA team to develop, shape, and promote program tools and innovative approaches for coastal adaptation.

Specific Tasks: The intern will be mentored by an EPA team that is involved in coordinating the program. The intern will be involved in the interpretation and distillation of information and the production of tools and analysis to improve coastal communities’ efforts to select and implement actions to adapt to the effects of climate change. Tasks of the EPA team members could include, but not be limited to, monitoring and analyzing national and international adaptation approaches and technologies, meeting directly with coastal communities to prepare adaptation plans and strategies, assisting in preparing program outreach or training materials; assisting with program implementation and evaluation; drafting briefing materials for administration officials; and attending meetings with principals in EPA, other federal and state agencies and others to advance the science of coastal climate change adaptation.

Expected Results: The intern will gain practical skills and knowledge in the area of estuary protection and restoration, coastal effects of climate change and adaptation for those effects as well as experience in the operation of public-private partnerships, literature review and technical analysis, conveying information to the scientific and resource manager community, federal program development and program evaluation. He/she will also gain insight into federal government processes and contribute to the development of a variety of tools and materials to provide better information and guidance to the public on the benefits of adaptation to climate change.

Intern Qualifications and Skills: The applicant should have received a master’s degree in marine or coastal science or policy, marine and coastal ecosystem dynamics, marine or coastal resource management, coastal environmental engineering, or a related field within four years of the desired starting date. The intern should have an interest in the area of coastal resource protection and restoration and analytic support for decision making. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. The intern should have experience in a variety of computer applications. Knowledge of GIS applications and modeling is a plus.

The program is open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, national origin, or status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran. U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status is preferred (but can also hold an appropriate visa status, however, an H1B visa is not appropriate). The intern must show proof of health and medical insurance. The intern does not become an EPA employee.

Stipend and Length of Appointment: The appointment will initially be full time for one-year and may be renewed for an additional two years depending on the availability of funding. The annual stipend will be up to $60,706 depending on education and experience. No travel or relocation expenses will be paid.

The EPA mentor for this project is John W. Wilson. He can be contacted at (202) 566-1158 or at wilson.john@epa.gov.

The Internship Program for EPA Water is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Please reference Project # EPA Water 2009-127 when calling or writing for information. For additional information and application material contact: Internship Program – EPA Water, Attn: Betty Bowling, MS 36, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 Phone: (865) 576-8503 Fax: (865) 241-5219 e-mail: betty.bowling@orau.org.

Sam Bryant serves as the EPA Office of Water internship program coordinator. His e-mail address is bryant.samuel@epa.gov.

An application can be found at http://www.orau.gov/orise/edu/EPA/app-gugrgpd.pdf.