Summer 2021 Internship: Environmental Monitoring Internship

Apply online at https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/DOE-MSIPP-21-4-LANL

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

DOE-MSIPP-21-4-LANL

If you have questions, send an email at MSIPPInternships@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

For Technical information, contact Cassandra Casperson at Casperson@lanl.gov.

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age and a US citizen, and am currently enrolled as a student in a degree seeking undergraduate or graduate program in a STEM field at an accredited Minority Serving Institution (MSI).

1/29/2021 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

The Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Internships is a new program to promote the education and development of the next generation workforce in critical science, engineering, technology, and math (STEM) related disciplines that complement current and future missions of DOE national laboratories. The MSIPP Internship program is designed to provide an enhanced training environment for next generation scientists and engineers by exposing them to research challenges unique to our industry. 

MSIPP Interns will be given the opportunity to complete Summer Internships aligned with ongoing U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) research under the direction of a host national laboratory. The internship will be performed at the host national laboratory, utilizing their facilities and equipment under the guidance of a research staff member.

Minority Serving Institutions are institutions of higher education enrolling populations with significant percentages of undergraduate minority students. 

Project: As part of a team of biologists, you will spend your summer in the outdoors learning and using a variety of field methodologies and sample collection techniques. You will help to sample various environmental media such as soil, vegetation, small mammals, fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and more. When not in the outdoors collecting samples, you will be in the office learning about ecotoxicology and environmental monitoring. The goals of the Soil, Foodstuffs, and Biota program are to determine whether Los Alamos National Laboratory (Laboratory) operations are affecting chemical concentrations in several types of environmental media and to assess environmental health by evaluating several ecological parameters as mandated by Department of Energy orders. To accomplish these goals, samples are collected from on-site at the Laboratory, perimeter locations, and regional background locations. Samples are then sent to off-site analytical laboratories and are analyzed for radionuclides, metals, and/or organic chemicals (e.g. high explosives, dioxins, furans, PCBs, PFAS); results from these locations are then compared. Specifically, on a triennial basis we collect 1) soil, small mammals, and native vegetation from on and off-site locations; 2) crops and other foodstuffs, such as milk and eggs; and 3) aquatic ecosystem parameters including benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and sediment from upstream and downstream locations of the Laboratory. The program also routinely opportunistically collects wildlife that are struck by vehicles (road kill).

Specifically, the successful candidate for this position will work with other environmental professional staff, scientists, and students to:

• Collect, process, and submit environmental monitoring samples of soil, foodstuffs, and biota within and around the Laboratory for the analyses of radionuclides, metals, and/or organic chemicals. Sample types include soil, vegetation, small mammals, fish, garden produce, wild edible foods, milk, honey, and road killed animals such as deer, elk, coyote, snakes, etc.

• Research and learn about radionuclides, metals, PCBs, and PFAS chemicals in the context of ecotoxicology and environmental monitoring.

• Maintain sampling equipment, containers, records, logbooks, storage facilities, and other laboratory and field equipment.

• Participate in maintaining and updating environmental sampling and survey databases, and assist with managing records.

Salary: Selected candidate will be compensated by either a stipend or salary, and may include one round trip domestic travel to and from the host laboratory. Stipends and salaries will be commensurate with cost of living at the location of the host laboratory. Housing information will be provided to interns prior to arrival at the host laboratory, and will vary from lab to lab.

Eligible applicants must:

• Ability to work safely and securely in the field and provide a safe working environment with open communication.

• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written, oral, and electronic media. Ability to follow instructions and to ask questions if needed.

• Self-motivated and eager to learn about environmental monitoring.

• Willingness and ability to work independently or as part of a team.

• Ability to record field data correctly and clearly; attention to detail.

• Ability to 1) work in outdoor environments, 2) tolerate varying environmental conditions, and 3) have the ability hike long distances, while carrying loads of 30 pounds over rough, uneven, and steep terrain.

A background in engineering, physics or environmental science is preferred.

Programming background in Python or willing to learn Python.

• Ability to collect and identify small mammals, fish, and game animals in the field and/or a strong interest to develop or improve these skills.

• Willingness to participate in other field tasks that are being undertaken by the group as needed.

• Self-initiating, communicative work style with very strong interpersonal and collaborative-work capabilities.

• The ability to collect and organize data from multiple projects concurrently and perform data quality assurance.

 

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age, a US citizen, and currently enrolled as a student in a degree seeking undergraduate program in a STEM field at an accredited Minority Serving Institution (MSI). Click here to verify that you are enrolled at a current MSI.