Jobs & Opportunities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Clinical Research Branch Chief

Announcement Number: NHEERL-07-42-02

Opening Date: March 19, 2007

Closing Date: May 7, 2007

Position: Supervisory Medical Officer

This position is being advertised concurrently as a Supervisory Research Biologist under announcement number NHEERL-07-42-03. Candidates with a Ph.D. or equivalent degree are invited to apply under that announcement.

Number of Positions: 1

Duty Location: EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Human Studies Division, Clinical Research Branch, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Area Of Consideration: Nationwide (All Sources). Non-U.S. citizens may be appointed provided they are citizens of nations with a treaty aligned with the U.S. or if they are citizens of a nation that has a legal employment arrangement with the U.S. All non-U.S. citizens must have the appropriate employment visa. Appointments of non-U.S. citizens may not exceed the expiration date of their employment visa. For further information, please refer to http://www.opm.gov/employ/html/Citizen.asp .

Special Note: ORD is filling this position using EPA's Title 42 Authority, which offers up to 5-year renewable term appointments at highly competitive, market-based salaries. The position is part of a larger EPA effort to use state-of-the-science approaches and technologies in its mission of protecting human health and the environment.

The position is subject to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. Appointment will be subject to applicant's completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Also, appointment will be subject to applicant's completion of a financial disclosure process which includes completing an SF-278, Public Financial Disclosure Report.

It is preferred that candidates be available to begin work by September 30, 2007.

High-level Career Opportunity in Clinical Studies

EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) is seeking an internationally recognized scientist to fill a position in the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/, Human Studies Division, Clinical Research Branch, located in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Major Duties

• Establishing and conducting a research program to address critical needs related to the assessment of effects of environmental pollutants on humans. An area of particular relevance is the development of innovative approaches for evaluating effects in humans in clinical studies to environmental pollutants of concern to EPA. This could involve, for example, the use of physiological, cellular, or novel molecular methods through the application of advances in such fields as genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, immunology and nanotechnology. Other areas of research could involve studies to support the assessment of animal to human translational research to reduce the uncertainty in risk assessment and work with the Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch to translate clinical markers to population based studies. The results of this research will be of particular value to the EPA's air quality, sensitive subpopulations and drinking water programs. The data generated will support the development of improved risk assessments for contaminants of concern by reducing key uncertainties and improving our confidence in the estimates of risk.
• Providing leadership of ORD's clinical studies research program by supervising an elite group of scientists and working with appropriate management and staff to help ensure that the program is on the leading scientific edge of clinical studies research. The incumbent will take full advantage of the expertise and capabilities in ORD, maximizing the use of resources dedicated to solving high priority problems in this area. The incumbent will also seek opportunities to integrate his/her research activities with those supported through ORD's other National Laboratories and Centers.
• Serving as a senior spokesperson/representative for ORD in the area of clinical studies and human studies in general. This includes participating on workgroups within and outside EPA, and representing EPA in collaborations and discussions with other federal, state, private, and international organizations engaged in human environmental effects research.
• Identifying collaborative opportunities and helping to guide the research agenda of outside organizations with similar interests. This will be accomplished by working in close coordination with appropriate ORD management and staff.
• The Division maintains a Medical Station staffed and equipped to conduct physical examinations and medical procedures. The incumbent will provide broad oversight of the operations of this facility as well as provide medical support in specified situations. In this position, there are also opportunities to be engaged in clinical responsibilities at local hospitals (Duke, University of North Carolina) at a level to be negotiated.
• This position will have supervisory duties for a branch of clinical studies researchers. The individual will supervise a staff of multi-disciplinary professionals engaged in the conduct of human health effects research efforts. The individual supervises a level of work involving challenging professional research to evaluate human exposure to and health effects of environmental pollutants. The supervisor makes major decisions and takes significant actions, which ensure research efforts and resources promote the accomplishment of Agency program objectives.
• It is anticipated that this position will have no extramural resources management duties.

Qualifications

The individual selected for this position will provide leadership across ORD in clinical studies research. He/she will be expected to conduct a research program that is integrated with activities of the respective ORD laboratory or center, and serve as a spokesperson for that program.

To meet the eligibility criteria, an applicant must have an M.D. or D.O. degree from a recognized medical school and be able to obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state of North Carolina. The individual must have extensive specialized experience and an outstanding track record of original research resulting in highly-cited publications in peer-reviewed journals of high stature. In addition, the individual should be the recipient of recognition within the scientific community for original and significant contributions to research.

Evaluation Method

Candidates 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.

How to Apply for this Position

Send the following information: (a) a vision statement (1-2 pages), to include your research goals and how they relate to the duties of the position for which you are applying; (b) curriculum vitae; (c) the names of three references; (d) citizenship status; (e) compensation requirements; (f) a list of the type and amount of resources anticipated to perform the job (e.g. staff, equipment, supplies, software, space); and (g) how you heard about this vacancy. Please cite announcement number NHEERL-07-42-02 in your application.

Applications should be mailed to the attention of Ms. Dorothy Carr, U.S. EPA, HRMD, MD-C639-02, RTP, NC 27711, or sent via email to title42@epa.gov. Applications must be received by May 7, 2007, in order to be considered. Electronic submission of application materials is encouraged. Applications sent via email must be submitted in a format readable by this office, such as MS Word, portable document format (PDF), rich text format (RTF), or plain text. Use of any format we cannot read may invalidate your application.

For additional information, Ms. Carr can also be reached at (800) 433-9633. Technical questions pertaining to this vacancy may be addressed to Dr. Robert Devlin at (919) 966-6255.

Travel/Relocation Expenses

In accordance with Federal and Agency travel regulations, the candidate selected for this position will be reimbursed for travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty to this position.

Benefits

The following benefits are available to appointees:

• 10 paid holidays
• Paid annual and sick leave
• Federal Employee Retirement Plan
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to 401K plans offered in private sector)
• Health benefits
• Life insurance
• Incentive awards (monetary and non-monetary recognition)
• Flexible work schedule
• Transit subsidy
• Training and career development.

All EPA employees are required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

Declaration of Appointment

Applicants selected for Federal employment will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment" (OF 306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failure to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on the application may be grounds for not hiring an applicant, for dismissing an applicant after beginning to work and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment in accordance with U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001.

Selective Service

EEO/Diversity Policies

EPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or any other non-merit factors.

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case by case basis.

Privacy Act

Your application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579 and 5 USC 552a). This information is used to determine your qualifications for employment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an Equal Opportunity Employer