Understanding EPA's AIM Act and Clean Air Act Programs and Related Domestic and International Activities

*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), within the Office of Clean Air Programs’ Chemicals, Coatings, and Products Division (CCPD) located in Washington, DC.

This research opportunity is within the Office of Clean Air Programs’ Chemicals, Coatings, and Products Division (CCPD) under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). CCPD is responsible for developing and implementing national and international programs related to ozone-depleting substances (ODS), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), ODS and HFC substitutes, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and criteria air pollutants (CAPs) from coatings and consumer products, and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in a variety of sectors and end uses. CCPD implements programs under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. It fulfills United States obligations with international treaties including the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) and facilitates US participation in international air pollution agreements and programs.

Research Project: The selected participant will gain an understanding of EPA’s AIM Act and Clean Air Act programs, and related domestic and international activities by observing how EPA coordinates with other federal agencies and states to meet domestic and international goals related to ODS, HFCs, ODS and HFC substitutes, HAPs, CAPs, and VOCs.

The fellow will learn how to generate, handle, and dispense related information, which may include analysis and the development of documents and outreach material. The participant will learn how EPA protects air quality via regulatory and non-regulatory approaches. They will also learn the organizational processes, tools, and strategies to effectively communicate CCPD’s message and will have opportunities to submit/present research and project results to internal and external stakeholders, interagency groups, and conferences, where appropriate.

Specific projects could include the following:

• Updated compendium of domestic (e.g., local, state, federal) and international actions on HFCs.
• Summary reports based on research and submissions to EPA documenting areas of potential non-compliance with CAA Title VI and AIM Act regulations.
• Summaries of relevant atmospheric science or relevant policy papers.
• Other research related to the phasedown of HFCs under the AIM Act and the phaseout of ODS under CAA Title VI.
• Infographics, social media outreach, and other communication and outreach products to support CCPD’s programs.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of the mentor, the participant will learn to:

• Review and analyze federal and other data sources to inform environmental policy development and implementation.
• Produce publications and other educational outreach in support of international, intergovernmental, and interagency collaborations on atmospheric science and policy.
• Synthesize technical and policy information for presentation to EPA senior managers and appropriate stakeholder groups.
• Understand how domestic regulation under the CAA, the AIM Act, state law, and international and domestic policy protects local air quality, the stratospheric ozone layer, and the climate system.

The selected participant will observe and gain knowledge about how to represent CCPD in several different venues with various stakeholders and gain exposure to a broad range of environmental policy, programs, and related issues.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Cindy Newberg (Newberg.cindy@epa.gov) and Luke-Hall Jordan (hall-jordan.luke@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as possible, 2026. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year and may be renewed three to four additional years upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. The anticipated stipend range is $57,736 - $70,623 annually.

EPA Security Clearance: Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at EPA.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. Participants do not become employees of EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5-year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.EPA.Other@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.