You are here:
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT THE U.S. EPA
Citation:
Richardson, S D. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT THE U.S. EPA. Presented at 223rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, Orlando, FL, April 7-11, 2002.
Impact/Purpose:
Determine the actual concentrations of suspected health-impacting DBPs produced using non-chlorine disinfectants, how often they occur, under what conditions they are formed, and their fate and transport in the distribution system.
Description:
Careers in the government-environmental sector can be extremely rewarding, as much of what you do can have a direct impact. For example, I have worked for 12 years at the U.S. EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory, and have focused on identifying chemical disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water. Once the DBPs are identified, health effects research is conducted to determine whether any pose a hazard to human health. Results of this research are used to minimize those DBPs that pose a risk to human health and to ultimately improve the safety of our drinking water. So, in addition to having opportunities to publish research, EPA researchers have the additional opportunity to have a direct impact both in human health issues and in ecological issues. Other government agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey offer similar opportunities. There are also non-research career opportunities for chemist in EPA and in other government agencies. Research and non-research career opportunities will be discussed.