[Pollinator] ORISE postdoc position: Impact of pesticide exposure on the bee immune system

[Alison Parker]

(Just the messenger - please direct inquiries to David Lehmann (
lehmann.david at epa.gov))

Posting:
https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/EPA-ORD-NHEERL-EPHD-2018-07

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports high-quality
research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national
environmental issues and to help EPA achieve its environmental goals.
Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists
in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL)
provides expertise in the conduct of studies designed to assess the effects
of environmental exposures on the health and wellbeing of people and the
environment. NHEERL has an immediate training opportunity related to
protecting pollinator health, which is a recognized national priority.
Pollinators provide critical ecological services essential to maintaining
our food supply and valued natural habitats. However, populations of many
managed and wild pollinators are declining. While it is believed that
diminished immunity may be a central factor in population declines,
relatively little research has been conducted on the effects of exposure to
environmental stressors on immunocompetence in bees. The goal of this
research project is to evaluate the effects of pesticide exposure on
immunocompetence across species of bees and to assess the suitability of
honey bees as a model organism for bee risk assessment.

The research participant may have the opportunity to be involved in the
following activities:


   - Establishing and maintaining bee colonies, performing laboratory and
   field assessments of bee colony health
   - Designing and implementing studies of the effects of pesticides on bee
   colony growth and development, including immunological effects
   - Developing and performing biochemical assays, in vitro assays, and
   molecular biology techniques including RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and PCR
   - Contributing to the development or improvement of adverse outcome
   pathways and tools for predicting relative intrinsic susceptibility across
   species of bees

Through this research project, the research participant will have the
opportunity to:


   - Learn techniques and approaches to assessing the effects of pesticides
   on bee health
   - Contribute to a multi-disciplinary research team
   - Synthesize findings to support peer-reviewed publications and
   presentations at scientific meetings
   - Collaborate with scientists in EPA’s Office of Research and
   Development and regional and program offices as well as potentially with
   scientists from other state and federal agencies and academic institutions

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. The initial appointment is for one year, but may be
renewed upon recommendation of EPA and is contingent on the availability of
funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with
educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for
participation in this program. The appointment is full-time in the Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina area. Participants do not become employees of
EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related
benefits.

The mentor for this project is David Lehmann (lehmann.david at epa.gov). The
anticipated start date for the appointment is November 1, 2018.
*Qualifications*

Applicants must have received a doctoral degree in toxicology, entomology,
ecology, biology, ecotoxicology, or a closely related field within five
years of the desired starting date, or completion of all the requirements
for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date. Experience
working with insect models, and in developing biochemical and in vitro
assays and computational models is desirable.  The successful candidate
must be comfortable working with stinging insects and cannot be allergic to
hymenoptera stings.
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