The Environmental Laboratory (EL) is one of the seven laboratories of U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE-ERDC), which is the Army Corps of Engineers’ integrated research and development (R&D) organization. EL provides solutions to environmental challenges for the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense and the Nation through environmental science and engineering research and development. Researchers in EL conduct research in ecosystem science and technology, environmental resiliency, environmental sensing, ecological modeling and forecasting, risk and decision science, environmentally sustainable material, systems biology, climate change, computational chemistry, environmental chemistry and environmental security.

The Verification of Subterranean Characterization Protocol project has a major focus area dealing with the analysis of sensor systems used in a subterranean characterization protocol. The research effort shall verify the subterranean protocol by conducting laboratory analysis and evaluations in authentic subterranean environments. Evaluation in authentic subterranean environments shall include technical evaluation of tools and techniques and an end user evaluation of tools and techniques. Under the guidance of a mentor, the graduate level participant will gain experience in different autonomous, robotic, and senor systems for environmental remote sensing research activities. Experiences may include design and evaluation of sensor integration electronics, and software development of robotic systems for subterranean environmental characterization. The participant will receive mentoring from federal research scientists and will participate in meeting research obligations through the creation of publications, technical reports, evaluation of robotic sensor platforms, software development, and participation in laboratory evaluations.

Appointment Length

This ORISE appointment period is up to 12 months in length. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participant Benefits

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by ERDC-EL. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

• Health Insurance Supplement. Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE.
• Relocation Allowance
• Training and Travel Allowance

Nature of Appointment

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

While participants will not enter into an employment relationship with DOD or any other agency, this opportunity may require a suitability investigation/background investigation. Any offer made is considered tentative pending favorable outcome of the investigation.

Qualifications

Candidate must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science with experience in any of the following categories: sensor electronics, sensor systems, sensor packaging, sensor mounting, artificial intelligent programming, python, C++, or autonomous systems.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2021 11:59:00 PM.