Posted: 7/24/2025
Position Type: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Community Engagement and Implementation Science
Organization: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
Position Description: A post-doctoral research fellowship position is available in Community
Engagement and Implementation Science. This position offers a unique opportunity to advance
community-engaged science across the research-to-practice continuum, and to conduct cutting edge
environmental health research that enhances the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based solutions directly benefiting community health. The Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina provides excellent networking and career development opportunities.
The position offers extensive training opportunities including: Designing, implementing, and evaluating community-based interventions utilizing community engagement and implementation science techniques; Contributing to hypothesis development, literature review, survey development, data collection, data entry, data quality control; data analysis including descriptive and/or multivariate statistics; Contributing to the translation and dissemination of research findings through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and community reports; Contributing to funding proposals; and Engaging in professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge in community engagement and implementation science.
Required Qualifications: To be eligible for a postdoctoral training fellowship, applicants must be within five years of their graduate degree and must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Implementation Science, Social Sciences, or a related field. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, age (with statutory exceptions), or any other non-merit factor.
The successful applicant will have excellent writing, interpersonal, and oral communication skills, strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, and will demonstrate an ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment. This applicant will have at least one peer reviewed publication, demonstrated experience using statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R) and qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti), experience with digital tools and platforms (e.g., social media, online surveys, RedCap), strong organizational and project management skills, and a demonstrated commitment to uplifting the health and welfare of communities.
Preferred Qualifications: Candidates will be preferred who have demonstrated experience in
community-based research, community-based participatory research and/or implementation science; Experience with mixed-methods research; Familiarity with dissemination and implementation science frameworks (e.g., RE-AIM, CFIR); Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R) and qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti); and Knowledge of current trends and best practices in community engagement and implementation science.
For additional information about this position and prompt consideration, contact Dr. Joan P. Packenham at packenhm@niehs.nih.gov. Please email a cover letter including a one-page summary of relevant experience, a CV including list of publications in peer-reviewed journals, and the names and contact information of 3 people who could provide letters of reference.
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Duke University Superfund Research Center Internship: Summer 2025
Posted: 11/7/2024
***The application period for Summer 2025 is now closed. Thank you for your interest. (1/31/2025)***
This internship program represents a collaboration between investigators at Duke University and North Carolina Central University (NCCU).
Students enrolled at Duke University and North Carolina Central University are the ONLY ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS for this internship. Please see “Internship Program Details & Requirements” for additional information.
The Superfund Research Program (SRP) is a network of grants funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) designed to seek solutions to complex health and environmental issues associated with toxic chemicals found at the nation’s hazardous waste sites. The Duke University Superfund Research Center (DUSRC) focuses on early-life, low-dose exposures to toxins and their developmental impacts that may only become evident during later life stages. Our internship program is suited for students with a variety of backgrounds and interests, including environmental and exposure sciences, biomedical sciences and pre-med tracks, public health, chemistry, biology, neuropsychology, computer science, and statistics.
Meet the Duke University Superfund Research Center: https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/superfund
Descriptions of Currently Available Projects: (subject to change)
Project 2: Persisting Neurobehavioral Dysfunction Caused by Interacting Toxicant Exposures During Development: Mechanistic and Treatment Studies with Zebrafish and Rats
Project 2 focuses on understanding how early developmental exposure to toxicant mixtures cause persisting neurobehavioral dysfunction later in life. We use an effects-driven mechanistic investigation, working from the persisting neurobehavioral dysfunction in motor, emotional and cognitive function caused by early life toxicant exposures back to determine the critical mechanisms that caused the neurobehavioral toxicity. Interactions of two prototypic PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene and fluoranthene) and two heavy metals (lead and cadmium) producing persisting changes in locomotor activity, emotional dysfunction as well as attention, learning and memory impairments will be determined. Zebrafish will be used as a front-end model to assess detailed dose-effect interactions of PAH and heavy metal neurotoxicity, charting interacting dose-effect functions. Rats will be used to determine the detailed character of the neurobehavioral toxicity and mechanisms of effect.
Project 4: Neurobehavioral and bioenergetic consequences of evolving resistance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a multi-stressor environment
The overarching goal of our project is to study pollution resistance. Exposure to chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems can have significant ecologically relevant fitness consequences such as mitochondrial dysfunction linked to adverse behavioral and bioenergetic outcomes. These effects may be exacerbated when exposed to multiple abiotic stressors such as changes in temperature and oxygen levels but remain poorly understood. Students will engage on projects associated with exploring these links using Atlantic killifish that have evolved resistance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Project 5: Microencapsulation Delivery Vehicles for the Implementation of Precision Bioremediation at PAH-Contaminated Superfund Sites
Project 5 focuses on the development of bioremediation strategies for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. Traditional bioaugmentation strategies utilize PAH-degrading microbial strains in their planktonic state, but during the transition from simple lab conditions to complex field conditions, we see the failure of augmented strains to establish in contaminated environments. Our goal is to develop strategies that provide protection to PAH-degrading strains for application to contaminated sites. We are currently investigating the encapsulation of bacteria and fungi in biodegradable sodium alginate microcapsules for improved microbial growth, survival, and viability to increase PAH degradation. The intern will work on projects relating to the growth and viability of candidate microbial strains, microencapsulation strategies, and biodegradation of PAHs.
Analytical Chemistry Core (ACC)
The Analytical Chemistry Core (ACC) of Duke’s SRC focuses on development and implementation of advanced chemical measurement technologies in support of the center’s component projects. The ACC intern will work with Core staff to develop and refine new methods for detection and quantitation of chemical pollutants and metabolites such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental and biological media, per-and-polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and polar pesticides in water, lead and other toxic metals in soils and biomarker samples, tracers of wastewater such as sucralose and extraction, and neurotransmitters from model organisms used throughout the Duke’s SRC. The work will focus on one of these topic areas, depending on the current needs of the Duke SRC research teams during the internship period. The intern will gain experience on sample processing methods and state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation (e.g., liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) as they apply to environmental chemical analysis. Trainees will gain hands on experience with bench chemistry, field work, and analytical instrumentation.
Community Engagement Core (CEC) / Research Translation Core (RTC)
The Community Engagement and Research Translation Cores (CEC & RTC, respectively) work together to share the research conducted by the Superfund Center with impacted communities in ways that are equitable and accessible. We are working to develop educational activities/curricula based around environmental health and exposure topics for communities in Durham and southeastern North Carolina. More specifically, our focus is on chemical contaminant exposures in soil, homes, and wild-caught fish and helping those communities who are impacted by exposures make safer choices for themselves and their families by building environmental health literacy. This often involves direct engagement with communities in the form of helping to facilitate workshops & trainings, as well as participating in community events. In addition to helping to support work in the areas above, the summer intern will have the opportunity to attend monthly meetings with other CECs and RTCs from around the country, as well as weekly meetings with our Superfund team at Duke. For more information on our current and past work, please visit our website at https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/superfundcec/.
Potential Experiences of Specific Internship Assignments (not guaranteed):
Project 2:
Vertebrate animal work: Yes
Invertebrate animal work: No
Interaction with human subjects and/or community members: No
Off-campus field work: No
Project 4:
Vertebrate animal work: Yes
Invertebrate animal work: No
Interaction with human subjects and/or community members: No
Off-campus field work: Yes
Project 5:
Vertebrate animal work: No
Invertebrate animal work: No
Interaction with human subjects and/or community members: No
Off-campus field work: Possibly (limited)
ACC:
Vertebrate animal work: No
Invertebrate animal work: No
Interaction with human subjects and/or community members: No
Off-campus field work: Yes
CEC / RTC:
Vertebrate animal work: No
Invertebrate animal work: No
Interaction with human subjects and/or community members: Yes
Off-campus field work: Yes
Internship Program Details & Requirements:
- 8 weeks, 35 hours per week, paid hourly
- Start Date: June 2, 2025 / End Date: July 25, 2025
- Applicants should not plan to take university classes or work another job during their internship.
- Applicants should expect to participate in their internship in person (no remote participation), though prevailing health and safety precautions in effect at the time of the program will take precedence.
- Applicants must be located in North Carolina for the duration of the internship.
- Positions are open to individuals currently enrolled as an undergraduate or Master’s student at Duke University or North Carolina Central University and who are enrolled as a student at their home institution for Fall 2025. Recent graduates (e.g. Spring 2025, Fall 2024) are NOT eligible.
- Work schedules will be determined with the assigned mentor at the time of placement and may include occasional weekend or evening hours in order to complete certain experiments or tasks.
- In addition to working with their assigned project, interns are expected to participate in weekly cohort meetings and other activities, complete program assignments, and present their research at the conclusion of the program.
How to Apply:
There are 3 parts to your application:
- Email your personal letter of interest and resume/CV to SuperfundIntern@duke.edu. Your letter should describe your educational background, detail your experience and skills, and explain your interest in working with the Duke University Superfund Research Center.
- Complete a short survey through this link to rank the internship options in order of your interest: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2lBoo56sWmo7SYe
- One (1) letter of recommendation in support of your application. Your recommender must send their letter of recommendation directly to SuperfundIntern@duke.edu.
All applications received in their entirety (survey, letter of interest, resume/CV, and letter of recommendation) by January 14, 2025, will be reviewed and considered. Applications missing any of the above components by this date may be overlooked during the review process. Applications received after January 14, 2025, will be considered if internship openings are still available after all prior applicants have been considered.
Questions? Contact SuperfundIntern@duke.edu