Washington, DC - The Department of State and the Environmental Protection Agency are now accepting applications for the virtual air quality fellowship program. This fellowship is a vital component of the State Department and Environmental Protection Agency’s collaborative efforts to improve access to, and application of, continuous air quality data worldwide.
The fellows will volunteer for 10-20 hours per month for one year providing technical and/or policy support for a U.S. embassy or consulate. While the fellowship is virtual, some posts have sponsored visits by their fellows to their country to help advance management and diplomatic objectives.
In the first two years of the program, fellows have performed a wide variety of activities, including:
- modelling surface-level estimates of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, using satellite data in areas where monitoring data is unavailable and evaluating meteorological data to identify pollution trends;
- meeting with local government officials to discuss air quality reporting best practices;
- helping posts conduct maintenance on embassy air quality monitors; and
- assisting posts understand monitoring data and its potential impact on human health.
The ideal candidate has air quality monitoring expertise and/or an understanding of policy efforts and health impacts. Fellows must be U.S. citizens. The fellowship is unpaid. The application link is available at https://www.state.gov/m/pri/gdi/airquality/dosairfellows/. The application period is open through October 12, 2018. Please note that this is a separate fellowship from the Embassy Science Fellowship program.
About the Department’s Air Quality Monitoring Program: Air pollution is a serious and growing health threat worldwide. Yet, in many areas, real-time air quality data is either poorly used or unavailable. By the end of 2018, more than 35 U.S. embassies and consulates will be reporting real-time air quality data to EPA AirNow. This data can help U.S. citizens and government personnel overseas make informed health decisions and mitigate health risks from air pollution, as well as enhance the availability of ambient air quality data and expertise around the world.