Careers

Description:

We have a unique opportunity to leverage the expertise of University of Washington faculty to further our research on lead-related issues. A long-standing colleague, Dr. Diana Ceballos, has recently been hired on to the UW faculty and this is one of several projects that are of mutual interest. We have also developed an excellent working relationship with Dr. Shar Samy, Director of the UW’s EH Lab. These faculty will co-mentor the Graduate Intern, along with Steve Whittaker and Katie Fellows, to conduct the following lead-related work:

1. Conduct literature reviews and maintain retrieved materials in a bibliographic database;
2. Conduct statistical analyses to determine the factors that predispose lead to leach from metal cookware and evaluate the correlation between XRF measurements and analytical data, using existing data;
3. Help develop mass spectroscopic techniques to identify isotopic profiles of lead in environmental samples and (if available) biological tissues;
4. Undertake IRB training and prepare an IRB application to cover collection of human tissue samples;
5. Help engage communities using the principles of equity and social justice, with particular emphasis on delivering service to refugees and immigrant populations; and
6. Summarize the project work in a written report and help prepare oral and poster presentations.

Additional opportunities for the student include:

1. Job Shadowing
2. Receive mentoring from other division programs through job shadowing and other assignments relevant to the internship learning experience.
3. Develop relevant technical skills through self-learning or King County trainings (e.g., ArcGIS, PowerBI)

The Haz Waste Research team has the budget to support this position to the maximum allowable hours (900)

This position will be located in the Research Services Team, which provides scientific support for programs across the Haz Waste Program and conducts research on emerging health issues. This intern’s assignment reflects an important need and priority in the Haz Waste Program: to better evaluate and prevent lead exposures experienced by immigrant and refugee populations in King County.

We recently found that cookware imported from Afghanistan, as well as cookware available for purchase in the United States, can contain very high lead levels. We have tested almost 100 cookpots, using both X-ray fluorescence (XRF) screening and a novel leachate method – see the following paper for details: “Investigating aluminum cookpots as a source of lead exposure in Afghan refugee children resettled in the United States,” available at: https://rdcu.be/cMwfu.

The intern will work with the Haz Waste Program as well as faculty at the University of Washington. The overall scope of this project is flexible and will depend on the interest of the student, but would potentially involve: (1) Data analysis highlighting the cooccurrence of other toxic metals beyond lead in cookware by analyzing existing mass spectrometry and XRF data; (2) Developing an analytical method to determine isotopic profiles of different sources of lead to be used in lead home investigations (i.e., cookware, paint, cosmetics, spices, toys); (3) Assisting in the development of IRB and protocols for a field study to assess multiple sources of home exposure within refugee communities and ways to mitigate those exposures. Depending on the scope and timing of the student involvement, the student may participate in field work activities.

The intern will be mentored principally by PhD-level Environmental Scientists (Drs. Steve Whittaker and Katie Fellows), the Director of the University of Washington’s Environmental Health Laboratory (Dr. Shar Samy) and a University of Washington faculty member (Dr. Diana Ceballos). The intern will also receive guidance and training from Haz Waste Program staff with expertise in community engagement, environmental policy, social science, and communications.

The specific learning objectives will be to gain competence in the following areas:

1. Conducting literature reviews and maintaining retrieved materials in a bibliographic database;
2. Biostatistical analysis of environmental data;
3. Familiarity with mass spectroscopic techniques for environmental and biological samples;
4. Human subjects protection principles and Institutional Review Board procedures;
5. Effective and equitable engagement of communities using the principles outlined in King County’s Equity and Social Justice agenda and the Haz Waste Program’s Service Equity process; and
6. Describing project methods and findings in a coherent report and presentations.

Work will be conducted primarily off-site at the University of Washington’s Environmental Health Laboratory, with the possibility of field work.

The essential duties for this position are:

1. Conduct literature reviews and maintain retrieved materials in a bibliographic database;
2. Conduct statistical analyses to determine the factors that predispose lead to leach from metal cookware and evaluate the correlation between XRF measurements and analytical data, using existing data;
3. Help develop mass spectroscopic techniques to identify isotopic profiles of lead in environmental samples and (if available) biological tissues;
4. Undertake IRB training and prepare an IRB application to cover collection of human tissue samples;
5. Help engage communities using the principles of equity and social justice, with particular emphasis on delivering service to refugees and immigrant populations; and
6. Summarize the project work in a written report and help prepare oral and poster presentations.

Interested students should reach out directly to Steve Whittaker at Steve.Whittaker@kingcounty.gov and Katie Fellows at kfellows@kingcounty.gov.