Re: Environmental modeling position at EPA

["ruth_weiner" <ruth_weiner@email.msn.com>]

 Dear Tony :

I believe we met on the WIPP project, though you may not remember me.  Your
job opening was posted on RADSAFE (hence the cc), and I was shocked when I
read it, to wit:

"The applicant must have considerable hands-on experience
in some field of local or global environmental modeling, but KNOWLEDGE OF
IONIZING RADIATION IS NOT ESSENTIAL.
The applicant should possess well-honed communications and social skills for
effective interactions with policy analysts, lawyers, economists, etc., and
the public. Also necessary is the flexibility to focus full energy on
nonscientific issues, as the need arises. In other words, the job requires
NOT ONLY A SOLID SCIENTIST, but also a well-rounded, people-oriented
problem-solver. " [emphasis mine]

Are you serious?  Would a solid scientist with NO knowledge of ionizing
radiation apply for the job? Would someone with no  knowledge of ionizing
radiation be a "solid scientist" (or even a shaky scientist) in the modeling
position you are seeking to fill?   If a job dealing with modeling pathways
of radioactive materials does not require a knowledge of ionizing radiation,
what does it require that distinguishes it from any other job requiring
"social skills...[and]...effective interactions..." etc?  If the applicant
is focusing "full energy on
nonscientific issues" how is he or she going to focus on SCIENTIFIC issues?
If you are advertising for a PIO, your ad might be right on, but that is
hardly clear.


Ruth F. Weiner, Ph. D.
7336 Lew Wallace NE
Albuquerque, NM
505-856-5011
fax 505-856-5564
ruth_weiner@msn.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Sun, Lin-Shen <casper@bnl.gov>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 11:48 AM
Subject: RE: Environmental modeling position at EPA


>  >----------------------------------------------------|
>  |                                                    |
>  |   Subject:     RE: Environmental modeling          |
>  |   position at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
>  >----------------------------------------------------|
>
>Environmental Transport Pathway Modeling
>
>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., is seeking a
>PhD- or MS-level scientist to join an active group of 7 PhD- and 3 MS-level
>physicists, health physicists, environmental scientists, radiobiologists,
>and statisticians, who provide the Agency with scientific/technical support
>on matters dealing with exposure to and risks from ionizing radiation.
>
>This position, within EPA's Center for Science and Risk Assessment,
involves
>the development of environmental pathway models for computing radiation
>doses and risks to individuals and populations from near or distant
releases
>of radioactivity. Such modeling is used in setting release limits for
active
>facilities and clean-up levels for sites being decommissioned, in assessing
>the capabilities of repositories to contain waste, in responding to
>emergencies, etc. The applicant must have considerable hands-on experience
>in some field of local or global environmental modeling, but knowledge of
>ionizing radiation issues is not essential.
>
>The applicant should possess well-honed communications and social skills
for
>effective interactions with policy analysts, lawyers, economists, etc., and
>the public. Also necessary is the flexibility to focus full energy on
>nonscientific issues, as the need arises. In other words, the job requires
>not only a solid scientist, but also a well-rounded, people-oriented
>problem-solver.
>
>EPA is an equal opportunity employer. The salary range is $42 - 79K. Please
>contact Dr. Anthony B. Wolbarst at wolbarst.anthony@epa.gov
>
>
>
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