Environmental and Occupational Health [Research Assistant]

Cumulative Risk Assessment in Environmental and Occupational Health
Glenn Paulson, Ph.D.
The Project: Risk assessment of the health consequences of exposure to a single environmental stress, such as a single pollutant, is a relatively mature field, though often still highly controversial. Cumulative risk assessment, the estimation of the consequences of simultaneous exposure to multiple stresses, such as many pollutants or to one or more chemical pollutants plus other non-chemical stresses (for example, radiation, noise, or even heat) is at a very primitive stage. This research project is working to develop new techniques that will improve risk assessment, and also point the way toward policy changes that could be adopted in the risk assessment profession and also by relevant governmental agencies. The link of success in this research to meeting current environmental justice concerns is obvious.
Research Assistant Tasks: Working directly with faculty and graduate students from the Millken Institute School of Public Health’s Environmental and Occupational Health Department and its Center for Risk Science and Public Health, the research assistant will investigate what role traditional and especially non-traditional sources and sets of data, including socio-economic and other existing non-technical information, could play in expanding existing and developing new approaches to conducting cumulative risk assessments, and also how policy changes could encourage the use of these new approaches. In addition to standard literature and Internet searches, the research assistant will help design structured interviews and similar tools for seeking insights and recommendations from many different types of professionals, both within and outside of the risk assessment profession.  
Time Commitment: 7-9 hours per week
Credit Hour Option: 2
Application Instructions: Applicants need not be science or social science majors; in fact, an eclectic background may well be a plus. A current resume plus a recent writing sample on any subject is essential. For juniors and seniors, providing a list of courses completed and the GPA for the latest academic year is required. Final candidates will be asked to provide two references.
Contact Email: glennpaulson@gwu.edu