Employee Spotlight: Emily Sands

Meet ORAU employee Emily Sands. Emily is an ORAU contractor working under the National Student Services Contract (NSSC) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Working in Science and Policy Outreach Support in Washington, D.C., Emily supports EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Office of Science Advisor, Policy, and Engagement (OSAPE). Emily’s work with OSAPE is critical to supporting the agency’s official Scientific Integrity policy and human subject research review.

OSAPE’s focus is on the Agency’s official Scientific Integrity policy and human subject research review, as well as overseeing and managing intra-agency science coordination, the Action Development Process leadership, the Regional Science Program, Tribal Science, External Advisory Boards, and EPA extramural research support and partnerships (including research grants and partnerships, challenges, and prizes). 

Emily’s work with the OSAPE team includes supporting science and policy-focused fora and workgroups by preparing, reviewing, and editing scientific documents and assisting with meeting planning and logistics, including preparation of scientific meeting materials and creating PowerPoint presentations. In addition, she assists the Scientific Technology and Policy Council along with the Risk Assessment Forum. In the Risk Assessment Forum, they are working on the Cumulative Risk Assessment Guidelines. Emily was brought on to help with editing and quality appraisal.

When asked what her favorite part of working at EPA has been so far, Emily said, “Getting an insider’s view as to what all goes into policy work has been truly fascinating. Additionally, I love how passionate everyone is. It is incredible to work in a place where we all share the same goal.”

Background

Emily graduated from Loyola University Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies before enrolling at University College London to study Global Health and Development. She graduated with a Master of Science from UCL. At UCL, she wrote her dissertation, Environmental Violence: A Systematic Review Examining the Impacts of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Environmental Injustice on the Health of Indigenous Women, on the connections between environmental injustice and exposure.

Fun Facts:  Emily enjoys reading, hiking, paddleboarding, and exploring the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV)! Her favorite snack is dark chocolate covered pretzels.