Health physics is the profession devoted to protecting people and their environment from potential radiation hazards. Ionizing radiation, used in treating cancer or producing electrical power, is a useful commodity. Ionizing radiation, used in large quantities or in an unsafe way, can be harmful.

Health physicists control the beneficial use of ionizing radiation while protecting workers and the public from potential danger. Health physics requires an understanding of many fields, including physics, biology, biophysics, engineering, chemistry, genetics, ecology, environmental sciences, metallurgy, medicine, physiology and toxicology.

Oversight's health physicists monitor the environment on and off site; assess environmental affects of INL activities, particularly those involving radiation; participate in and coordinate state emergency planning; and provide technical expertise to state and local agencies.

Oversight health physicist is David Jones.

Environmental science is concerned with the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the environment and their effect on organisms. Oversight's environmental scientists specialize in air, soil, and water pollution, hazardous waste management and waste minimization, geology and hydrogeology, risk assessment, and strategic planning.

Oversight's environmental scientists are Flint Hall, Kimberly Kaiser, and Bruce LaRue.

Oversight is a state agency and hires through the state employment system. State jobs are listed on the Idaho Division of Human Resources Web site.

If you are interested in an internship with INL Oversight, e-mail a letter and resume (PDF or Word format) to Lezlie Aller. Oversight interns may work in technical programs, usually Health Physics or Environmental Science students; or in public information and education, from many academic disciplines including Education, Technical Writing, English, and Political Science.