diff --git a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch.rb b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch.rb
index 4ba4e868c..94ecd6c3c 100644
--- a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch.rb
+++ b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch.rb
@@ -153,26 +153,48 @@ def k8s_username
     username_prefix.nil? ? username : "#{username_prefix}-#{username}"
   end
 
+  def user
+    @user ||= Etc.getpwnam(username)
+  end
+
+  def home_dir
+    user.dir
+  end
+
   def run_as_user
-    Etc.getpwnam(username).uid
+    user.uid
   end
 
   def run_as_group
-    Etc.getpwnam(username).gid
+    user.gid
   end
 
   def fs_group
     run_as_group
   end
 
+  def group
+    Etc.getgrgid(run_as_group).name
+  end
+
+  def default_env
+    {
+      USER: username,
+      UID: run_as_user,
+      HOME: home_dir,
+      GROUP: group,
+      GID: run_as_group,
+    }
+  end
+
   # helper to template resource yml you're going to submit and
   # create an id.
   def generate_id_yml(script)
     native_data = script.native
-    container = helper.container_from_native(native_data[:container])
+    container = helper.container_from_native(native_data[:container], default_env)
     id = generate_id(container.name)
     configmap = helper.configmap_from_native(native_data, id)
-    init_containers = helper.init_ctrs_from_native(native_data[:init_containers])
+    init_containers = helper.init_ctrs_from_native(native_data[:init_containers], container.env)
     spec = OodCore::Job::Adapters::Kubernetes::Resources::PodSpec.new(container, init_containers: init_containers)
     all_mounts = native_data[:mounts].nil? ? mounts : mounts + native_data[:mounts]
 
diff --git a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper.rb b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper.rb
index e7fd75080..c54e18271 100644
--- a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper.rb
+++ b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper.rb
@@ -38,18 +38,21 @@ def info_from_json(pod_json: nil, service_json: nil, secret_json: nil, ns_prefix
   #
   # @param container [#to_h]
   #   the input container hash
+  # @param default_env [#to_h]
+  #   Default env to merge with defined env
   # @return  [OodCore::Job::Adapters::Kubernetes::Resources::Container]
-  def container_from_native(container)
+  def container_from_native(container, default_env)
+    env = container.fetch(:env, {}).to_h.symbolize_keys
     OodCore::Job::Adapters::Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
       container[:name],
       container[:image],
       command: parse_command(container[:command]),
       port: container[:port],
-      env: container.fetch(:env, []),
+      env: default_env.merge(env),
       memory: container[:memory],
       cpu: container[:cpu],
       working_dir: container[:working_dir],
-      restart_policy: container[:restart_policy]
+      restart_policy: container[:restart_policy],
     )
   end
 
@@ -93,13 +96,15 @@ def configmap_from_native(native, id)
   # @param native_data [#to_h]
   #   the native data to parse. Expected key init_ctrs and for that
   #   key to be an array of hashes.
+  # @param default_env [#to_h]
+  #   Default env to merge with defined env
   # @return [Array<OodCore::Job::Adapters::Kubernetes::Resources::Container>]
   #   the array of init containers
-  def init_ctrs_from_native(ctrs)
+  def init_ctrs_from_native(ctrs, default_env)
     init_ctrs = []
 
     ctrs&.each do |ctr_raw|
-      ctr = container_from_native(ctr_raw)
+      ctr = container_from_native(ctr_raw, default_env)
       init_ctrs.push(ctr)
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/resources.rb b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/resources.rb
index 84f3aebdf..055b67540 100644
--- a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/resources.rb
+++ b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/resources.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class Container
                   :restart_policy, :supplemental_groups
 
     def initialize(
-        name, image, command: [], port: nil, env: [], memory: "4Gi", cpu: "1",
+        name, image, command: [], port: nil, env: {}, memory: "4Gi", cpu: "1",
         working_dir: "", restart_policy: "Never", supplemental_groups: []
       )
       raise ArgumentError, "containers need valid names and images" unless name && image
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def initialize(
       @image = image
       @command = command.nil? ? [] : command
       @port = port&.to_i
-      @env = env.nil? ? [] : env
+      @env = env.nil? ? {} : env
       @memory = memory.nil? ? "4Gi" : memory
       @cpu = cpu.nil? ? "1" : cpu
       @working_dir = working_dir.nil? ? "" : working_dir
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ def ==(other)
         restart_policy == other.restart_policy &&
         supplemental_groups == other.supplemental_groups
     end
-
   end
 
   class PodSpec
diff --git a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/templates/pod.yml.erb b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/templates/pod.yml.erb
index 470f594eb..beebd24ec 100644
--- a/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/templates/pod.yml.erb
+++ b/lib/ood_core/job/adapters/kubernetes/templates/pod.yml.erb
@@ -39,13 +39,15 @@ spec:
     <%- unless spec.container.working_dir.empty? -%>
     workingDir: "<%= spec.container.working_dir %>"
     <%- end -%>
-    <%- unless spec.container.env.empty? -%>
     env:
-    <%- spec.container.env.each do |env| -%>
-    - name: <%= env[:name] %>
-      value: "<%= env[:value] %>"
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    <%- spec.container.env.each_pair do |name, value| -%>
+    - name: <%= name %>
+      value: "<%= value %>"
     <%- end # for each env -%>
-    <%- end # unless env is nil -%>
     <%- unless spec.container.command.empty? -%>
     command:
     <%- spec.container.command.each do |cmd| -%>
@@ -83,6 +85,15 @@ spec:
   <%- spec.init_containers.each do |ctr| -%>
   - name: "<%= ctr.name %>"
     image: "<%= ctr.image %>"
+    env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    <%- ctr.env.each_pair do |name, value| -%>
+    - name: <%= name %>
+      value: "<%= value %>"
+    <%- end # for each env -%>
     command:
     <%- ctr.command.each do |cmd| -%>
     - "<%= cmd %>"
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_all_configs.yml b/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_all_configs.yml
index 02e996e9e..19bb4f651 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_all_configs.yml
+++ b/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_all_configs.yml
@@ -26,8 +26,20 @@ spec:
     imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     workingDir: "/my/home"
     env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    - name: USER
+      value: "testuser"
+    - name: UID
+      value: "1001"
     - name: HOME
       value: "/my/home"
+    - name: GROUP
+      value: "testgroup"
+    - name: GID
+      value: "1002"
     - name: PATH
       value: "/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin"
     command:
@@ -60,6 +72,23 @@ spec:
   initContainers:
   - name: "init-1"
     image: "busybox:latest"
+    env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    - name: USER
+      value: "testuser"
+    - name: UID
+      value: "1001"
+    - name: HOME
+      value: "/my/home"
+    - name: GROUP
+      value: "testgroup"
+    - name: GID
+      value: "1002"
+    - name: PATH
+      value: "/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin"
     command:
     - "/bin/ls"
     - "-lrt"
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_defaults.yml b/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_defaults.yml
index edb3a0517..1538f6c58 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_defaults.yml
+++ b/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_from_defaults.yml
@@ -26,8 +26,20 @@ spec:
     imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     workingDir: "/my/home"
     env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    - name: USER
+      value: "testuser"
+    - name: UID
+      value: "1001"
     - name: HOME
       value: "/my/home"
+    - name: GROUP
+      value: "testgroup"
+    - name: GID
+      value: "1002"
     - name: PATH
       value: "/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin"
     command:
@@ -56,6 +68,23 @@ spec:
   initContainers:
   - name: "init-1"
     image: "busybox:latest"
+    env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    - name: USER
+      value: "testuser"
+    - name: UID
+      value: "1001"
+    - name: HOME
+      value: "/my/home"
+    - name: GROUP
+      value: "testgroup"
+    - name: GID
+      value: "1002"
+    - name: PATH
+      value: "/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin"
     command:
     - "/bin/ls"
     - "-lrt"
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_no_mounts.yml b/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_no_mounts.yml
index aa70dae23..7d6c44c71 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_no_mounts.yml
+++ b/spec/fixtures/output/k8s/pod_yml_no_mounts.yml
@@ -26,8 +26,20 @@ spec:
     imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
     workingDir: "/my/home"
     env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    - name: USER
+      value: "testuser"
+    - name: UID
+      value: "1001"
     - name: HOME
-      value: "/my/home"
+      value: "/home/testuser"
+    - name: GROUP
+      value: "testgroup"
+    - name: GID
+      value: "1002"
     - name: PATH
       value: "/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin"
     command:
@@ -54,6 +66,23 @@ spec:
   initContainers:
   - name: "init-1"
     image: "busybox:latest"
+    env:
+    - name: POD_NAME
+      valueFrom:
+        fieldRef:
+          fieldPath: metadata.name
+    - name: USER
+      value: "testuser"
+    - name: UID
+      value: "1001"
+    - name: HOME
+      value: "/home/testuser"
+    - name: GROUP
+      value: "testgroup"
+    - name: GID
+      value: "1002"
+    - name: PATH
+      value: "/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin"
     command:
     - "/bin/ls"
     - "-lrt"
diff --git a/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch_spec.rb b/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch_spec.rb
index ef197557b..a58501ed5 100644
--- a/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/batch_spec.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   Batch = OodCore::Job::Adapters::Kubernetes::Batch
   Helper = OodCore::Job::Adapters::Kubernetes::Helper
   K8sJobInfo = OodCore::Job::Adapters::Kubernetes::K8sJobInfo
+  User = Struct.new(:dir, :uid, :gid, keyword_init: true)
 
   let(:helper) {
     helper = Helper.new
@@ -275,16 +276,10 @@ def build_script(opts = {})
             image: 'ruby:2.5',
             command: 'rake spec',
             port: 8080,
-            env: [
-              {
-                name: 'HOME',
-                value: '/my/home'
-              },
-              {
-                name: 'PATH',
-                value: '/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin'
-              }
-            ],
+            env: {
+              HOME: '/my/home',
+              PATH: '/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin'
+            },
             memory: '6Gi',
             cpu: '4',
             working_dir: '/my/home',
@@ -311,8 +306,8 @@ def build_script(opts = {})
 
       allow(configured_batch).to receive(:generate_id).with('rspec-test').and_return('rspec-test-123')
       allow(configured_batch).to receive(:username).and_return('testuser')
-      allow(configured_batch).to receive(:run_as_user).and_return(1001)
-      allow(configured_batch).to receive(:run_as_group).and_return(1002)
+      allow(configured_batch).to receive(:user).and_return(User.new(dir: '/home/testuser', uid: 1001, gid: 1002))
+      allow(configured_batch).to receive(:group).and_return('testgroup')
 
       # make sure it get's templated right, also helpful in debugging bc
       # it'll show a better diff than the test below.
@@ -339,16 +334,10 @@ def build_script(opts = {})
             image: 'ruby:2.5',
             command: 'rake spec',
             port: 8080,
-            env: [
-              {
-                name: 'HOME',
-                value: '/my/home'
-              },
-              {
-                name: 'PATH',
-                value: '/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin'
-              }
-            ],
+            env: {
+              'HOME' => '/my/home',
+              'PATH' => '/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin'
+            },
             memory: '6Gi',
             cpu: '4',
             working_dir: '/my/home',
@@ -375,8 +364,8 @@ def build_script(opts = {})
 
       allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:generate_id).with('rspec-test').and_return('rspec-test-123')
       allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:username).and_return('testuser')
-      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:run_as_user).and_return(1001)
-      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:run_as_group).and_return(1002)
+      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:user).and_return(User.new(dir: '/home/testuser', uid: 1001, gid: 1002))
+      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:group).and_return('testgroup')
 
       # make sure it get's templated right, also helpful in debugging bc
       # it'll show a better diff than the test below.
@@ -403,16 +392,9 @@ def build_script(opts = {})
             image: 'ruby:2.5',
             command: 'rake spec',
             port: 8080,
-            env: [
-              {
-                name: 'HOME',
-                value: '/my/home'
-              },
-              {
-                name: 'PATH',
-                value: '/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin'
-              }
-            ],
+            env: {
+              PATH: '/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin'
+            },
             memory: '6Gi',
             cpu: '4',
             working_dir: '/my/home',
@@ -432,8 +414,8 @@ def build_script(opts = {})
 
       allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:generate_id).with('rspec-test').and_return('rspec-test-123')
       allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:username).and_return('testuser')
-      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:run_as_user).and_return(1001)
-      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:run_as_group).and_return(1002)
+      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:user).and_return(User.new(dir: '/home/testuser', uid: 1001, gid: 1002))
+      allow(@basic_batch).to receive(:group).and_return('testgroup')
 
       # make sure it get's templated right, also helpful in debugging bc
       # it'll show a better diff than the test below.
diff --git a/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper_spec.rb b/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper_spec.rb
index e65f291f1..b3e80050f 100644
--- a/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/job/adapters/kubernetes/helper_spec.rb
@@ -234,10 +234,9 @@
         image: 'ruby:2.5',
         command: 'rake spec',
         port: 8080,
-        env: [
-          name: 'HOME',
-          value: '/over/here'
-        ],
+        env: {
+          'HOME' => '/over/here',
+        },
         memory: '12Gi',
         cpu: '6',
         working_dir: '/over/there',
@@ -245,14 +244,24 @@
       }
     }
 
+    let(:default_env) {
+      {
+        HOME: '/home/test',
+        UID: 1000,
+      }
+    }
+
     it "correctly parses a full container" do
-      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash)).to eq(
+      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash, default_env)).to eq(
         Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
           'ruby-test-container',
           'ruby:2.5',
           port: 8080,
           command: ['rake', 'spec'],
-          env: [{ name: 'HOME', value: '/over/here' }],
+          env: {
+            HOME: '/over/here',
+            UID: 1000,
+          },
           memory: '12Gi',
           cpu: '6',
           working_dir: '/over/there',
@@ -264,12 +273,15 @@
     it "correctly parses container with no port" do
       ctr_hash.delete(:port)
 
-      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash)).to eq(
+      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash, default_env)).to eq(
         Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
           'ruby-test-container',
           'ruby:2.5',
           command: ['rake', 'spec'],
-          env: [{ name: 'HOME', value: '/over/here' }],
+          env: {
+            HOME: '/over/here',
+            UID: 1000,
+          },
           memory: '12Gi',
           cpu: '6',
           working_dir: '/over/there',
@@ -281,12 +293,15 @@
     it "correctly parses container with no command" do
       ctr_hash.delete(:command)
 
-      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash)).to eq(
+      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash, default_env)).to eq(
         Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
           'ruby-test-container',
           'ruby:2.5',
           port: 8080,
-          env: [{ name: 'HOME', value: '/over/here' }],
+          env: {
+            HOME: '/over/here',
+            UID: 1000,
+          },
           memory: '12Gi',
           cpu: '6',
           working_dir: '/over/there',
@@ -298,11 +313,15 @@
     it "correctly parses container with no env" do
       ctr_hash.delete(:env)
 
-      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash)).to eq(
+      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash, default_env)).to eq(
         Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
           'ruby-test-container',
           'ruby:2.5',
           port: 8080,
+          env: {
+            HOME: '/home/test',
+            UID: 1000,
+          },
           command: ['rake', 'spec'],
           memory: '12Gi',
           cpu: '6',
@@ -315,12 +334,15 @@
     it "correctly parses container with working directory" do
       ctr_hash.delete(:working_dir)
 
-      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash)).to eq(
+      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash, default_env)).to eq(
         Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
           'ruby-test-container',
           'ruby:2.5',
           port: 8080,
-          env: [{ name: 'HOME', value: '/over/here' }],
+          env: {
+            HOME: '/over/here',
+            UID: 1000,
+          },
           command: ['rake', 'spec'],
           memory: '12Gi',
           cpu: '6',
@@ -332,13 +354,16 @@
     it "correctly parses container with no restart_policy" do
       ctr_hash.delete(:restart_policy)
 
-      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash)).to eq(
+      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash, default_env)).to eq(
         Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
           'ruby-test-container',
           'ruby:2.5',
           port: 8080,
           command: ['rake', 'spec'],
-          env: [{ name: 'HOME', value: '/over/here' }],
+          env: {
+            HOME: '/over/here',
+            UID: 1000,
+          },
           memory: '12Gi',
           cpu: '6',
           working_dir: '/over/there',
@@ -348,7 +373,7 @@
 
     it "correctly parses container with no extra fields" do
       # expected defaults
-      ctr_hash[:env] = []
+      ctr_hash[:env] = {}
       ctr_hash[:command] = []
       ctr_hash.delete(:port)
       ctr_hash[:memory] = '4Gi'
@@ -356,10 +381,14 @@
       ctr_hash[:restart_policy] = 'Never'
       ctr_hash[:working_dir] = ''
 
-      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash)).to eq(
+      expect(helper.container_from_native(ctr_hash, default_env)).to eq(
         Kubernetes::Resources::Container.new(
           'ruby-test-container',
-          'ruby:2.5'
+          'ruby:2.5',
+          env: {
+            HOME: '/home/test',
+            UID: 1000,
+          }
         )
       )
     end
@@ -367,14 +396,14 @@
     it "throws an error when no name is given" do
       ctr = { image: 'ruby:25' }
       expect{ 
-        helper.container_from_native(ctr) 
+        helper.container_from_native(ctr, default_env)
       }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, "containers need valid names and images")
     end
 
     it "throws an error when no name is given" do
       ctr = { name: 'ruby-test-container' }
       expect{ 
-        helper.container_from_native(ctr) 
+        helper.container_from_native(ctr, default_env)
       }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, "containers need valid names and images")
     end
   end