Summer 2023 Science Office Operations Intern
NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.
Position Summary
NRDC is seeking a Science Office Operations intern to work the Science Office team in with our Washington, DC office.
The purpose of the internship is to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from academic science studies (including social sciences) to support the implementation of strategies to streamline the integration of science and scientific perspectives into environmental advocacy.
Responsibilities
The student will be required to complete 10 weeks of full-time work over the summer, with online supervision and guidance. Students will be required to:
- Work independently with online-only guidance and oversight.
- Develop and complete a defined project(s) facilitating the integration of science into environmental policy advocacy.
- Exhibit proficiency in several of the following areas: implementation, project management (planning, implementation, evaluation), applied science, information science, process development, and trans-disciplinary communication.
- Demonstrate self-driven work, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and creativity in the development and execution of a project.
Potential projects could include:
- Research synthesis- develop processes to systematically identify and synthesize and vet the relevance science and scientific experts relevant to a variety of complex issues
- Needs analysis and anticipation – pilot processes to systematically capture policy priorities or interests of advocacy stakeholders or communities and evaluate the potential value of addressing them with scientific review, data analysis, policy or economic analysis
- Scientific Communication - develop knowledge banks or other streamlined processes for capturing, sharing and updating scientific talking points and their supporting materials
- Integration of external expertise – using concepts of implementation science, pilot specific approaches for integrating and implementing expertise from a variety of scientific and legal perspective
Supervision -
The internship will be done online with the intern receiving online supervision and instruction from active members of NRDC 3-5X/week, or as needed. The student will be supervised in all of their activities commensurate with the complexity of the project and the student’s own abilities. The student’s output will including written materials and an oral presentation. If the intern is interested in working on-site at any of NRDC’s office, they are more than welcome to do so, but NRDC is unable to provide any financial relocation assistance to interns.
Qualifications
Required
- Commitment to NRDC's mission and values.
- Graduate student, recent graduate or undergraduate who is enrolled or completed studies in one of the following programs: science (including but not limited to life and physical sciences, social sciences, information science, environmental science, environmental engineering), science or environmental policy, or related studies.
- Ability to work remotely, and independently with online-only guidance and oversight.
- Strong interest in building proficiency in several of the following areas: tool and process development, project management (planning, implementation, evaluation), applied and implementation science, information science, and trans-disciplinary communication.
Preferred
- Completion of undergraduate degree in science or related area is preferred, but currently enrolled undergraduates will be considered. Preference given to candidates with demonstrated interests in the intersection of science and policy and information science, technological tools, and/or operations. This is not a scientific research position or advocacy position.
NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
This position is a paid internship with a stipend of $6,000 for undergraduates and $10,000 for graduates, paid bi-weekly over the course of 10 weeks.
The incumbent will not qualify as an employee, fellow, volunteer, or independent contractor of NRDC, nor will the incumbent be guaranteed employment at the end of the internship term.
Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we encourage them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence.
As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination. Those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions. NRDC treats all vaccination-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.
To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.
If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.
For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.