Requirements

College/School Eligibility:

  • Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Brooks School of Public Policy
  • Arts and Sciences
  • Industrial and Labor Relations

Class Year Eligibility:

  • First Year (undergrad)
  • Second Year (undergrad)
  • Third Year (undergrad)

Open to:

  • Cornell Undergraduate Students

(Important: applicants must return to continue their studies at Cornell in Fall 2025 in order to qualify. May 2025 graduates cannot apply.)

Key Responsibilities:
Tasks will include but are not limited to:

  • Research climate, clean energy, and environmental justice policy concepts and legislation introduced or enacted in the states and providing summaries to inform policy memos, messaging, and strategy.
  • Conduct literature reviews of reports, articles, and other publications covering specific interventions in the energy system to inform the development of regulatory and legislative policies.
  • Help coordinate and prepare for meetings with stakeholders such as environmental groups, industry representatives, and government officials, including participation in virtual meetings to gain exposure to policy discussions.
  • Write and contribute to blogs, fact sheets, presentations, and other materials used to inform the public and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications:

  • Enrolled in a degree program with a demonstrated interest in climate change, clean energy, or environmental policy.
  • Experience with academic and policy research, including conducting literature reviews.
  • Coursework in energy, climate change, public policy, or related fields.
  • Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Must be well organized, motivated, and detail oriented.
  • Ability to multi-task, prioritize, meet deadlines, and work independently when projects are due.
  • Ability to work in a team setting and collaborate virtually with a geographically dispersed team in a fast-paced, professional environment.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
  • Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills.

Location: Hybrid out of an EDF office in Austin, TX, Boulder, CO, Boston, MA, New York, NY, Raleigh, NC, San Francisco, CA, or Washington D.C., with option to be U.S. Remote. Intern supervisor is in Austin, Texas, and many team members are located across the United States. (Hybrid means must be physically present in location throughout internship, coming into the office an agreed number of days/week. US Remote means must be physically located in the US while working for the majority of the internship.)

Term: Summer 2025

Hours: Full-time (35 hr/week)

Compensation: This internship will be fully funded through Cornell Atkinson; a $7,000 stipend is provided.

Application Materials: Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application and an (un)official transcript. (Please access the application by clicking the green "Apply" button on the Overview page. You will be directed to an external application form.)

All proposal materials MUST be received by 11:59 PM ET on Monday, January 27th, 2025.