Requirements

College/School Eligibility:

  • Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Brooks School of Public Policy
  • Architecture, Art and Planning
  • Human Ecology
  • SC Johnson Business - Dyson

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:

  • Conduct research on land use policies, housing, and climate risks.
  • Prepare public-facing communications (e.g., policy briefs, case studies, memos, blogs).
  • Work with the team across geographies, as well as a diverse network of partners, coalitions, and organizations the team collaborates with to develop and advance strategies to foster growth of safe, affordable, and resilient housing.
  • Conduct literature review on one or more of the following to support the team in improving the understanding of market and policy drivers that determine the resilience of our housing from an economic, ecological, and equity perspective: housing markets, infrastructure, financing and funding options, policy gaps at local, state and federal levels, barriers and opportunities to expanding housing, the role of green infrastructure and incentives in housing policy.
  • Contribute to developing risk-informed frameworks for land use, preservation, and zoning to reduce critical infrastructure and housing in areas at risk of flooding while also increasing protected affordable housing in areas at lower risk and maximizing green infrastructure in areas at risk of rain-based flooding.
  • 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 and/or demonstrated interest in planning, political science, economics, environmental science, environmental justice, or social science preferred.
  • Coursework in climate change/adaptation or housing policy a plus.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
  • Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
  • Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due.
  • Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills.

Location: Hybrid out of Washington, DC, New York, NY, Raleigh, NC, with option to be U.S. Remote. Intern supervisor is in Washington, DC and many team members are in Washington, DC, New York and North Carolina. Eastern and Central working hours preferred. (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: -(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.