Summer 2024 Environmental Health Intern

Overview

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.

NRDC is seeking a Summer 2024 intern to work with the People & Communities Toxics team associated with our San Francisco or DC office.

Position Summary

NRDC is seeking an Environmental Health Intern to work with the Toxics team.

The NRDC Toxics’ staff of scientists, attorneys and policy advocates works on a variety of projects related to human health, food, and the environment. Some of our current priorities include reducing exposure to toxic chemicals in consumer products and food; eliminating exposure to the most toxic pesticides; and improving drinking water quality. We will have a variety of potential summer projects related to these issues and others, and we seek to tailor the summer internship experience to topics that are of mutual interest to us and the student.

We are looking for a student who is interested in learning about the scientific side of environmental activism, and who is flexible and excited about participating in a variety of projects with an interdisciplinary team. The internship generally includes a combination of literature reviews, data analysis, and production of written materials summarizing scientific information in technical or lay language. The intern generally has the opportunity to participate in lobbying in Sacramento or DC, regulatory hearings, press events, community meetings, and field investigations. 

The summer project will be tailored to the intern’s interests and abilities and may include one of the following issue areas:

· Drinking Water: Research and analysis of drinking water contaminants with a focus on PFAS chemicals. 

· Plastics: Research and analysis of the health threats from the production, use, and destruction of problematic plastics and building materials to support legislation in California.

· Toxics in Products: Assist with research on toxic chemicals in consumer products and building materials to support petitions, campaigns, and/or legislation (i.e. flame retardants, phthalates, PFAS etc.). 

· Chemical Policy: Research on policy issues and priority chemicals related to state and federal programs.

Responsibilities

• Literature reviews
• Data analysis
• Production of written materials summarizing scientific information in technical or lay language
• Possible participation in lobbying, regulatory hearings, press events, community meetings, field investigations

Qualifications

Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.

• Interest in and some familiarity with advocacy, environmental health, health education, policy, and research.
• Flexible, engaged, and works well with an interdisciplinary team.
• Currently enrolled in Graduate program in public health, environmental health, or environmental science.

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 $10,000 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.