2026 Environment and Policy Internships (EPIC): California Air Resources Board, Office of Community Air Protection (OCAP)
Job Title: Community Air Protection Policy Intern
Department/Team: Office of Community Air Protection at the California Air Resources Board
Location: The position will be hybrid. CARB has offices in Riverside and Sacramento, CA. Remote option may be available at the manager’s discretion.
Duration: 35-40 hours per week for ten weeks over the summer
Reports to: Malinda Dumisani (State Strategy Manager & Community Air Grants Program Manager, OCAP), Eloy Florez (Air Pollution Specialist, OCAP), and Trish Johnson (Air Pollution Specialist, OCAP)
Areas of Interest: Environmental justice, sustainable development, community engagement, climate policy, air quality
About the California Air Resources Board:
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is an entity under the California Environmental Protection Agency. Established in 1967, CARB's mission is to reduce air pollution and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources. CARB develops and enforces regulations to achieve and maintain healthy air quality, reduce exposure to toxic air contaminants, and promote innovative approaches to comply with air pollution rules.
About the Office of Community Air Protection:
In 2017, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 617, which helped propel CARB to establish the "first-of-its-kind" Office of Community Air Protection Program (OCAP), whose focus is to reduce exposure in communities most impacted by air pollution through monitoring plans and emission reductions programs at the community level. Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Stats. 2017, Ch. 136) requires the Board to "adopt a statewide strategy to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden." [Health and Safety Code § 44391.2(b)].
OCAP works closely with communities, air districts, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies for measuring air pollution and reducing its health impacts. This includes community air monitoring, emissions reduction programs, and deploying cleaner technologies in affected areas.
Position Description/Scope of Work:
This internship is designed for Stanford University undergraduate students interested in community air protection (air quality at the community-level) policy, environmental justice, and community-centered innovation. The intern will contribute to the development and evaluation of air quality strategies that support equitable climate and public health outcomes in California’s communities most impacted by air pollution.
Interns in CARB's OCAP will work on various projects that focus on working with environmental justice communities and California Tribes throughout the state to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants. Interns will have a hands-on opportunity to learn about state government processes, policy development and implementation, and community and air district partnerships in a fast-paced environment. The interns will gain skills in policy research and writing, analyzing community program benefits and impacts, conducting community engagement and outreach, fostering local government partnerships, interagency coordination, and providing information regarding program grants and incentives.
This role provides valuable opportunities for helping with data analysis, community outreach, and policy implementation within California's most impacted communities. The intern will gain exposure to the agency's operations and contribute to critical environmental initiatives.
List of Potential Projects:
The intern will be able to work alongside staff, addressing community concerns by listening to community concerns, analyzing data, developing outreach materials, and meeting and working with other divisions, agencies, and community organizations. Students will also create a capstone project to be presented to the division at the end of their term.
Example Intern Projects:
- Conduct policy research and analysis on community emissions reduction programs and air monitoring strategies.
- Support the Community Air Grants Program, including reviewing grant proposals, tracking project outcomes, and assisting with program evaluation. Meet and talk with Community Air Grantees to learn about their innovative, community-focused projects to improve air quality.
- Coordinate meetings of the Community Air Protection Consultation Group, a statewide advisory body composed of community leaders, air districts, local government, and other stakeholders.
- Support stakeholder engagement efforts (e.g., community leaders, business and industry representatives, academia, and local government representatives), including preparing materials for community meetings and public workshops.
- Analyze environmental and demographic data to inform program design and evaluation.
- Draft memos, presentations, and policy briefs for internal and external audiences.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across CARB and partner agencies.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain hands-on experience in state-level environmental policymaking.
- Learn how grantmaking and advisory bodies support equitable air quality improvements.
- Deepen understanding of how community engagement shapes air quality and climate strategies.
- Build skills in policy analysis, stakeholder communication, and program evaluation.
- Network with professionals in environmental justice, public health, and regulatory policy.
Desired Skills/Qualifications:
Ideal candidates have a demonstrated interest in environmental justice, air quality, or climate policy; are self-driven and independently motivated; can balance multiple projects at once and meet numerous deadlines; are highly professional and responsible; are comfortable working in a collaborative, cross-sectoral environment; have strong verbal and written communication as well as analytical and organizational skills; and demonstrate a strong interest in one or more of the subject matters that CARB and OCAP cover. Please see the CARB website for more information on the areas of work.
Desirable Qualifications: Understanding of environmental justice and California's Assembly Bill 617. Experience with MS Office suite, Adobe, graphic design/web design/multimedia skills and communications/outreach skills. Degree focus in Public Policy, Environmental Science, Engineering, Urban Studies, Law, or related fields. Bilingual is a plus.
Logistics:
- EPIC fellows are required to work full-time (35-40 hours per week) for 10 weeks over the summer, and will receive a stipend of $8,000 - $9,500, depending on financial need. This stipend is intended to help cover living and transportation expenses during the fellowship, which the student is expected to arrange and coordinate.
- Preferred start date is in mid-June 2026 (exact date to be agreed upon by you and the supervisor).
2025 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Melanie Robles
2024 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Sara Hernandez
2023 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Miriam Awan
Eligibility
Stanford undergraduates from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Learn more about our previous EPIC cohorts! Students must be enrolled for winter and spring quarters of this year and be in good academic standing to be eligible for a fellowship. Students may not be serving a suspension and may not be on a Leave of Absence (LOA).
Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Co-terms are eligible; Graduating seniors cannot apply for the February deadline, and are ineligible for additional financial aid beyond the base stipend. Graduating seniors may apply if there is a Round 2 deadline in the spring quarter. All students, including co-term students, must be in the undergraduate billing group in spring quarter (this is important!). Student athletes should confirm the impact of any awarded stipend on their athletic eligibility by contacting the Compliance Services Office prior to submitting their application. Please refer to the Haas Center for Public Service's website for additional Cardinal Quarter Undergraduate Fellowship Program Policies and Requirements.
Note: students are only eligible for one Stanford-funded full-time experiential learning opportunity during the summer, and are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, job, coursework, or volunteer opportunity. Students are responsible for arranging and paying for their own housing and transportation during the fellowship.
Requirements
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Spring Quarter:
- Commit to working full-time (35-40 hours week) for 10 consecutive weeks
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Complete an online program orientation through the Haas Center for Public Service
- This will include designing a personal learning plan that you will share with your site supervisor and academic mentor
- Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service in-person workshop or worksheet
- If you are working internationally, complete the International Academy Canvas course, and participate in pre-departure orientation with Stanford Global Risk
- Meet with your assigned Stanford academic mentor at least once prior to the start of the fellowship (more check-ins during and after your experience are encouraged)
- Attend EPIC cohort building events and activities in spring quarter, as your schedule allows
- Complete and submit all required forms and paperwork
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Summer Quarter:
- Engage in your full-time fellowship (starting no later than July 6, 2026; exact start date to be determined with your site supervisor)
- Attend EPIC cohort building events and activities in the summer, as your schedule allows
- Submit a mid-summer evaluation
- Submit a final project report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with donor(s) as requested by program staff
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Fall Quarter:
- Debrief with your academic mentor at least once
- Attend a de-briefing meeting for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating summer experiences
- Participate in outreach activities to share your experiences and help publicize the program
*Failure to complete any of the requirements may result in the student's stipend being rescinded in part or in full.
Fundamental Standard
Violations of Undergraduate Fellowships program policies are violations of the Fundamental Standard and may be referred to the Office of Community Standards. Students who fail to abide by the policies set forth by the Undergraduate Fellowships Program, the Haas Center for Public Service, and Stanford University will have low/no priority for future Haas Center funding opportunities and programs. The Haas Center reserves the right to rescind funding at any given point and time should they be apprised of any policy violations as outlined above.
More information about this fellowship opportunity is available through Cardinal Quarter. This program is one of more than 500 Cardinal Quarter opportunities through which Stanford students pursue a full-time summer or quarter-long public service experience with Stanford support. Check out Stanford University's Cardinal Service site.
