United States of America (Stanford off-campus)

2026 Environment and Policy Internships (EPIC): California Ocean Protection Council (OPC)

About the California Ocean Protection Council:

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) works to ensure healthy, resilient, productive coastal and ocean ecosystems in California for current and future generations. We achieve this by advancing innovative, science-based policy and management, making strategic investments, and catalyzing action through partnerships and collaboration. OPC’s priorities include: safeguarding coastal and marine ecosystems and communities in the face of climate change; advancing equity across ocean and coastal policies and actions; enhancing coastal and marine biodiversity; and improving ocean health through a blue economy.

OPC is a Cabinet-level state policy body within the California Natural Resources Agency, with the role of advancing the Governor’s priorities for coastal and ocean policy and works broadly to protect the coast and ocean in California. The seven-member Council is chaired by the Secretary for Natural Resources and includes the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Chair of the State Lands Commission, two public members, and two members of the Legislature. OPC is led by an Executive Director who also serves as the Deputy Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Policy for the California Natural Resources Agency.

About the Team:

OPC’s programmatic work is supported by two teams: (1) the Climate Change program, which seeks to prepare for and reduce harmful impacts of climate change on ocean and coastal resources by encouraging adaptation and understanding of climate change and engaging decision makers at all levels of government, and (2) the Biodiversity program, which works to enhance the diversity and health of California’s coastal and marine ecosystems, restore and protect threatened habitats, and support sustainable fishing through science-based, collaborative management.

The EPIC Summer Fellow has the opportunity to work primarily within one of these two teams with the opportunity to support or lead projects that cut across both programs.

Position Description/Scope of Work:

Fellows have the opportunity to support discrete programs and issue areas that align with their interests, related to climate change, biodiversity, tribal and community engagement, and/or public communications. This includes working with state, federal, and external partners on innovative research and/or information needs, providing research to inform grants and projects that advance OPC's 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, and advancing discrete projects in response to the Governor's priorities, including but not limited to conserving 30 percent of the state's lands and waters by 2030 (30x30) or other emerging topics
Influence policy and lead collaborations that cascade across the California Natural Resource Agency and relevant state agencies
Participate in cross-cutting state, regional, and/or international initiatives
Work with dedicated, passionate staff
Obtain experience working at the intersection of science, policy, and management

List of Potential Projects:

Specific examples of the types of projects a summer intern may work on include:

Advancing priorities in OPC’s 2026 – 2030 Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for All Californians related to climate change, equity, biodiversity, and the sustainable blue economy.
Contributing to staff reports, recommendations, presentations, and other products.
Conducting research to support the development of future grant solicitations, implementation of current initiatives, or inform future projects.
Monitoring and analyzing state and federal legislation affecting ocean and coastal policy.
Facilitating working group meetings on a discrete topic.

Past Intern Projects (non-exhaustive):

Facilitated the development of the 2022 and 2023 State of the Coast and Ocean Reports
Researched to support the development of the Statewide Microplastics Strategy to address the threat of microplastics on coastal and ocean ecosystems
Completed white paper on land-based nutrient pollution effects on the coastal environment, including ocean acidification, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms
Drafted Policy Resolution on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH), see the final adopted Resolution here
Co-led the development of a Community Science Strategy and Human Dimensions Research and Monitoring Agenda for California’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Network
Evaluated emerging science to inform the adaptive management of California’s Marine Protected Area Network

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
Ability to think critically and develop innovative ideas.
Ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
Ability to understand and translate science for diverse audiences.
Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.

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.
Start and end dates are flexible (start date no later than July 6, 2026).

2025 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Anne Larson
2024 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Anushka Vijay
2023 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Audrey Jung
2022 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Emily Zhao
2021 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Molly Glickman
2020 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Benek Robertson
2019 Stanford EPIC Fellow: Jacqui Vogel

Eligibility and Requirements:

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

Spring Quarter:
- Commit to working full-time (35-40 hours week) for 10 consecutive weeks
- 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
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
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.

Amount

$8,000 – $9,500

Additional resources:

OPC_2026 Internship Description.pdf

Learn More About This Opportunity >

Opportunity Type:

Internship

Public Service

Cardinal Service

Contact:

Jen Chiu

Email: jchiu24@stanford.edu