California Council on Science and Technology Internship, Summer 2026
Every summer, The Bill Lane Center for the American West offers many opportunities for Stanford undergraduates (including graduating seniors and co-terms) to work with organizations throughout the West. Through these internships, students can explore careers in natural history, conservation, land use, museum curation, resource management, energy and more.
All internships are full-time for nine to ten weeks during the summer. They are fully funded by the Lane Center with stipends ranging from $7,500 to $10,000.
The Lane Center has placed hundreds of interns in positions across the West since 2005. It has developed strong relationships with host organizations and works hard to ensure interns have successful and enriching experiences.
For more information about the internship program, please visit the FAQs page, or email Education Manager Corinne Thomas.
Details about previous summer student interns and their placements can be found here.
Student reflections about the internship experience can be found by visiting the Out West student blog and the Lane Center Instagram channel.
Stipend Information:
The Bill Lane Center will provide a base stipend of $7,500 with additional funding for student financial aid and location, if applicable, up to $10,000. The stipend is provided to cover living expenses and, if applicable, part of the summer earnings expectation of the Office of Financial Aid.
The stipend is not intended to be, and is not, a paid, hourly wage. An internship is an educational and experiential learning opportunity intended for the student to apply their academics and gain real-world experience.
Description of California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) and the Internship:
California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Mission: To enhance California's global leadership in science and technology by engaging leading experts to advise State policymakers, ensuring that policy is strengthened by scientific knowledge and innovation. Our purpose is to help guide our State, our Nation, and the world towards a healthy economy, society, and environment.
Interns are regularly asked to assist with policy engagement by helping prepare for meetings with legislative members, staff, and executive branch policymakers. Support includes creating one-pagers on members’ backgrounds and organizing outreach packets to ensure effective preparation and communication for these
meetings. Additionally, provide essential administrative and programmatic assistance to the Director of Science and the team's Science Officers. The role is integral to the team's operations, helping to support the delivery of CCST's core science advisory services, which include providing independent, evidence-informed advice and reports to state policymakers.
Internship Work Environment:
This is a hybrid internship; Work is primarily conducted in an indoor/office setting. Interns are expected to report to the office in-person on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Interns are expected to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays.
Pending on their assignments, interns will be working in teams or independently or directly with their supervisor/mentor.
Two persons serve as the intern’s supervisor – Puneet Bhullar, Director of Policy Engagement, and Eric Chu, Director of Science. The intern, however, reports daily to Perry Gee, Program Officer for Alumni Engagement, who serves as their mentor.
In cases where the intern would work with the Science Services team, they would conduct crucial background research and literature reviews for science policy topics being evaluated by the team. They could also provide programmatic support, such as helping to prepare materials for expert briefings, summarizing technical documents, or assisting with the coordination of stakeholder meetings.
The intern may work with one or two other interns.
Day-to-Day Work:
Interns are likely to spend a significant portion of their day assisting Program Officers and Associates with active projects. This could involve:
- Research & Analysis - Conducting literature reviews on policy-relevant scientific topics (like extreme fire management, water resources, or AI policy) and summarizing key findings for the team.
- Logistical Support - Helping to organize expert briefings or workshops for legislative staff, which includes tasks like drafting invitation lists, preparing meeting materials, and taking detailed notes during the events.
- Content Preparation - Assisting in proofreading and formatting policy briefs, one-page summaries, and presentation slides to ensure they are clear, accurate, and ready for a policymaker audience.
- Team Collaboration - Participating in team meetings to observe how projects are developed, how the team responds to legislative requests, and how scientific evidence is translated into actionable policy advice.
Anticipated Tasks (as listed below) include:
- Complete a one-pager synthesizing key information about a policy-relevant scientific topic;
- Conduct research and collect information to support Science Services projects including (but not limited to) artificial intelligence, disaster resilience, and clean energy;
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Identify and provide background about key California leaders and philanthropic foundations focused on artificial intelligence, disaster resilience, and clean
energy. Then, create a short summary of CCST's recent work and experts to support our outreach efforts to both groups; - Assist with Science Services events including webinars, virtual expert briefings, and in-person convenings;
- Engage with members of CCST’s Science and Technology Policy Fellowship alumni to learn of their journey from academics to policy. This is an exercise to help develop their professional network; and
- Complete a capstone web article summarizing their experience as an intern with CCST.
Housing:
There is no housing provided. However, CCST can offer referrals to already-vetted housing resources or opportunities for subleasing with alumni of our Sacramento-based Science and Technology Fellowship.
Transportation:
Access to a personal car is not necessary for this internship position. There are several housing options in the downtown Sacramento area where an intern can live comfortably. There are many shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment to choose from. The public bus/light rail system is reliable as well as car
cervices like Uber and Lyft. Some of our staff bike or scooter to get around as well.
Location: Sacremento, California. The CCST office is in downtown Sacramento at 1100 11th Street, 5th Floor.
- Complete a one-pager synthesizing key information about a policy-relevant scientific topic;
- Conduct research and collect information to support Science Services projects including (but not limited to) artificial intelligence, disaster resilience, and clean energy;
- Identify and provide background about key California leaders and philanthropic foundations focused on artificial intelligence, disaster resilience, and clean energy. Then, create a short summary of CCST's recent work and experts to support our outreach efforts to both groups;
- Assist with Science Services events including webinars, virtual expert briefings, and in- person convenings;
- Engage with members of CCST’s Science and Technology Policy Fellowship alumni to learn of their journey from academics to policy. This is an exercise to help develop their professional network; Also, complete a capstone web article summarizing their experience as an intern with CCST.
Bill Lane Center internships are part of Cardinal Quarter opportunities and students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. The opportunities are full-time (40 hours a week) for 9-10 consecutive weeks during the summer.
Specific start and end dates during the summer can be coordinated directly with the supervisor.
All undergraduates of any year, including graduating seniors, are eligible. Graduating seniors are eligible only if they are graduating in spring quarter. Students who have already graduated, e.g., fall or winter quarter of this academic year are not eligible.
Preference is given to students who have not previously been awarded a Bill Lane Center West internship and to students who will be enrolled the following fall quarter.
For more application advice, please visit the BLC’s FAQs page.
Please note:
- Students are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, job, or volunteer opportunity (whether funded by Stanford or otherwise) during this full-time, summer internship.
- Student athletes should confirm the impact of any awarded stipend on their athletic eligibility by contacting the Compliance Services Office prior to committing to an internship.
- Stipend Policy per the U.S. Department of Education: A stipend is considered a resource and it may have an impact on a student’s financial aid. To comply with US Department of Education regulations, student payments, awards, prizes, and gifts that are made available to the student because they are a Stanford student, must be reported to the Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid Office is responsible for the disbursement of stipend funds to undergraduates. For more information, please visit the Financial Aid Office's webpage about the student stipend policy.
Application Guidelines for this Internship:
Preference is given to students who have completed at least three years of undergraduate study.
There is no major requirement, but majoring in the following can be beneficial:
- Public Policy
- Political Science
- Economics
- Sociology
- Public Administration
- Environmental Studies
Required Skills:
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The ability to conduct research on complex scientific topics and then synthesize the most important findings.
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Must be able to translate technical and academic research into clear, concise, and neutral language that is easy for a non-expert, policymaker audience to understand.
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Because interns are likely supporting multiple projects and team members at once, the ability to manage competing tasks, track deadlines, and assist with the logistics of meetings or briefings is essential.
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Demonstrating adaptability and eagerness to learn is a major asset when working with team members and individual supervisors/mentors.
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Because much of our work is team-based, taking direction well, communicating clearly with the team (or individuals), and maintaining a professional and non-partisan demeanor is key to one’s success.
Preferred Skills:
- Good with Computers - Knowing your way around common programs like Microsoft Word (for writing), Excel (for lists/spreadsheets), PowerPoint (for slideshows), and virtual meeting software such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
- Good at Online Research - Being able to find trustworthy information, reports, and articles online (like using Google Scholar, not just regular Google).
- Clear Note-Taking - Being able to listen in a meeting and write down the main ideas and any tasks that need to be done.
- Clear and Concise Communication - Must be able to clearly understand assignments, accurately synthesize research, and articulate their findings. Also, they should be confident to ask questions. Clear communication builds trust and accountability, allowing teams and individuals to work together efficiently.
Selection of applicants:
Complete applications are screened by Lane Center staff and the top candidates are contacted for a first-round interview with staff from The Bill Lane Center for the American West.
Preference is given to students who have not previously been awarded a Bill Lane Center West internship and to students who will be enrolled the following fall quarter.
After the first-round interviews, top candidates for the position are then selected by a Lane Center committee to be forwarded to the host organization for consideration and possible second-round interviews with their potential supervisors and other staff.
After consideration, host organizations will notify the Lane Center of their preferred candidate and that applicant will receive an internship offer from Bill Lane Center staff by email.
The applicant is expected to respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to the offer or the offer will be rescinded and another candidate may receive the offer.
Once an applicant accepts the offer, they should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied and withdraw their candidacy from those other opportunities.
Applicants not selected will be notified by Lane Center staff as soon as possible.
