Schneider Summer Fellowships: Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) 2023
Summer 2023 Internships
Build Your Future with RMI!
Do you love solving dynamic problems, thinking in numbers and working in groups? Do you also have the self-motivation, curiosity, creativity and ability to persuade others toward meaningful results? Are you passionate about making the world a better place? If yes, then be an RMI intern this summer!
Individuals from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply!
Timeline:
Full consideration will be given to applications received by Tuesday, January 24th, 2023.
Note: The RMI application portal will not open until January 4th, 2023, so the Schneider Fellowship deadline has been extended just a bit for the RMI application only - applications for all other Schneider Fellowship opportunities are due by January 18th. Letters of recommendation are NOT required as part of the RMI application.
We will not start the application review process until January. Due to the large number of applications received, it may take 8 weeks from the time we start reviewing to receive a response. We are working diligently and appreciate your patience.
Internships are 12 weeks in duration with the option to start on May 16th, 2023, or June 20th, 2023.
If you have issues submitting your application or uploading your documents, please email jfootman@rmi.org. You will receive an email shortly after you apply confirming your application has been received - this can go to spam, so please be sure to check there if it is missing.
Program Internship Descriptions:
You will be asked to select one program for primary consideration, and one program for secondary consideration out of the following areas; however, your application will be generally considered for all open internship positions on this posting. Initiatives and preliminary projects listed are subject to change. We will have in-person, remote, and hybrid opportunities, as well as full (40 hours/week) and part-time (~20 hours/week) options depending on the role. We have opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. (Note: All Schneider Fellowship supported opportunities will be full-time)
Carbon-Free Buildings (40 hour/week opportunities)
- Building Electrification
Example of Intern Focus: Equity & partnerships, building decarbonization, research utility transition and appliance standards, policy analysis, geothermal heating, energy cost analysis, and more.
Location(s): Open to all US locations
- Portfolio Energy Optimization
Example of Intern Focus: Expand energy tool modeling software and support pilot projects, utilize computer programming skills.
Location(s): Boulder or remote
- Pathways to Zero
Example of Intern Focus: Research and analysis for embodied carbon and support the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative
Location(s): NY, Boulder, or remote
- REALIZE
Oakland or remote
Carbon-Free Electricity (40 hour/week opportunities)
Business Models & Regulatory Design, eLab: Electricity Innovation Lab, Managing the Coal
- Capital Transition
Example of Intern Focus: Transmission electrification impacts on the grid, global coal though leadership, financial modeling, in-country support, fossil fact base, demand response and more
Any US locations or remote in US time zones
Carbon-Free Mobility (40 hour/week opportunities)
Location(s) Colorado offices or possibly Oakland
China Program (Beijing office, full and part-time opportunities)
- Energy Transition for Harder-to-Abate Sectors
Example of Intern Focus: Support State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to accelerate Chinese State-Owned Enterprise's decarbonization actions & work with China Hydrogen Alliance to support China building 100GW green hydrogen capacity by 2030
- Power Team
Example of Intern Focus: Monitor and analyze the clean power related policy in China and global. Pay close attention to the EV-Grid integration market.
Subnational Decarbonization Demonstration
Example of Intern Focus: Decarbonize Supply Chain, clean heating, provincial carbon neutrality/transportation via research, analysis, & collaboration.
Climate-Aligned Industries (Full and part-time opportunities)
- Hydrogen
Example of Intern Focus: Green hydrogen for sector applications through supply chain analysis
US locations or remote in EU or similar time zones
- Aviation
Example of Intern Focus: Sustainable Aviation Fuel demand signal work
US locations or remote
Climate Finance Access Network (Full and part-time opportunities)
Example of Intern Focus: Research, literature reviews, and analysis, assist with workshops, social media management and strategy.
NY, Boulder, or remote options
Climate Intelligence (Full and part-time opportunities)
- Oil & Gas Solutions
OCI+ & Climate TRACE (data), Python & SQL coding experience required
Refining & Petrochemicals
Location(s): Boulder, NYC, or remote
- Supply Chains
Example of Intern Focus: Work alongside the Coalition on Materials Emissions Transparency to better define rules for eco label development in industrial supply chains.
Location(s): NY, CO, DC, Beijing location options
- Digitization
Example of Intern Focus: Work with partners in the Energy Web Foundation to design digital and distributed ledger systems to hold Greenhouse Gas information on assets and products in industrial supply chains.
Location(s): NY, CO, DC, Beijing location options
Energy Transition Academy (40 hour/week opportunities)
Example of Intern Focus: gather program learning resources, compile repository for templates, support creation of learning materials, assist in planning and strategy for climate leadership accelerator and events, partner with communications team.
DC, Boulder, or remote locations
Global Climate Finance (40 hour/week opportunities)
Center For Climate-Aligned Finance
Example of Intern Focus: Do research & analysis, write, practice finance, use Excel, PowerPoint, and present to support the Center.
Location(s): NY, DC, Boulder locations
Global South (Full and part-time opportunities)
- Africa Energy Program
Flexible/remote location
- Islands Energy Program
Example of Intern Focus: Caribbean Islands, mini-grids, & distributed clean energy increasing energy system resilience.
Flexible/remote location
India Program (40 hour/week opportunities)
- Passenger Mobility & Freight Transport
Example of Intern Focus: Communications & social media, research zero-emission trucks & financing instruments for electric vehicles
Location(s): Colorado offices or remote options
Strategic Analysis & Engagement Group (Full and part-time opportunities)
- Global Pathways or Ambition Accelerator
Example of Intern Focus: Collaborate with analysts, modelers, researchers, corporate sustainability representatives, and climate NGOs to develop and curate more accessible evidence and initiatives to support pathways for high-ambition emission reduction pathways.
Location(s): US offices preferred +/- 2 time zones from Mountain Time
- Portfolio Impact Accelerator
Example of Intern Focus: Corporate Engagement, Salesforce management, events support, corporate relationship research
Location(s): Any US location or remote
Third Derivative (Full and part-time opportunities)
Example of Intern Focus: Research, marketing, partner outreach strategy, impact storytelling operations & business development
Flexible/remote locations
Urban Transformation (40 hour/week opportunities)
American Cities Climate Challenge Renewables Accelerator, Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduction, Texas, India Cooling
Example of Intern Focus: Housing, land use, transportation, low-cost cooling strategies, model solar energy capacity of parking lots, statewide communication strategy for TX cities
Remote
US Program (40 hour/week opportunities)
- Beyond Carbon: State Ambition
Example of Intern Focus: Support states pass ambitious climate policy, developing policy solutions.
Location(s): DC, Boulder, or remote
- America Is All In
Example of Intern Focus: Support coalition coordination & engagement, analytical research, and/or subnational convenings
Location(s): NY, DC, or Boulder
- Analysis
Example of Intern Focus: Support states access federal resources, simulate energy policy development, analyze jobs and equity for State Ambition - use your Python & Tableau skills
Location(s): NY, DC, Boulder
- Federal Policy
Example of Intern Focus: Use separate posting to apply for Operations internships: Communications, Information Technology, and Program Services
Location(s): DC
Minimum Qualifications
- You should be pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree in a related field and have basic knowledge of one or more of the teams’ focus areas—energy efficiency; renewable energy; demand-side management; building science and energy modeling; efficient and low carbon light duty cars and truck design; or transportation logistics.
- Where applicable, you should be comfortable working with, or reporting on, numerical analysis and spreadsheet modeling, research and reporting.
- Clear writing, communication and presentation skills.
General Qualifications
- Intense curiosity
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
- Willingness to plunge into unfamiliar disciplines
- Creativity and willingness to take risks by exploring and testing new ideas
- Passion for making the world better
Location
Interns can choose any of our US offices or remote work in most cases. All interns must work in the US during the internship program and be able to get valid work authorization prior to the start date. There could also be opportunity to be an intern for RMI China and be in our China office if you have Chinese work authorization.
Office locations: New York City, New York; Washington, D.C.; Oakland, California; Boulder or Basalt, Colorado; Beijing, China
Important Note: As a U.S. federal contractor, RMI must comply with requirements outlined Executive Order Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This Executive Order requires that all federal contractors and subcontractors mandate and verify that all U.S. based employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are based in the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of full vaccination status as a condition of employment. You may request an accommodation for medical or religious reasons. If you are based outside of the U.S., this requirement does not apply.
Applications
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Be sure to answer why you are considering RMI for an internship in this document.
Apply here AND online via RMI: https://rockymountain.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/RMI/job/XMLNAME-2023-Summer-Internship_R-100003
Diversity
- Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.
- We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, socioeconomic class, educational attainment or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization, ensuring that we:
- Have the different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
- Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported and valued.
- Effectively connect, communicate and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders and constituents within diverse communities.
RMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
About RMI
RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut GHG emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.
Apply here AND online via RMI: https://rmi.org/about/careers/internships/
Note: The RMI application portal will not open until January 5th, 2023, but you can find more information and sign up to be notified at this link: https://rmi.synchr-recruit.com/job/520183/summer-2023-internships
Eligibility:
For complete eligibility requirements, please review our program policies in its entirety.
Undergraduates and graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities.
Requirements:
Selected Fellows are expected to begin service by June 19, 2023 for a summer fellowship. All fellows are required to work with their community partners full-time for twelve consecutive weeks at their placements. Please review the complete program policies for additional requirements. Other commitments include the following:
Quarter before fellowship
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Attend Schneider Fellows cohort session(s)
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with site supervisor and academic mentor.
During fellowship
- Submit a brief preliminary report.
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Quarter after fellowship
- Attend a de-briefing meeting for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating fellowship experiences.
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
Selection Process:
For those who seek assistance, advising is available at the Haas Center to help students develop their applications.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate
- an integration of the fellowship experience with applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
- prior demonstrated interest or involvement in the subject area, including related coursework
- a compelling match between applicant’s skills and interests and an organization’s work and needs
- strong potential for the fellowship experience to enlarge a candidate’s understanding of an identified community issue or challenge
Complete applications are screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by our partner organizations with the intention to award fellowships within six weeks of the application deadline. Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
