Schneider Summer Fellowships: US Green Building Council (USGBC) - Summer 2024
Through the Schneider Fellows program, Stanford students work at leading U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the sustainable energy field. Schneider Summer Fellows spend a summer quarter tackling the world’s economic, environmental, social, and technical challenges associated with harnessing energy resources to deliver energy services.
Fellows receive a stipend of $10,000 for a 12-week summer fellowship. In addition, additional funding of up to $1500 is available for fellowship-related travel.
Description of Organization
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a global, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., working to improve human health, sustainability, and resilience in the built environment through its programs and standards including LEED, the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Today, people in over 150 countries and territories live, work and learn in LEED certified buildings, communities and cities that protect health, climate and natural resources and enhance quality of life.
USGBC has three Schneider Fellowship positions available for summer 2024.
Description of Fellowship #1 - Innovation and Research Fellow (1 position available)
In the past few years, expectations on indoor air quality (IAQ) have increased, driven by new risks brought on by climate change and public health emergencies, and increased public awareness and media attention. Simultaneously, the building industry’s capabilities for real-time performance monitoring and “big data” management and analysis have grown; but there is a gap between the state of technology readiness and on-the-ground practice for IAQ performance measurement.
The market trend toward real-time, operational monitoring of IAQ performance in buildings is reflected in the evolution of the LEED green building certification program (and in the development of GBCI’s Arc platform, which collects, manages, and scores building performance data). However, we hypothesize that most LEED projects that conduct IAQ testing continue to use traditional, laboratory-based methods; and that the use of continuous monitoring sensors remains nascent due to confidence gaps among building owners and operators when it comes to implementing and applying the emerging technology.
For this project, the Fellow will work closely with the Research and Technical Development teams at USGBC to analyze and synthesize the state of capability and practice with respect to air testing and monitoring. This will be accomplished through one or more of the following tasks:
Identify the priority air contaminants addressed in most green building certifications and summarize the range of air testing and monitoring methods used for each.
Compile a list of providers performing air quality testing for LEED projects and identify new potential air quality testers.
Review LEED certification data to determine air testing methods currently used by LEED project teams and interview laboratories and service providers to understand method preferences.
Considering continuous monitoring IAQ sensors:
If feasible: Develop and apply a methodology to quantify the extent of monitoring currently underway in buildings, by market segment.
Review the scientific literature to evaluate the state of knowledge to inform sensor selection, placement and distribution, measurement frequency and duration, and/or calibration and maintenance.
Synthesize findings in the form of information sheets, FAQs, infographics (preferred), and/or a training module for air quality testers.
Desired skills, experience, and qualities of the fellow
- Enjoys working with a dynamic team of change-makers in a fast-paced environment.
- Confidence when responding to and prioritizing multiple requests from external experts and senior managers.
- Superior verbal and written communication skills; able to produce brief, clear, and persuasive written communications.
- Familiarity with green building generally or the LEED rating system specifically; LEED Green Associate credential preferred (but not required).
- Commitment to USGBC mission.
- Research, presentation, visualization, and Microsoft Excel skills.
Work Arrangement
Flexible, depending on fellow's preference. The Haas Center highly encourages hybrid work. Office is located in Washington, D.C.
Fellowship Start Date
June 17, 2024
Description of Fellowship #2 - LEED Technical Development Fellow (2 positions available)
What you’ll be doing
Leveraging excellent communication and project management skills as well as a passion for green building, this position reports to the LEED Technical Development Team. This Intern collects, analyzes, synthesizes, and presents data and research related to innovative green building strategies to support technical development of the LEED rating systems. The Intern will work with bright, motivated LEED Technical Development staff and experts to create presentations and reports for internal teams and external USGBC clients. The Fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed green building professionals on diverse projects with the ultimate goal of continuous, sustainable market transformation.
Program support (technical development)
- Research new market sectors and industries to help inform new LEED offerings, such as new design methods, best management practices, building performance monitoring strategies, or carbon accounting technology.
- Develop and execute independent research projects to support technical development of various topics addressed in the LEED credit categories, e.g., innovative building design policies and performance metrics, climate impacts on buildings and material supply chains, equitable design, decarbonization, resilience to natural hazards, healthy indoor environments, and more.
- Support rating system development by managing credit category research projects related to the reference guide, education, documentation, pilot credits, etc.
- Support LEED system goal development and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals and other global frameworks.
- Serve as support for the LEED SMEs by researching and analyzing performance data relevant to the future development of LEED.
- Examine the integration of resilience, health and wellness, and social equity in LEED.
- Audit pilot credit survey response data and analyze credit uptake to identify opportunities for further development.
Desired skills, experience, and qualities of the fellows
- Enjoys working with a dynamic team of change-makers in a fast-paced environment.
- Confidence when responding to and prioritizing multiple requests from external experts and senior managers.
- Superior verbal and written communication skills; able to produce brief, clear, and persuasive written communications.
- Familiarity with green building generally or the LEED rating system specifically; LEED Green Associate credential preferred (but not required).
- Commitment to USGBC mission.
- Research, presentation, visualization, and Microsoft Excel skills.
Work Arrangement
Flexible, depending on fellow's preference. The Haas Center highly encourages hybrid work. Office is located in Washington, D.C.
Fellowship Start Date
June 17, 2024
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 24, 2024 for a summer fellowship. All fellows are required to work with their community partners full-time (35-40 hours) for twelve consecutive weeks at their placements. Other commitments include the following:
Quarter before fellowship
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Attend Schneider Fellows cohort session(s)
- Identify and meet with an academic mentor at least once.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with site supervisor and academic mentor.
- Complete all required pre-orientation forms.
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
- Meet with academic mentor at least once.
- 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 deepen 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.