Water Scarcity Internship, Public Policy Institute of California
Organization: Public Policy Institute of California
Position Title: Water Scarcity Intern
Location: San Francisco or Sacramento, California
Dates and compensation: This summer internship is located in PPIC’s San Francisco office. Compensation is $17.50 per hour. This fulltime internship will last up to three months, ideally beginning June 1, 2015.
Application Deadline: March 8, 2015
Description: This internship program provides an opportunity for students interested in a public policy career to work in a policy research environment. This internship is funded by the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. Intern projects are proposed by PPIC researchers and designed around a specific set of tasks and deliverables that can be accomplished within the term of the internship.
Responsibilities: The internship would focus on the initial stages of the project. In particular, the intern would work with the research team on gathering qualitative and quantitative data relating to drought management, at the local, state, and federal level. This would include working with large datasets as well as participation in interviews and workshops with relevant stakeholders and decision makers. The intern will also prepare and conduct a presentation summarizing this work to PPIC staff in San Francisco.
Qualifications: The intern for this project should have:
* Familiarity with California water science and policy
* Strong computer and analytical skills
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills
* Interest in environmental science and policy
* Graduate training in a field related to ecology or environmental policy a plus
PPIC values the wide variety of backgrounds and experiences of our research staff, and key elements in the consideration of qualified candidates include excellence; diversity of talents, backgrounds, and viewpoints; and a strong fit with the institute’s mission, values, and goals.
The Research Environment: Interns are offered the opportunity to participate in the collegial atmosphere of PPIC through daily interaction with all aspects of the institution. They are invited to join the research staff in their regular meetings and to attend PPIC’s outside events, including the institute’s public affairs programs and research briefings. PPIC offers access to the Institute of Governmental Sciences library at the University of California, Berkeley, allowing interns to work with many important databases, journals, and statistical datasets. The intern program also includes a Sacramento orientation, with a tour of the state capitol and a discussion of California state policy by PPIC’s government affairs staff.
Each intern’s project will include an initial meeting with research staff, evaluation and feedback at the beginning, midpoint and end of the project, and a briefing by the intern on the goals, findings, and significance of the project. Interns are encouraged to discuss their work throughout the course of the project, to meet with research staff to discuss careers in research, and to meet with communications staff to learn about outreach and building an audience of policymakers.
How to Apply: In addition to filling out this application, copy and paste a cover letter highlighting the particular skills you bring to the project and describing how this internship would contribute to your career development, and attach your resume including grade point average and references. The resume attachment can be in either MS Word or PDF format. Apply online at the employment opportunities webpage.
