[Hiring] Climate & Health Intern @Environmental Defense Fund

Role Description

EDF internships provide high-quality experiences (including relevant projects and opportunities for networking) that form the foundation for any individual who is serious about pursuing an environmental career.

• Location: U.S. Remote with option to be hybrid out of EDF’s office in New York.
• Intern supervisor is in Houston, Texas.
• Term: Fall 2026, Part-time (10 hr/week)
• Compensation: This internship would involve compensation through CUNY Brooklyn College’s Urban Sustainability Program at $20/hr.
• Application Materials: Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application.

The Healthy Communities team in Houston, TX supports community-based organizations as they work on community-centered projects and solutions ranging from:

• Community-led monitoring of criteria and hazardous air pollutants.
• Addressing blind spots in community exposures by collectively quantifying and mapping air toxics in residential neighborhoods and near permitted facilities in Harris County.
• Analyzing, visualizing, and sharing data with the public, local and state governments, community-led disaster planners, policymakers, and regulators.
• Building geospatial screening and mapping tools to examine cumulative vulnerability at the neighborhood level.

Overall Function: The intern will contribute to EDF’s work in updating the US Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) developed by EDF in partnership with Texas A&M University. Key responsibilities include:

• Assessing the current state of the existing 185 indicators and cataloging any changes.
• Assessing new indicators and tool updates that are needed.
• Supporting research on emerging issue areas to reduce community exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Reporting to the Senior Health Scientist and working closely with other members of the Healthy Communities team.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in CUNY Brooklyn College’s Urban Sustainability Program.
• Enrolled in a degree program with coursework or demonstrated interest in climate, environment, air quality, water quality, public health, data analysis or evaluation, or climate and environmental justice.
• Experience using R, Python, GIS mapping, and statistical analysis is a plus.
• Experience using Canva and Microsoft Office preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team setting and independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency, and inclusivity.
• Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills.

Company Description