Environmental Internships in Washington, D.C.: A Guide to Opportunities
Washington, D.C., a hub for policy, research, and environmental advocacy, offers a variety of internship opportunities for students and recent graduates interested in making a difference. These internships span various fields, from environmental protection and research to legal and policy work. This article provides a comprehensive overview of environmental internships available in Washington, D.C., highlighting key programs and organizations.
Federal Government Internships
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a limited number of unpaid internships in its Office of Water (OW) in Washington, D.C. This internship is designed for full-time undergraduate or graduate students who are U.S. citizens and have a demonstrated interest in water- or public-health related fields, including sustainability and resilience.
Office of Water (OW)
The Office of Water operates under statutory authorities such as the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Its activities aim to prevent pollution and reduce risks to both people and aquatic ecosystems.
Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water (OGWDW)
The Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water works with states, tribes, and partners to protect public health by ensuring safe drinking water and the protection of groundwater.
Internship Details
- Duration: Minimum of 12 weeks
- Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours per week)
- Compensation: Unpaid, but eligible to apply for a transit subsidy
- Location: In-person at EPA HQ in Washington, D.C. (Remote opportunities are not available.)
- Application: Accepted on a rolling basis, with most projects arising during the Summer Semester. It is recommended to submit applications at least 2 months before each semester begins. The EPA works with individual candidates to specify exact timing and duration as necessary.
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution offers internships through its Environmental Research Center (SERC) and Office of General Counsel (OGC).
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Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)
SERC provides science-based knowledge to meet the environmental challenges of the 21st century. Internships at SERC offer opportunities to engage in research and contribute to environmental solutions.
Office of General Counsel (OGC)
Legal interns in the OGC work closely with attorneys on diverse topics such as tax, employment discrimination, ethics, imports/exports, federal appropriations, intellectual property, and environmental law.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)
The STRI General Internship Program provides a place for internship applicants who are generally interested in STRI’s science to pursue a research experience with one of our scientific mentors based on their interests.
District of Columbia Government Internships
DC Water
DC Water offers a Summer Internship Program committed to fostering the educational aspirations of the next generation.
Internship Details
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Eligibility: Citizens and Permanent Residents with proof of legal right to work in the United States (e.g., copy of passport, permanent resident card, or work authorization document). DC Water does not sponsor international students or provide benefits such as housing, transportation, or other accommodations for interns.
Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)
The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) provides Green Pathways Internships designed to offer experiences in energy and environmental fields, including natural resources and wildlife, water and air quality, lead, energy, sustainability, and legal services.
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Legal Interns
Legal interns assist DOEE attorneys with a wide variety of energy and environmental issues and with research projects as they arise. This may include support for work on issues involving air and water quality, hazardous and toxic substances, underground storage tanks, lead-based paint matters, energy and sustainability issues, or general law issues for the Department.
Watershed Protection Intern
A Watershed Protection intern built and updated the RiverSmart Homes database for 2009-2015, including comparing that database with the geo-referenced database.
Urban Sustainability Administration Intern
Wendy worked with DOEE’s Urban Sustainability Administration on community engagement, climate inventory, and policy development while working on her Master’s Degree in Environmental Health Science and Policy at George Washington University.
Non-Profit and Research Organization Internships
Resources for the Future (RFF)
Resources for the Future (RFF) offers a summer research internship program that provides an opportunity for students to prepare for careers that engage in rigorous, policy-relevant research. Interns are essential members of RFF’s Research and Policy Engagement team, providing technical support that allows for the production of compelling and impactful research.
Internship Program Details
- Duration: June 15-August 21, 2026 (Start or end dates can be adjusted as needed.)
- Location: RFF’s offices in Washington, DC
- Compensation: Paid, with a sliding pay scale based on the level of completion in their degree programs, ranging from $17.95 per hour to $26 per hour.
Internship Activities
- Connect with researchers and other staff members through seminars, coffee chats, and RFF staff events.
- Participate in an external intern event near the beginning of the summer to foster DC-wide connections with interns from other environmental organizations.
- Present summer projects at the end of the internship program.
Specific Internship Projects
- Analyzing European Emissions Trading Data: The intern will prepare and analyze data from the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), create replicable code to merge annual EU ETS data with other data at the facility level, and explore the data for interesting insights. The intern will contribute to an RFF blogpost or issue brief.
- Power Sector Model Development: The intern will support the RFF modeling team that contributes to the Engineering, Economic, and Environmental Electricity Simulation Tool (E4ST), helping to develop new capabilities, improve policy representations, and increase model flexibility and configurability.
- Analysis of Fossil Fuel Community Support Programs: The intern will review, categorize, and analyze existing state and local government programs designed to support the economies of fossil fuel communities, a key part of facilitating an equitable transition towards a net-zero emissions economy.
- Econometric Research on Household Energy Affordability: The intern will explore customer-level electricity utility data to analyze various aspects of household energy affordability.
- Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Model Development: The intern will support the development of a model of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDV) called RFF’s Framework for Large-Scale Economic Evaluation of Trucking (FLEET) model.
- State-Level Critical Minerals Policies and Actions: The intern will contribute to the analysis of policies and actions taken by U.S. states regarding critical mineral supply chains.
- Evaluating Electricity Market Tools: The intern will help investigate and compare models and tools that assess capacity markets and resource adequacy.
- Air Conditioning & Exposure and Vulnerability to Extreme Heat: The intern will help develop a database of extreme heat exposure and vulnerabilities, with a particular focus on air conditioning (AC) penetration and use.
Education Level
RFF summer research internships are geared toward graduate students (either Masters or PhD), although some openings are available to advanced undergraduates.
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Multiple Applications
Applicants interested in more than one internship project are welcome to apply to multiple projects.
Application Tips and Considerations
- Timeliness: Submit applications well in advance of deadlines, as many programs operate on a rolling basis.
- Eligibility: Ensure you meet the specific eligibility requirements for each internship, including citizenship, enrollment status, and relevant coursework or experience.
- Personalization: Tailor your application to highlight your interest and relevant skills for each specific internship.
- Networking: Attend informational sessions and networking events to connect with professionals in the field and learn about potential opportunities.
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