Resources for the Future: Internship Programs for Shaping Environmental Decisions
Resources for the Future (RFF) stands as an independent, nonprofit research institution committed to improving environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial, evidence-based economic research and policy engagement. Central to this mission are its internship programs, which provide invaluable opportunities for students to contribute to impactful research and gain practical experience in the field. RFF's internship programs serve as a launchpad for careers focused on addressing critical environmental and energy challenges.
RFF: A Hub for Collaboration and Growth
RFF provides the ideal setting for academics, researchers, and others passionate about improving environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF is committed to being the most widely trusted source of research insights and policy solutions leading to a healthy environment and a thriving economy. Our position as a source of high-quality, innovative research and policy engagement relies on a skilled, diverse workforce and an inclusive, respectful environment. People are RFF’s greatest asset. We value the unique contributions of each member of RFF’s community, and we realize that success comes through teamwork where each individual contributes to our mission. We commit to fostering an environment that empowers everyone at RFF to thrive. We have a collective responsibility to serve the public good, and RFF’s unique mission guides us in making the positive change we need to see in the world.
RFF fosters an environment of collaboration, learning, and growth, offering a range of benefits including health and life insurance, retirement programs, and pre-tax commuter and daycare assistance. The organization's commitment to its employees extends to its physical space, featuring a green roof and deck with views of the Washington, DC skyline, providing a setting for lunches, meetings, or relaxation.
Summer Research Internship Program
The Resources For the Future Summer Research Internship is open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in environmental, energy and natural resource issues and policies. As an intern, your responsibilities will include providing technical support that, under the direction of RFF Fellows, allows for the production of compelling and impactful research that aligns with RFF’s mission of improving environmental, energy and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. This summer internship runs for 10 weeks in Washington, DC.
The RFF summer internship program 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; they are responsible for providing technical support that, under the direction of RFF Fellows, allows for the production of compelling and impactful research that aligns with RFF’s mission of improving environmental, energy and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement.
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At RFF, interns will have the opportunity to connect with researchers and other staff members through seminars, coffee chats, and RFF staff events. Further, the internship co-coordinators will organize an external intern event near the beginning of the summer to foster DC-wide connections with interns from other environmental organizations. The internship program will culminate with presentations from interns about their summer projects and an end-of-summer celebration.
The internship program will run June 15-August 21, 2026. Start or end dates for individual interns can be adjusted as needed. All internships will be conducted in RFF’s offices in Washington, DC.
Research Areas and Projects
RFF offers a diverse array of internship projects, allowing students to contribute to cutting-edge research across various environmental and energy domains:
Climate Risks and Resilience: This internship supports RFF’s Climate Risks and Resilience (CRR) program. Communities and decision makers across the globe are grappling with how to measure climate risks as they seek to respond to the impacts of climate change, from coastal flooding due to sea level rise to heat waves and wildfires. Experts at RFF are quantifying the economic and social impacts of climate change and evaluating strategies to enhance resilience, ensuring that communities and decision makers are equipped with the tools they need to respond.
- Air Conditioning & Exposure and Vulnerability to Extreme Heat: Working with Margaret Walls (Senior Fellow and Director, Climate Risks and Resilience Program), Kristen McCormack (Fellow), and Penny Liao (Fellow), the intern will help develop a database of extreme heat exposure and vulnerabilities, with a particular focus on air conditioning (AC) penetration and use. The intern may collect, process, and analyze large, administrative datasets and develop new methods, potentially drawing on machine learning and other big data techniques, to fill in data gaps. This work may contribute to a variety of data products and follow-up research. Significant data gaps currently exist regarding AC adoption, limiting our ability to identify vulnerable populations, assess the impacts of heat, evaluate adaptation opportunities, and support effective local planning and policymaking. The intern will work with RFF Fellows to collect information about rising extreme heat exposure and associated vulnerabilities, with a particular focus on access to air conditioning (AC) in households and schools as a critical tool for adaptation.
Analyzing European Emissions Trading Data: Working with Milan Elkerbout (Fellow), the intern will prepare and analyze data from the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The intern will create replicable code to merge annual EU ETS data with other data at the facility level and explore the data for interesting insights, learn more about related policies, and compare EU ETS insights with other emissions trading/cap-and-trade systems. The intern will contribute to an RFF blogpost or issue brief.
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Power Sector Model Development: Working with Aaron Bergman (Fellow) and McKenna Peplinski (Senior Research Associate II), the intern will support the RFF modeling team that contributes to the Engineering, Economic, and Environmental Electricity Simulation Tool (E4ST), an open-platform power sector model that simulates impacts of environmental and energy policies on the electricity or power sector. The intern will help develop new capabilities, improve policy representations, and increase model flexibility and configurability. If time, the intern may also contribute to a policy analysis studying how demand growth from electrification trends and data centers could impact the power sector.
Analysis of Fossil Fuel Community Support Programs: designed to support the economies of fossil fuel communities, a key part of facilitating an equitable transition towards a net-zero emissions economy. The intern will review, categorize, and analyze existing state and local government programs. Depending on the circumstances, the intern may be able to collaborate with the team beyond the paid internship on a public report.
Econometric Research on Household Energy Affordability: Working with Jesse Buchsbaum (Fellow) and Jenya Kahn-Lang (Fellow), the intern will have a chance to explore customer-level electricity utility data to analyze various aspects of household energy affordability. The intern will be able to help guide the direction of the work.
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Model Development: Working with Nafisa Lohawala (Fellow) and Joshua Linn (Senior Fellow), the intern will support the development of a model of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDV). RFF’s Framework for Large-Scale Economic Evaluation of Trucking (FLEET) model aims to simulate scenarios given different transportation policies and market conditions.
State-Level Critical Minerals Policies and Actions: states regarding critical mineral supply chains and the role that states play in contributing to the domestic goal of industrial policy within the mineral space. states have done to incentivize the development of critical mineral supply chains- from extraction to battery and magnet manufacturing. Then the team plans to quantitatively analyze the effectiveness of the states’ actions. Depending on the intern’s experience and the project timeline, the intern would contribute to one or both tasks.
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Evaluating Electricity Market Tools: Working with Karen Palmer (Senior Fellow), Jenya Kahn-Lang (Fellow), and Molly Robertson (Associate Fellow), the intern will help investigate and compare models and tools that assess capacity markets and resource adequacy. This will inform the intern and team to either create a new analytical tool or combine existing approaches to assess market design features.
State-Level Critical Minerals Policies: states regarding critical mineral supply chains, working with Beia Spiller (Fellow). and the role that states play in contributing to the domestic goal of industrial policy within the mineral space. states have done to incentivize the development of critical mineral supply chains- from extraction to battery and magnet manufacturing (e.g., setting policies, making investments). Then the team plans to quantitatively analyze the effectiveness of the states’ actions. Depending on the intern’s experience and the project timeline, the intern would contribute to one or both tasks. By the end of the summer, the intern would collaborate with the team on an interactive map tool to view state policies and/or a written product.
Qualifications and Eligibility
Priority is given to candidates enrolled in a program that is relevant to RFF’s research and mission. Highly motivated candidates in the social and natural sciences with training in economics and quantitative methods, or with a keen interest in public policy, are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate would be an undergraduate student with an interest in disaster management and risk mitigation policy.
By and large, RFF summer research internships are geared toward graduate students (either Masters or PhD), although some openings are available to advanced undergraduates. In the past, some graduate-level interns have also chosen to continue collaborating with RFF on academic journal articles beyond their paid internships. Please see individual job descriptions (linked above) for specific education requirements of the various roles.
Compensation and Application Information
All RFF internships are paid. The organization offer a sliding pay scale for interns based on the level of completion in their degree programs.
Multiple applications: If you are interested in more than one internship project, please feel free to apply to more than one project.
USDA Internship Opportunities
In addition to RFF's internship programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a range of internship opportunities for students interested in agriculture, science, and related fields. These programs provide hands-on experience and career development opportunities across various USDA agencies and offices.
USDA Pathways Program
The Pathways Internship Program provides year-round paid work experiences for current degree-seeking high-school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Interns may work during the summer, fall, spring or year-round and are eligible for non-competitive conversion upon program completion.
The Pathways Recent Graduates Program is for graduates within two years of degree or certificate completion, and for veterans within 6 years of obtaining a degree. Fellows are placed in a one-year career development program that may be non-competitively converted upon completion of program requirements.
The Presidential Management Fellows Program is the flagship leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. In addition to salary and benefits, fellows earn a two-year appointment that may be converted to a permanent appointment.
USDA Scholarship Programs
1890 National Scholars Program: As a partnership between USDA and the 1890 historically black land-grant colleges and universities, the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program provides full tuition, fees, books, room and board to selected students pursuing a bachelors degree in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines at one of 19 designated 1890s land-grant universities. When the student has completed the academic and summer work requirements of the scholarship, USDA may at its discretion convert the student to a permanent employee without further competition.
1994 Tribal Scholars Program: The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines. Eligible students are those that plan to attend and are enrolled, currently attend, or recently graduated from a Tribal College or University. The program provides full tuition, employment, housing or a living stipend, employee benefits, fees, and books each year for up to 4 years to selected students at one of 35 federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities and continuing at other higher education institutions.
USDA Youth and Conservation Programs
American Climate Corps: As part of historic efforts to combat climate change, advance environmental justice, and build the clean energy economy, USDA is excited to announce its participation in the American Climate Corps. The American Climate Corps (ACC), is a groundbreaking, workforce training and service initiative that will prepare tens of thousands of young people for good-paying jobs in the clean economy and for climate resilience. In year one, American Climate Corps will put more than 20,000 young people on career pathways in the growing fields of clean energy, conservation and climate resilience.
Indian Youth Service Corps: The Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) is a Department of the Interior (DOI) initiative designed to engage Native youth in meaningful public service projects on federal and Tribal lands for the benefit of Native communities. Participants engage in projects related to natural resources; parks and recreation; environmental conservation and restoration; infrastructure and construction; energy; and a broad range of cultural, historic, and archaeological resources. These projects provide education, employment, and training to Native American and Alaska Native individuals ages 16-30 (or veterans up to the age of 35) and can serve as an invaluable community resource and hiring pipeline to careers in several critical fields.
Public Lands Corps: The Public Lands Corps provides meaningful, paid work experience for young adults between 16 and 30 to advance conservation and stewardship of public lands through wildfire risk reduction, trails and recreation management, habitat restoration, research, visitor services, and more, developing skills necessary to join the next generation of conservation leaders.
Resource Assistants Program: The Resource Assistants Program (RAP) is a rigorous, immersive, paid internship for individuals 17 years and older who are interested in natural and cultural resources careers. Forest Service staff to complete mission-critical projects that develop leadership, critical thinking, and strategic communication skills.
Youth Conservation Corps: Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a summer youth employment program that engages young people, ages 15 to 18, in meaningful work experiences in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and fish hatcheries. Youth are engaged in fun, exciting work projects designed to develop an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. Projects include building and repairing trails; preserving and repairing historic buildings; removing invasive species; helping with wildlife and land research; and leading environmental education.
USDA Partnerships with Third-Party Internship Programs
HEP/CAMP Internship Program: USDA offers a paid 10-week internship program for students from migrant and farmworker backgrounds. Interns will gain work experience and learn about career opportunities available within USDA while working at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The program is run in partnership with the National HEP/CAMP Association, comprised of universities, colleges, and nonprofit organizations that administer a High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and/or a College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). Participating interns will be current or former participants of HEP and/or CAMP programs at their respective institutions. This internship program is administered by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE). Eligible students are current CAMP students, alumni, and HEP graduates attending a post-secondary institution.
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) representing more than 500 member institutions across the United States. The HACU National Internship Program places students in federal and corporate internships. USDA has partnered with the HACU for more than 28 years to provide over 3,000 college students with paid spring, summer, or fall internships at various USDA offices in Washington, D.C. as well as field offices. The program gives undergraduate and graduate students valuable professional experience in the federal sector.
NextGen Program: USDA made a historic $262.5 million investment in 2023 in over 60 minority-serving institutions across the United States and Insular Areas to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of leaders in food, agricultural, natural resources and human sciences fields. Forest Service (USFS).
Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates: The Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Program Area Priority promotes experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students at two- and four-year institutions such that upon graduation they may enter the agricultural workforce with exceptional skills. This grant program allows colleges and universities to design paid internships programs that provide undergraduate students with research and extension/outreach opportunities components in the food and agricultural sciences. Each project funded has its own timeline, disciplines supported, and selection process.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund Internship Program: TMCF supports students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, agricultural, mathematics, and business at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This program accepts undergraduate students with at least a sophomore standing, graduate, and professional students. Applicants must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA with strong verbal and written communication skills.
Wallace-Carver Fellowship Program: Working with the World Food Prize, USDA offers college students the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and policymakers through paid fellowships at USDA research centers and offices across the United States. Fellows help analyze agricultural and economic policy; assist in the management of food, nutrition and rural development programs; and take part in groundbreaking field and laboratory-based research. Fellows also participate in a weeklong symposium hosted by the USDA in Washington, D.C. Named for Henry A. Wallace and George Washington Carver, two of American leaders in agricultural science and policy who made significant strides toward ending hunger, the Wallace-Carver Fellowship seeks to educate, inspire, and train the next generation of agricultural leaders.
USDA Career Development Programs
Agricultural Scholars: The Farm Foundation Agricultural Scholars program engages graduate student scholars working in agricultural economics or related agricultural policy work with a year-long series of learning experiences focused on gaining a deeper understanding of production agriculture, agribusiness, and government, in hopes of inspiring and training the next generation of agricultural economists interested agricultural policy, commodity market analysis, agricultural finance, and other applied fields of economics.
Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program: The Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program is a locally funded initiative that provides District of Columbia youth ages 14 to 24 with enriching and constructive summer work experiences in the private and government sectors. Eligible youth will have the opportunity to earn money and gain meaningful work experience; learn and develop the skills, attitudes and commitment necessary to succeed in today’s world of work; and gain exposure to various career industries.
Other USDA Programs
- Forest Service Job Corps: The Forest Service Job Corps is a residential career training program for young people ages 16 to 24 to conserve the nation’s natural resources while helping them complete their high school education, train them for meaningful careers, and assist them with obtaining employment.
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