Union of Concerned Scientists

Want Interesting Work That Matters?
Consider a UCS internship!

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference AND gain useful work experience at the same time?
Would you like to work with people who know how to influence public policy?

Then consider applying for the Clean Energy Internship or the Scientific Integrity Internship in our Washington, DC Office.

Please note that these internships are offered at different times and for different lengths of time. We currently do not expect to offer summer-only internships.

What qualifications do I need?
We expect all applicants to have excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, strong oral and written communication skills, and proficiency with computers.

What are the hours, and will I get paid?
All interns work 40 hours per week (with a one-hour paid lunch) and receive a stipend based on level of education (currently $2,080 with a BA or BS).

What if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must be able to provide an employment authorization document from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

How do I apply?
See instructions for each internship below.


Climate and Energy Internship 
Washington, DC Office
Date Offered: **Updated** June through December 2010

The UCS Clean Energy Program seeks an intern beginning in June 2010. End date is flexible; we are looking for a minimum six-month commitment. This is not a summer internship. Working with our lobbyist, organizer, and other program staff, the intern will assist in planning and implementing state and federal campaigns to promote clean, renewable energy.

Our main current campaign is passing the national renewable electricity standard.

Other campaigns may arise depending on state and federal activities.

Intern's duties include but are not limited to engaging our members and activists in our campaigns, helping to load email alerts and other online activism, maintaining/updating our web page, planning and attending congressional meetings, drafting letters to the editor, etc.

Candidates interested in public policy, energy and environmental issues are encouraged to apply. We will consider applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds. Of particular relevance are majors in Environmental Studies and Political Science. Candidates with interest and education in forestry and/or biomass are especially encouraged to apply.

Basic Qualifications: Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, strong oral and written communication skills, and proficiency with computers.

Hours and Pay: 40 hours/week; monthly pay of $2,080 with BA or BS.

To Apply: Please send cover letter referencing where you learned of this opening, resume, and short writing sample by April 1, 2010 to internship@ucsusa.org, and include "CE Internship" in the subject line.  


Scientific Integrity Internship
Washington, DC Office
Date Offered: Applications are accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis. While interns may start at any time, we expect that the next intern will begin in May or June 2010. Internships are generally offered for six months with the possibility of extension.

The scientific community over the past several years has witnessed significant manipulation, suppression, and distortion of federal government agency science research and federal advisory committees and the censorship of scientists. President Obama has pledged to “restore science to its rightful place.” But this task is complex.

The UCS Scientific Integrity Program (SIP) works to create a thriving federal scientific enterprise by organizing scientists to educate decision makers about the problem and needed reforms, researching and publicizing abuses of science, and working to implement systemic changes that will restore scientific integrity to federal policy making.

The SIP intern works with the SIP team to help raise awareness about and understanding of political interference in science with policy makers, the media, and the general public. The intern will take on minor and support major outreach, legislative, and research projects that give scientists and non-scientists alike a better understanding of the use and misuse of science and the real-world impact of political interference in science.

The intern may draft articles for the website and UCS publications; organize events and coalition meetings; analyze how science is used to make specific policy decisions; and assist with legislative or research efforts.  As the program is both dynamic and collaborative, the intern will have significant opportunity to take on new projects as they arise. The internship description will be revised as needed based both on the needs of the program and the skills of the intern. This internship is an excellent opportunity to learn the ins and outs of community organizing, national media campaigns, science policy research, and legislative and administrative reform. Individuals with post-graduate education, college graduates, and highly-motivated undergraduates are all encouraged to apply.

Basic Qualifications: Candidates should be able to demonstrate outreach, organizing, or volunteer experience for non-profit organizations or political campaigns. Robust written and oral communications abilities, experience working in an office, and solid research skills are necessary for this position. Proficient computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Office and internet research are required. A comfort with scientific topics is strongly preferred. Most of all, candidates should have a clear understanding of the scientific process and current threats to the integrity of federal government science, a working knowledge of and interest in the way in which the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. government function, and a demonstrable commitment to working in the public interest/non-profit sector.

Hours and Pay: 40 hours per week; monthly pay of $2,080 with BA or BS.

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter referencing where you learned of this opening, resume, and two writing samples (at least one non-academic sample required) to: internship@ucsusa.org and include "SIP Internship" in the subject line. In your cover letter, please be sure to address your non-laboratory research experience.


Scoville Fellowship
The Union of Concerned Scientists participates in the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship, under which recipients are paid a stipend to work for six to nine months on arms control, peace, and security issues in Washington DC. Twenty-five organizations participate in the program, and the winners of the fellowship get to select the organization for which they work. If you are selected, we encourage you to pick UCS. For further information or to apply for the fellowship, please visit the Scoville website.


2010 UCS and ESA-SS Eco-service Award

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in partnership with the Student Section of the Ecological Society of America (ESA-SS) will honor young scientists for their contributions to the discipline of ecology that have extended beyond the realm of academia and into the broader communities of which they are a part.

A panel that includes the boards of both the ESA-SS and UCS will evaluate each applicants’ contributions to outreach, ecoservice, and environmental justice. The goal of this award is to engage young ecologists in research that reaches beyond inquiry and into application, outreach, and education. The theme of the 95th annual ESA meeting is "Global Warming: the legacy of our past, the challenge of our future", and as such, applications that show a strong background in this regard will be highly valued. For more information on what ecoservice is, please see Salguero-Gomez and colleagues' article in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

The award will consist of a cash prize of $300 and a commemorative plaque. The award will be given during the ESA Student Section award ceremony at the 95th annual conference of the Ecological Society of America, in Pittsburgh, PA, from August 1st through the 6th, 2010.
The application package consists of the following 4 parts:

1.  Application form (available for download here) 
2.  Current CV 
3.  Letter of recommendation 
4.  Unofficial transcript

Requirements for participation:

• Applicant must be a member of the ESA-SS and it is strongly recommended that they become members of UCS (if unsure, you may confirm your status with ESA-SS by contacting membership officer, Matthew Whiteside - mwhitesi@uci.edu or member@ucsusa.org for UCS).
• Applicant must be in good academic standing. 
• Applicant must commit to attend the ESA 95th annual conference and the ESA-SS award ceremony, where awards will be announced. Travel funds of up to $300 to attend the conference are available based on need. 
• Applicant must be enrolled as a student (high school through post-graduate). 
• Applications from students typically underrepresented in the sciences are especially encouraged to apply.

All materials must be submitted to Rob Salguero-Gomez (salguero@sas.upenn.edu) by 5pm EST of May 31st, 2010. The applicant must submit the application package in a single email with the subject “UCS – ESA-SS Ecoservice Award”. However, the recommendation may be submitted directly by the advisor in an email with the subject “UCS – ESA-SS Ecoservice Award – RECOMMENDER’S LAST NAME”.

Failure to comply with the rules will result in the automatic disqualification of the applicant. UCS and ESA-SS are equal opportunity organizations.

Last Updated:  March 1, 2010