Princeton University Office of Sustainability

 Four types of internships are available with the Office of Sustainability:

• Project-Based Internships: Involve a prescribed number of hours to complete the described project (though some projects will create new projects and internships!).

• Ongoing Internships: Involve no pre-set time limits, instead requiring effort every week.

• As-needed Internships: Involve assistance for events that occur irregularly.
   
• Summer Internships: Involve assistance during summertime (typically mid-May-August).

Many internships, but especially project-based internships, can be completed off-site and on a schedule preferred by the intern.  

To apply, unless otherwise indicated, please download and fill-in the application form found under Application Instructions, below.

Questions? Please contact Kristi Wiedemann.

Fall/Spring Internships:

• Office of Sustainability Interns (PU students only)
  Seeking general interns to assist with various tasks, including but not limited to supporting current Office programs and projects, assisting with coordination of the Princeton Environmental Network, assisting campus partners with developing methods and tools to further sustainability, and general research support. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis; please see application link below.

• Communications Intern
  Seeking an intern to assist with ongoing communications and outreach efforts involving the campus and greater community, including updating departmental website and developing content for high-profile campus sustainability communication screens/monitors. Potential for contributing to website redesign is also possible. Prospective candidates should have prior writing experience, particularly for public audiences, and familiarity with website content management systems, such as Roxen. Applications are currently being accepted; please see application link below.
   
• Sustainability Performance Tracking Intern
  Seeking an intern to assist the Office of Sustainability with assessing Princeton’s progress against the University’s sustainability goals. The intern will work with Office staff and campus partners to track and compile sustainability data for the annual Sustainability Report. Applications are currently being accepted; please see application link below.
    
• U-Bikes/Bike rental program Intern
  Seeking an intern to manage the University’s rental and departmental bike-share program. Responsibilities include organizing the semester rental program, arranging for maintenance of departmental bike-share bikes and dealing with small administrative tasks throughout the week. No knowledge of bicycles is required, but strong organizational skills and a commitment to the U-Bikes program are a must. Applications are currently being accepted; please see application link below.

Project-based internships:

• Sustainability Dashboard Communications Intern
  Project duration: Approximately 15 hours
  Seeking an intern to help develop content for the Butler College energy and sustainability dashboard display to communicate pertinent information to the campus community. Information will highlight sustainable buildings, systems, materials, services, and events on campus, as well as provide everyday green-living tips. Experience writing and editing materials for public audiences desirable. Applications are currently being accepted; please see link to application below. 

• Green Guide Intern
  Project duration: Approximately 15 hours
  Seeking an intern to update and revise our “Green Guide to Living at Princeton” publication. The Green Guide is given to all incoming freshman as a resource for living sustainably in a college setting. Prospective interns should have prior experience in graphic arts design, and a passion for applying their creativity to sustainability issues. Knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, or other graphic design software is desirable. Applications are currently being accepted; please see link to application below.

• Green Tours Intern
  Project duration: Approximately 15 hours
  Princeton’s first Green Tour was launched during Reunions 2010 with great success. The Office of Sustainability is seeking an intern to continue developing a Green Tour program that will be offered throughout the academic year. Opportunities to develop walking, cycling, online, mobile phone app, and audio tours are available. The Intern will be expected to both develop and train tour leaders. Familiarity with sustainability efforts on campus and experience giving Orange Key tours of the campus is desirable but not required. Applications are currently being accepted; please see link to application below.

• EcoReps Interns
  Project duration: Variable depending on project(s)
  Seeking interns to participate in the Princeton University Ecology Representative Program (Eco-Reps). The program, founded in 2004, supports the University’s goals to reduce overall waste and increase the percentage of waste recycled on campus. EcoReps have the opportunity to manage individual projects, or contribute to group projects, that address specific campus waste reduction and recycling issues by helping to research, develop and directly implement solutions and by carrying out education and outreach initiatives to raise awareness on campus. The EcoReps are a student-led group, acting as an extension to and supervised by the Office of Sustainability. Applications are currently being accepted; please see link to application below.  

As-needed Internships: 

• Green Tour Leaders/Interns
  Duration: Hourly paid project work as needed
  Tour leaders are needed to lead Green Tours of the Princeton University campus. Familiarity with sustainability efforts on campus and experience giving Orange Key tours of the campus is desirable but not necessary. Training will be provided. Applications are currently being accepted; please see link to application below.

• Sustainability Documentarian Intern
  Duration: Hourly paid project work as needed
  Seeking project-based interns with photography, video and audio experience to assist in documenting campus sustainability events and initiatives. This position is part of the Princeton Student Environmental Communication Network (SECN) program. Applications are currently being accepted; please see link to application below.

Summer Internships: 

• Communications Intern
  Duration: May-August
  Seeking an intern to assist with ongoing communications and outreach efforts involving the campus and greater community, including updating departmental website and developing content for high-profile campus sustainability communication screens/monitors. Potential for contributing to website redesign is also possible. Prospective candidates should have prior writing experience, particularly for public audiences, and familiarity with website content management systems, such as Roxen.   
   
• Sustainability Performance Tracking Intern
  Seeking an intern to assist the Office of Sustainability with assessing Princeton’s progress against the University’s sustainability goals. The intern will work with Office staff and campus partners to track and compile sustainability data for the annual Sustainability Report.

• U-Bikes/Bike rental program Intern
  Duration: May-September (8-10 hours per week, including 5-9 pm on Wed. and 1-5 pm on Sun.)
  Seeking an intern to manage the University’s rental and departmental bike-share program. Responsibilities include organizing the summer-rental program, arranging for maintenance of departmental bike-share bikes and dealing with small administrative tasks throughout the week. No knowledge of bicycles is required, but strong organizational skills and a commitment to the UBikes program are a must. Paid training will begin in May, and the internship will last until the first week of fall semester, with the possibility of continued employment through the academic year. If interested, please email ubikes@princeton.edu for more information.
   

Energy Service Corps (ESC) is a joint project of NJPIRG and AmeriCorps that focuses on raising awareness on energy consumption in local towns and cities. ESC does this by reaching out to community members through educational events and environmental clean up campaigns. Additionally they also reach out to our youth by going into schools and educating children from grades ranging from kindergarten to twelfth grade. In doing so we hope that these individuals will help to catalyze sustainable social change as they grow into adulthood. This statewide student funded organization also takes the initiative to help individuals and the environment by helping them save energy and reduce the cost of their energy bills by weatherizing their homes. This student run campaign takes on the responsibilities of ensuring the use of clean energy sources in our future through large scale events as well as affecting the lives of individuals. The projects students work with also tend to collaborate with community organizations such as Ironbound Community Center in Newark, New Jersey or the ACUA of Atlantic County. The potential to affect the lives of fellow citizens is presented through this campaign and we urge those with a sincere interest in their local communities and the environment as a whole to come out and help us to clean up our wasteful energy habits.

Internship opportunities include:

K-12 Education; Community Education; Community Outreach; Weatherizations Coordinator; Visibility Coordinator; Media Coordinator; Donations Coordinator; Campus Relations Coordinator

Paid Internships are available but the openings are limited! For those who take on unpaid internships the opportunity to obtain a paid position is always available the following semester. In taking on this responsibility the intern also takes upon themselves the opportunity to further their career opportunities with non-profit groups through networking as well as the chance to work under AmeriCorps and NJPIRG following graduation as a campus organizer.

Speak to our Princeton campus organizer Kathryn Goldstein Kathryn@energyservicecorps.org for more information.

Energy Service Corps

Local Volunteer Opportunities:

• Boys & Girls Clubs, led by David Anderson (http://volunteerconnectnj.org/SBV_BGC)
  • Business Plan Developer (est 30-40 hours per business plan plus 20-30 hours to advise on implementation):   work with the Executive Director to develop business plans for social enterprises to provide funding & jobs for teens
  • Entrepreneur Program Developer (help start a teen entrepreneur program for high school students – help select curriculum, recruit volunteers, identify funders)
  • Graphic Artist (25-40 hours over 2-3 months):  develop & train staff to use communication templates for flyers, newsletters, e-mail blbasts, etc
  • Job Developer (40-60 hours over 2-3 months):  develop a list of potential employers for teen graduates of the work readiness program
  • Plumbing (6-10 hours):  analyze the Club’s drain system & propose potential solutions – can include cost estimates, bids, and/or completing the work

• Sustainable Princeton, led by Diane Landis (http://volunteerconnectnj.org/SBV_SP)
  • Special Events Planner:  create Sustainable Princeton’s first fundraising event
  • Volunteer Coordinator:  work closely with the Director to organize volunteers
  • Researcher:  conduct research & draft papers that will be used online & in meetings to make Princeton more sustainable
  • Sustainability Reporter & Writer:  interview people about their everyday acts of sustainability and write website content to inspire further change

If you are interested in finding out about other internships and paid positions outside the university please click here.

(Opportunities will be posted as they become available.)

Unless otherwise noted, please use the application below to apply for any of the internships available.  Please send your application to kristiw@princeton.edu.

Thanks for your interest!