Intern, Research & Innovation, Center for Sustainable Business, University of Chicago

WRI Overview 

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address six critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water and sustainable cities. 

Internships at WRI provide opportunities for motivated, young professionals to learn from our experts and participate in engaging work at the intersection of environment and development. WRI provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all our programs and offices. We seek interns with diverse backgrounds and who are passionate about the environment to help us make a direct global impact.  

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.   

Program Overview 

The Center for Sustainable Business works with companies because they can innovate and scale solutions to some of our world’s toughest challenges. Businesses have important influence on governments and their extensive, global value chains complement the reach of governments bound by national borders. A sampling of a few of the ways WRI works with the private sector: 

• Insights from business leaders inform WRI’s strategies and help kickstart innovative projects.  
• WRI’s research helps integrate environmental sustainability into business strategies and investments.  
• WRI’s practical guidance, tools and initiatives help companies assess and reduce impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions or water consumption, across corporate value chains.  
• WRI creates maps, tools, analyses, and solutions to help private sector actors minimize current and future risks, such as water scarcity and energy price volatility.  

Internship Summary 

The private sector plays an important role in carrying out WRI’s mission as companies are often key to spurring innovation, scaling solutions, and influencing governments. The research team in WRI’s Center for Sustainable Business has several projects underway to study, design, and enhance corporate leadership on issues of sustainability. Current activities underway include projects on the circular economy, corporate political engagement, and corporate governance.  

As an intern, you will be advancing these efforts through research and analysis.  Specifically: 

• You will be researching corporate approaches to political engagement, including how companies exercise political power through their trade associations and other representatives. You will track and measure how the private sector can be a constructive or obstructive influence on policies for climate change and other sustainability challenges. 
• You will be researching innovative business models that can transform global supply chains (e.g., cotton, cocoa, coffee), ensuring fair distribution of profits to people at different stages of production.  
• You will be researching new, emerging corporate strategies for addressing overconsumption and reversing climate change. You will work with Fortune 500 companies to break new ground on topics such as carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and the circular economy. 

Internship Qualifications 

• University Sponsored: You must be a student currently enrolled in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago returning for Fall 2021. 
• Excellent research skills  
• Excellent writing skills 
• Strong oral communications skills  
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of a team 
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner 
• Familiarity with national climate policy issues and international climate agreements 
• Ability to think creatively  
• Flexibility 
• Highly responsible, self-motivated  
• Extremely well organized and efficient 

General Internship Requirements 

• Applicants must have personal health insurance coverage.  
• U.S. work authorization is required for this opportunity. WRI does not sponsor interns for visas. 

Compensation  

• University Sponsored: Students will receive compensation from their university program.   

Duration and Location  

• This is a full-time summer internship with start date options of May 17, June 1, or June 16, 2021 based on the student’s availability and need for the project.   
• This is a remote-based internship with the option to work out of the Washington D.C. office once it reopens.    
• WRI will provide a laptop for the duration of your internship. 

How to Apply 

Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. 

The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an environmental and development research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people’s lives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI’s policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.