Schneider Summer Fellowships: World Resources Institute (WRI) 2022
Aqueduct Water-Energy Nexus Fellowship
Washington, D.C.
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 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, sustainable cities, and the ocean.
Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, or other candidates who wish to gain knowledge about a specific area of our work. We strive to attract diverse, intellectually-driven candidates who have a passion for sustainability and development. WRI provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all of our programs.
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 world runs on water. Clean, reliable water supplies are vital for industry, agriculture, and energy production. Every community and ecosystem on Earth depends on water for sanitation, hygiene, and daily survival.
Yet the world’s water systems face formidable threats. More than a billion people currently live in water-scarce regions, and as many as 3.5 billion could experience water scarcity by 2025. Increasing pollution degrades freshwater and coastal aquatic ecosystems. And climate change is poised to shift precipitation patterns and speed glacial melt, altering water supplies and intensifying floods and drought.
WRI’s Water Program works with businesses, governments, and civil society to ensure a water-secure future. We seek to address both water quantity and quality challenges.
The Water Program’s Aqueduct Project is one of leading data providers on global water risks. We work closely with universities and research institutions around the world developing risk frameworks and indicators on water stress, droughts, floods, and others.
Internship Summary
The World Resources Institute is seeking a 2022 Schneider Fellow to help support water-energy nexus research and data analytics as part of the Aqueduct Project. The 2022 Schneider Fellow will work on geospatial analysis and desktop research of current and future water risks to energy security. The 2022 Schneider Fellow will also support communications and outreach efforts by leveraging data to creatively visualize information for specific audiences.
Learning Outcomes
The intern will gain experience in the following areas:
- Conduct spatial and statistical analysis with ArcGIS, Python, Google Earth Engine, and/or R
- Develop and refine forecasting models and features dataset development using machine learning
- Conduct desktop research on water-energy nexus risks and opportunities
- Maintain and update geo-databases of water and energy data
- Respond to external and internal requests for information, data, and analysis of the water-energy nexus.
- Write technical manuscripts to document Aqueduct methodology and metadata
- Develop maps, using advanced cartographic skills, for online applications and print publications, including reports, blogs, posters, and presentations
Internship Qualifications
- Pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in engineering, earth systems, environment, or technology;
- Experience with ArcGIS, MS Excel, and Python;
- Strong analytical skills;
- Strong communication skills, including presentation and writing experience;
- Strong self-learning ability and good team spirit;
- Quick learner, experience in delivering high quality complex analysis, and deadline driven;
- Entrepreneurial mindset
Preferred:
- Experience using cloud environments such as Microsoft Azure
- Experience using machine learning
Final candidates will be required to submit a project portfolio.
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.
Eligibility
Eligibility:
For complete eligibility requirements, please review our program policies in its entirety.
Undergraduates and graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities.
Requirements:
Selected Fellows are expected to begin service by June 20, 2022 for a summer fellowship. All fellows are required to work with their community partners full-time for twelve consecutive weeks at their placements. Fellows may be required to work remotely depending on the forthcoming University policies. Please review the complete program policies for additional requirements. Other commitments include the following:
Quarter before fellowship
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Attend Schneider Fellows cohort session(s)
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with site supervisor and academic mentor.
During fellowship
- Submit a brief preliminary report.
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Quarter after fellowship
- Attend a de-briefing meeting for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating fellowship experiences.
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
Selection Process:
For those who seek assistance, advising is available at the Haas Center to help students develop their applications.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate
- an integration of the fellowship experience with applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
- prior demonstrated interest or involvement in the subject area, including related coursework
- a compelling match between applicant’s skills and interests and an organization’s work and needs
- strong potential for the fellowship experience to enlarge a candidate’s understanding of an identified community issue or challenge
Complete applications are screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by our partner organizations with the intention to award fellowships within six weeks of the application deadline. Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
