Climate & Environmental Justice Researcher / Interviewer (High‑School, Spring 2026)
The Undivide Project — Remote | Empowerly Internship Program (Volunteer)
About Us
The Undivide Project is a nonprofit dedicated to closing the climate‑justice and digital‑equity gaps. We build open‑access tools—like our Sustainability & Equity Environmental Dashboard (SEED) and Ten States Project Story Maps—to help frontline communities track funding, risk, and progress.
Internship Duration: September 8 – December 12, 2025
Time Commitment: 6–10 hour per week, flexible after school
Location: Remote (Eastern U.S. time zones)
Eligibility: Rising juniors/seniors accepted to Empowerly’s Fall Internship cohort
Compensation: Volunteer (unpaid). We’ll certify academic or service‑learning credit.
What You’ll Do
Community Outreach: Identify grassroots leaders in climate‑ and environmental‑justice (EJ) hotspots; craft personalized outreach emails and schedule virtual interviews.
- Interview Preparation: Co‑design semi‑structured interview guides that explore usability gaps and adoption barriers in our CJ/EJ tools.
- Conduct & Document Interviews: Facilitate or co‑host Zoom/phone interviews; take detailed notes, record (with consent), and produce written summaries.
- Qualitative Analysis: Code interview transcripts to surface key themes; distill insights into slide decks and one‑page briefs for the product team.
- Engagement Strategy: Suggest social‑media hooks, blog posts, or community events that amplify findings and spur tool adoption.
- Weekly Syncs: Share progress in brief stand‑ups with policy analysts, UX designers, and data scientists.
Ideal Candidate
- Passionate about climate justice, public interest tech, or social‑impact research.
- Strong verbal communication; enjoys thoughtful conversation and active listening.
- Comfortable writing concise outreach emails and clear interview notes.
- Exposure to basic qualitative‑research methods (e.g., coding themes) a plus—training provided.
- Organized self‑starter who meets deadlines in a remote setting.
What You’ll Gain
- Hands‑on training in community‑engaged research and human‑centered design.
- Direct experience shaping tools used by policymakers, nonprofits, and local advocates.
- Mentorship from professionals in EJ policy, qualitative methods, and tech for good.
- Service‑learning or academic credit documentation, a recommendation letter, and acknowledgment in project reports.
How to Apply
Email info@theundivideproject.org with the subject line “Empowerly Fall EJ Research Intern – [Your Name]” by August 15, 2025. Include:
- A one‑page résumé (PDF).
- A short cover note (≤ 250 words) on what motivates you about climate & EJ work.
- (Optional) A writing sample—blog post, school paper, or interview summary—that shows your communication style.
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; early submissions encouraged.
Help frontline communities shape the tools that amplify their voices—and build a more just future.