Summer 2024 AI Science Summer Intern

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

NRDC is seeking an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Science Summer intern to work with the Science Office team associated with our Washington DC office.

The AI Science Intern would help the Science Office take stock of the rapidly emerging field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how generative AI capabilities and applications can potentially be harnessed for aiding Science Office work. For example, the Intern would help assess the landscape of new AI tools and capabilities that may be relevant to our publication review process including both AI-related problems/challenges that can undermine our work (e.g. more plagiarism, more fake references), as well as AI-related tools/opportunities that can aid our work (e.g.  tools to help with fact checking and evaluating statistical analyses). We are also interested in having the Intern conduct an informal survey of other similar (sister-type) NGOs to learn how/if they are incorporating AI applications into their work.  

• Research how generative AI capabilities and applications can potentially be harnessed for advancing the priorities of NRDC’s Science Office
• Research specifically how AI may affect publication review processes including generating as well as detecting plagiarism, for example
• Research how AI is being used by NGOs in the environmental field
• Produce written summaries of research findings

• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.
• Knowledge and scholarship in computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated research ability
• Robust interpersonal skills to interact with colleagues and partners
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to participate on teams that work collaboratively toward shared outcomes
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to handle multiple work streams

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
This position is a paid internship with a paid stipend dependent upon education level from 6,0000-10,0000 paid bi-weekly over the course of 10 weeks.
The incumbent will not qualify as an employee, fellow, volunteer, or independent contractor of NRDC, nor will the incumbent be guaranteed employment at the end of the internship term.
Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we encourage them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence.
As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination. Those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions. NRDC treats all vaccination-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.
To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.
If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.