Summer Intern - Water Policy and Management in California

PPIC’s Summer Intern Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students interested in a public policy career to work in a policy research environment. This intern project was proposed by PPIC research staff and designed around a specific set of tasks and deliverables that can be accomplished within the term of the internship.

Please complete your application by February 5, 2024. We expect to make the selection decisions for intern projects by mid-April.

Project 1: Water Policy and Management in California

Project Directors

Caity Peterson and Letitia Grenier

Project Summary

This internship will provide foundational research support to the Water Policy Center’s ongoing efforts to connect nonpartisan, objective research to real world water management debates, with the goal of putting California Water Policy on a sustainable and constructive path. Potential areas of focus may include:

• Climate adaptation for freshwater ecosystems, including legal and regulatory frameworks
• Coastal issues, such as sea level rise and urban supplies

Responsibilities

The intern(s) will work with a research team to gather and organize data and information on various topics (such as water use and its economic returns, water market design and marketing activities, and ecosystem management priorities and outcomes). This project may include reviewing documents, manipulating large datasets, developing graphics, designing and implementing surveys, and participating in interviews and workshops with relevant stakeholders and decision makers. The intern(s) will also present a summary of this work to PPIC staff at the end of the summer.

Qualifications

The ideal applicant(s) will bring undergraduate or graduate training in a field related to economics, ecology or environmental policy, agriculture, public policy, or a related field.

The intern(s) for this project should have:

• Data management experience, for example in Excel, STATA, Python, or R
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• (Preferred) Familiarity with California’s water policies and agricultural systems, as well as basic understanding of farm economics and/or the state’s ecosystems
• (Preferred) Strong computing and analytical skills, including ArcGIS or a similar spatial analysis program
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

PPIC values the wide variety of backgrounds and experiences of our research staff, and key elements in the consideration of qualified candidates include excellence; diversity of talents, backgrounds, and viewpoints; and a strong fit with the institute’s mission, values, and goals.

The Research Environment

Interns are offered the opportunity to participate in the collegial atmosphere of PPIC through daily interaction with all aspects of the institute. They are invited to join the research staff in their regular meetings and to attend PPIC’s outside events, including the institute’s public affairs programs and research briefings. PPIC offers access to the Institute of Governmental Sciences library at the University of California, Berkeley, allowing interns to work with many important databases, journals, and statistical datasets. The intern program also includes a discussion of California state policy by PPIC’s government affairs staff.

Each intern’s project will include an initial meeting with research staff and towards the end of the project, a briefing by the intern on the goals, findings, and significance of the project. Interns are encouraged to discuss their work throughout the course of the project, to meet with research staff to discuss careers in research, and to meet with communications staff to learn about outreach and building an audience of policymakers.

Location, Compensation, and Time on Project

The 2024 intern program will be conducted remotely or via a hybrid setup if circumstances allow. Compensation is $23 per hour. This full-time internship will last up to eleven weeks, ideally beginning June 10, 2024.

To Apply

As part of completing this application, submit your cover letter highlighting the particular skills you bring to the project and describing how this internship would contribute to your career development, and attach your resume as PDF or Word file.

Equal Employer Opportunity (EEO) statement:

PPIC celebrates diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents the backgrounds, perspectives, identities, and skills of California. No matter who you are, we invite you to apply for this role.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer.