Fall 2025 Science Externship – Washington, DC Regional Office

Earthjustice’s Washington, DC Regional Office (DCRO) is seeking applications from graduate students for one part-time science externship during fall 2025. We are seeking those who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment, and who are eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship. The successful candidates may work remotely within the U.S. or on a hybrid schedule from one of Earthjustice’s offices.Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy, and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are guided by a passionate, ambitious vision for the future for people and our planet: until justice stands for all, we will never rest. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

DCRO serves both as a regional office for issues arising in the mid-Atlantic states, and as a center for litigation on important national environmental issues. The office’s legal docket currently includes litigation to protect public health and the environment from air pollution; prompt the regulation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; protect streams, wetlands, and other waters from pollution and outright destruction; and advance energy efficiency.The extern should be a graduate student with a background in environmental science, biology, chemistry, engineering, public health, or a related field who is interested in applying their skills to environmental advocacy. The ideal candidate will have experience with and/or have taken coursework on environmental health (e.g., epidemiology, toxicology, human health risk assessment) topics. The successful candidate will research various scientific questions to assist in Earthjustice’s advocacy work before federal agencies and courts.

Responsibilities: Under the direction of a staff scientist, the extern may:

• Draft comment letters to federal agencies, factsheets for community partners, blog posts, and internal memos summarizing research topics.
• Engage with Congressional members and staffers on Capitol Hill.
• Research and effectively synthesize unfamiliar areas of environmental science and public health.
• Explain scientific concepts to non-scientists both orally and in writing.

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in a graduate program during fall 2025, preferably in fields related to environmental science and/or public health.
• Must be eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection and environmental or social justice.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Strong work ethic.
• Initiative, creative thinking, and the ability to work collegially with others.
• Ability to efficiently identify, evaluate, and synthesize scientific and technical information that is both scientifically sound and compelling for non-scientific audiences.
• Ability to conduct literature reviews and basic quantitative analyses and mapping skills.
• Commitment of 15-20 hours/week.

Compensation: Externs are unpaid and must receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement for their work with Earthjustice.To Apply:
Interested candidates should submit the following materials by 5:00pm PT on May 21, 2025 via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning May 22 and offers will be extended no later than July 2.

• Resume.
• One-page cover letter that addresses: (1) Why you want to work with Earthjustice’s DC Regional Office, (2) The number of hours, or reasonable estimate, you are available to work per week, and (3) An indication of any applicable deadlines or requirements that are relevant to your ability to accept an offer.
• Additional Documents (select Add Files in Jobvite): 2-5-page writing sample (can be an excerpt of a longer piece, and writing done for school assignments is fine).
• Finalist(s) will be asked to submit 2 references, including one academic and one professional/volunteer reference.

Information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process. Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. Earthjustice only considers applications submitted for current openings via Jobvite. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via Jobvite will not be reviewed or retained.Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

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