A complete application consists of:

• An application
• Transcripts – Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional references

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, send an email to EPArpp@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

An undergraduate student internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) in Washington, DC.

This project has a special emphasis on community engagement approaches that meet the needs of vulnerable populations by focusing on documenting environmental justice history, and analyzing and documenting various strategies being employed across the country which advance environmental justice actions in non-traditional ways. The participant's experience using social media tools and mass communication techniques will help communicate and/or disseminate the history of the environmental justice movement over a span of time using written, verbal, and technology approaches.

The research participant will be exposed to web technology, social media tools, mass communication applications, and information system development techniques. He/she will have the benefit of learning about the environmental justice movement, EPA’s role in communities with environmental justice concerns, and environmental justice activities around the country. Additionally, the participant will be enhancing their written and verbal communication skills while learning how to apply and develop nationally targeted communication products using multimedia tools and information technology.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant may be involved in one or more of the following team activities.

• developing and promoting videos, digital photography, info-graphics, and social media content that highlight communities with environmental justice issues and key environmental justice leaders at the local level. This includes involvement with EPA staff in engaging and capturing experiences of storytellers, videographers, photographers, graphics artists, and audio engineers.

• developing and delivering presentations, webinars, social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pintrest, etc.), blogs and other communication material for public dissemination at conferences, at information booths, via kiosks, etc.

• developing materials that teach facilitation and conducting outreach in communities with varied and unique communication needs as a result of environmental justice issues. This includes engaging with EPA staff and managers, in developing new communications products and outreach initiatives that support community efforts.

• researching, categorizing, and documenting activities for video products produced from the collection of materials that include historical data, photos, archival footage and video clips, interviews, and historic communication materials (photos, maps, etc.) for public dissemination through social media and web sites.

• developing community focused training materials for communities and technical training materials that include learning how to use the various functions and features of EJSCREEN and developing maps and data sets.

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA.

Applicants must be undergraduate students, have completed at least two years of study, and are currently enrolled pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental policy, or communications at an accredited U.S. college or university. Students will be requred to provide proof of enrollment each semester. Experience with multimedia production is desired.

The appointment is part time for one year and may be renewed upon recommendation of EPA and contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend.  Funding may be made available to reimburse the participant’s travel expenses to present the results of his/her research at scientific conferences. No funding will be made available to cover travel costs for pre-appointment visits, relocation costs, tuition and fees, or participant’s health insurance. The participant must show proof of health and medical insurance. The participant does not become an EPA employee.

The desired start date is October 3, 2016.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design (6 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (1 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (1 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (1 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (4 )