About the Program:

Electric School Bus Initiative Overview

The 480,000 school buses in the United States account for 80% of all buses nationwide, yet less than 1% are electrified. School bus electrification represents a unique opportunity to accelerate decarbonization while bringing direct, tangible benefits to every community in the United States. This transition can help make electric mobility the new normal for an entire generation.Through the U.S. Electric School Bus Initiative, funded by the Bezos Earth Fund, WRI’s aim is to create unstoppable momentum over the next five years on a path toward electrifying the entire fleet of U.S. school buses. Overcoming the cost, infrastructure and policy barriers to mass adoption will require a systemic approach that engages an entire ecosystem of actors and prioritizes inclusive planning with impacted communities.

WRI will achieve this by partnering with key stakeholders and project partners to work on five key pillars: 1) aggregate demand, 2) scale manufacturing, 3) develop innovative financing models, 4) influence federal and state policy, and 5) galvanize communities and stakeholders to push for an equitable and comprehensive shift towards electric school buses.

This position is hybrid and will require a few days per week in our Washington DC office.

What you will do:

As an Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Intern, you will play a key role on the Battery and Supply Chain team within the WRI Electric School Bus Initiative. You will also interact with the public and private sectors, including electric vehicle manufacturers, battery suppliers and recycling companies, non-profits, and related stakeholders to ensure capacity to responsibly scale electric school bus production. You will engage in research and analysis on topics like electric vehicle battery circularity – second-life use and recycling, electric vehicle industry trends, workforce equity, and other electric school bus data. You will support the development of external-facing knowledge products and communications materials. You may also assist in organizing working groups with stakeholders.

Internship Learning Outcomes:

Your main duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Track industry news and events related to electric school buses.
• Conduct research and writing activities on electric school bus (ESB) prices, battery circularity, and workforce equity topics.
• Engage with the private sector in meetings, steering committee, and working groups.
• Learn about complex supply chains and batteries in electric vehicle production.
• Embed equity considerations in electric school bus industry projects.
• Contribute written and graphic content to newsletters, publications, reports, and presentations.
• Assist team members with collecting and organizing data from various sources.

The intern will gain experience in the following areas:

• Technical research and writing
• Electric vehicle industry and supply chains
• EV battery circularity
• Just transition and workforce equity
• Public speaking & external communication

What you will need:

• Pursuing or completed a bachelor’s or master’ s degree in transportation, supply chain management, electrical engineering, electrochemistry, environmental/sustainability topics, clean energy, business, or a related field.
• Fluency in English
• Demonstrated competence in written communications.
• Research, analytical, and oral communication experience.
• Previous experience in creating original projects, products, or research activities.
• Familiarity or interest in electric vehicles and climate change
• Experience with external engagement.
• Experience related to electric vehicles, manufacturing, transportation planning, energy storage, or another relevant field.
• Experience working with supply chain businesses, battery companies, educational institutions, community-based non-profits, and/or environmental justice groups.
• Demonstrated extracurricular interest in electric vehicle planning, sustainable transportation planning, or electric grid planning.

Compensation

The pay for this internship opportunity is$20/hourfor undergrads; $22/hour for graduates and $24/hour for PhD students.

Length of Contract:

This is a part-time (20 hours/week), 6-month internship with a flexible start and end date.

Location:

• This is a hybrid internship that will be based out of our Washington D.C. office.

• You will be required to work in the Washington DC office at least 8 days per month.

• WRI will provide a laptop for the duration of your internship.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by September 2, 2024. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

About Us: Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia, and the United States, aswell as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, and other candidates who wish to gain knowledge about a specific area of our work. We strive to attract diverse, intellectually driven candidates who have a passion for sustainability and development. WRI provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all our programs.

WRI is committed to advancing gender, racial, and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.