Green Schools Research Intern (Remote in U.S.)

US Green Building Council

8h•$20 - $25•Remote

About The Position

As a Green Schools Research Assistant, you will contribute directly to the work of the Center for Green Schools by supporting real projects that impact our organization and mission. You will report to the project manager for school district environmental health and collaborate with teams such as Research & Innovation, IT, and Marketing. During this internship, you will focus on two distinct research questions: Question 1: What practical applications can we draw from the most recent research regarding the impact of school environments on student health? Question 2: Drawing from the content and apparent effectiveness existing school district sustainability plans, what advice can we give school districts about the creation of these plans? This work will support the Center for Green Schools’ core mission to support and train those working to implement sustainability within school systems and will help inform future decisions, policies, or improvements. You will also: Gain hands-on experience working on meaningful initiatives Develop professional and technical skills Partner with experienced professionals across teams Lead a defined project with measurable outcomes Expected Outcomes By the end of the internship, you are expected to deliver: Related to Question 1, above: Updated content for the School Health Research Library [https://centerforgreenschools.org/health-research-library], which includes conducting a literature review of research published within the last year and a half and tagging results for filters within the library search function. Detailed list of potential topics for short publications to translate school environmental health research into practice. Related to Question 2, above: Thorough list and outline of school district sustainability plans from around the U.S., including district demographics and plan content areas. Interview notes for 5-10 interviews with school district staff regarding the effectiveness of their sustainability plans and any lessons learned that they would pass along to peers. Drawing from research and interviews, a suggested list of questions that could be included in the Center’s regular job profile survey for sustainability professionals in K12 school districts. Final draft of a guidebook for school districts on the creation of sustainability plans for their districts, including an annotated template plan for their use. Final presentation for the Intern Showcase.

Nice To Haves

Prior internships, research projects, volunteer work, or relevant coursework that included qualitative research activities and substantial writing experience in green building, environmental health, environmental science, public health, or similar.
Graduate students whose studies and research interests include green building, environmental health, environmental science, public health, or another relevant field. Relevant coursework in qualitative and quantitative research methods for summarizing technical findings is particularly important.
Familiarity with: Microsoft Office programs
Analytical and critical thinking
Written and verbal communication
Organization and time management
Research and data interpretation
Collaboration and adaptability

Responsibilities

Collaborate with other members of the Center for Green Schools team and external school district stakeholders' gather insights and coordinate deliverables
Hone skills related to interview preparation, execution, and synthesis
Support literature review, data collection, and analysis
Develop presentations and written materials for leadership and partners
Participate in team meetings and learning sessions
Track progress and document work through regular written updates and meetings with supervisor
Maintain accurate records of weekly hours worked
Prepare and deliver a final project/research presentation