Research Intern - Sustainable Food Systems

Council on Energy, Environment and Water; New Delhi; On-site; INR 167,000 - 279,000; Full time

Job summary

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) in New Delhi is offering a Research Intern position in Sustainable Food Systems. The role involves supporting analytical and policy research at the intersection of food, energy, and sustainability.

The candidate will work on literature reviews, data analysis, modelling, and stakeholder engagement to help develop evidence-based insights for policy notes and briefs.

Qualifications

• Candidates should be pursuing or have recently completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Energy Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Sustainability Studies, Agricultural Economics, Engineering or related fields.
• 0–2 years of relevant experience, including internships or academic projects, is desirable.
• Familiarity with Excel and data analysis tools; exposure to R, Python, STATA or similar is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews on topics related to agriculture, energy, climate mitigation, and sustainability.
• Support quantitative and qualitative analysis of large datasets.
• Assist in developing analytical frameworks, scenario assessments, and evidence synthesis.
• Prepare visualisations, dashboards, and analytical outputs.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Data cleaning

Excel proficiency

Statistical software

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree

Tools

R

Python

STATA

Excel

Job description

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi
Research Intern - Sustainable Food Systems

At CEEW, we are deliberate about what we stand for (and what we don’t stand for!) as an employer. So, if the below description strikes a chord, we would love to hear from you!

At CEEW, we build careers in public policy

• We offer strong visionary leadership – with emphasis on research and impact at scale
• We actively promote leadership by initiative
• We celebrate talent and ambition
• You will be surrounded by smart people who will challenge you and help you grow
• You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations
• Curiosity and irreverence as well as responsibility come together at CEEW
• You will get best in market remuneration
• We provide a safe space for all
• At CEEW, your life is your example for others

Designation offered:
Research Intern

Team/ Focus area:
Sustainable Food Systems

Reporting to:
Programme Associate / Consultant

Purpose:

The Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) team at CEEW works at the intersection of food, agriculture, energy, climate, and livelihoods to support evidence-based pathways towards sustainable development.

The Research Intern will support ongoing analytical and policy research related to food systems transformation, resource efficiency, land‑use transitions, and the role of energy in enabling sustainable agricultural development. The role offers an opportunity to contribute to high‑impact research, engage with diverse datasets, and support the development of policy‑relevant insights.

About the Focus Area

The SFS team seeks to reimagine India's food systems by aligning environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and livelihood outcomes. The programme works across themes such as agricultural transitions, emissions mitigation, resource efficiency, food security, energy‑agriculture linkages, and sustainable land‑use pathways.

The team collaborates with governments, research institutions, industry stakeholders, and civil society organizations to generate evidence and support decision‑making.

Key Responsibilities

Research and Analysis

• Conduct literature reviews on topics related to agriculture, energy systems, climate mitigation, food security, and sustainable development.
• Support quantitative and qualitative analysis of agricultural, energy, environmental, and socio‑economic datasets.
• Assist in developing analytical frameworks, scenario assessments, and evidence synthesis.
• Contribute to data collection, cleaning, validation, and interpretation.

Modelling and Data Support

• Support the development and refinement of analytical and modelling exercises.
• Work with large datasets to derive insights on resource use, land‑use change, agricultural productivity, and sustainability outcomes.
• Assist in preparing visualisations, dashboards, and analytical outputs.

Policy Research

• Track relevant policy developments at national and international levels.
• Analyze policy instruments, government programmes, and emerging trends related to agriculture, energy, and sustainability.
• Support preparation of policy notes, briefs, and background research documents.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support stakeholder mapping and preparation of engagement materials.
• Assist in organising consultations, workshops, and expert discussions.
• Document key insights from meetings and stakeholder interactions.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop presentations, briefs, and research summaries.
• Contribute to internal knowledge products and external publications.
• Support dissemination of research findings to technical and non‑technical audiences.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Candidates should be pursuing or have recently completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in one of the following disciplines:

• Energy Studies
• Economics
• Public Policy
• Sustainability Studies
• Agricultural Economics
• Engineering (Energy, Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical, or related disciplines)
• Related interdisciplinary fields

Experience

• 0–2 years of relevant experience, including internships, research assistantships, academic projects, or professional experience.
• Prior exposure to energy systems, climate policy, sustainability, agriculture, or resource management is desirable.
• Experience working with datasets and conducting policy or research analysis will be an advantage.
• Analytical Skills
• Strong quantitative and analytical abilities.
• Ability to synthesize information from diverse sources and identify key insights.
• Familiarity with Excel and data analysis tools.
• Exposure to statistical software (R, Python, STATA, or similar) is desirable.
• Ability to work with large datasets and perform basic data cleaning and analysis.
• Energy and Sustainability Understanding
• Foundational understanding of energy systems, climate change, sustainability, or environmental policy.
• Interest in the intersections between agriculture, energy, and sustainable development.
• Communication
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to present complex findings in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn.

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Compensation
Competitive compensation – commensurate to the experience and matching the best of standards adopted by industry or other similar organisations for similar roles.

Application Process

CEEW is an equal opportunity employer and the selection process does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, or sexuality.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified by us.* We appreciate your interest.

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