Science Internship

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide; Eugene, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 23,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) seeks a Science & Economics Intern for 10 weeks full-time, either remotely from anywhere in the U.S. or internationally, or in-person at the Eugene, Oregon office.

You will conduct science research, draft memos, and support legal advocacy with scientific analyses for environmental justice. Open to graduate-level environmental science students or recent grads; strong English proficiency is needed, with additional language assets welcome.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in or recently completed graduate-level environmental science studies
• International applicants welcome; describe how your academic or professional background prepares you to succeed in this role
• English language proficiency required; TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent may be used to assess proficiency

Responsibilities

• Conduct science research and draft memos on environmental topics.
• Analyze and summarize studies in peer-reviewed literature.
• Assist with drafting memos for courts and administrative submissions; briefs, analyses, or updates.
• Collaborate with a science team and receive mentorship.
• Attend meetings with local lawyer partners to observe strategy and information gathering.

Education

Graduate-level environmental science

Job description

Location

Remote (U.S. and globally) or in-person at ELAW's office in Eugene, Oregon USA.

Candidates should indicate whether they intend to work remotely, or from ELAW's Eugene office. The Eugene office is a historic building. In-person internships may include additional opportunities to interact with visiting lawyers.

Timing

10 weeks between late May and September 2027 (full-time, ~40 hours/week). We are open to considering a different timeframe to accommodate other academic schedules. If you need a different timeframe, please clearly describe that in your application materials.

Eligibility

Open to students enrolled in or who have recently completed a graduate-level studies in environmental science. International applicants with equivalent science education are welcome to apply and should describe how their academic or professional background prepares them to succeed in this role.

The Science internship with the ELAW Science Program team involves communication in English. For applicants from non-English speaking countries, we will work with applicants to identify the best method of establishing proof of English language proficiency (including but not limited to TOEFL or IELTS scores, or enrollment in an English-speaking LLM, as proof of English language proficiency). Spanish or French as a first language or proficiency is a welcome asset.

Compensation

While applicants are encouraged to seek funding through school grants or external scholarships, financial aid status is never considered during candidate selection. ELAW will supplement external funding to guarantee that all interns receive a total rate of $17.50 per hour for 10 weeks of full-time work (up to $7,000 total).

Who We Are

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) is an international NGO, registered in Oregon as a nonprofit. At ELAW, we believe that environmental protection and human rights are inseparable—and that the best solutions come from those closest to the problem. That’s why we support a global network of public interest lawyers and scientists in 80+ countries working to protect communities and ecosystems through law.

The Science & Economics team delivers timely scientific and economic expertise to global public interest advocates in pursuit of environmental justice. We respond to individual requests from public interest environmental lawyers on a broad range of topics, including public health, ecology, air and water quality, marine environments, natural resources, and climate science.

As a Science & Economics Intern, you'll directly support these efforts—gaining hands‑on experience, dedicated mentorship, and global exposure while empowering communities with science‑backed arguments for systemic change. Learn more at www.elaw.org.

What You’ll Do

Over the course of your internship, you will:

• Conduct science research and draft memos on a wide range of scientific topics.
• Analyze and summarize studies in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Assist with drafting of memos that answer questions pertaining to environmental science for use in submissions to courts and administrative agencies. briefs, regulatory analyses, or resource updates;
• Participate as a collaborative member of a science team that supports interns through meaningful mentorship; and
• Observe strategic and information gathering meetings with local lawyer partners;

Recent intern projects have included:

• Evaluation of environmental impact assessments to identify deficiencies that might be grounds for rejecting approval of environmentally harmful projects.
• Interpretation of air and water quality data to identify levels that pose risks to human health of wildlife and that might exceed health-based and ecological-based environmental standards

Who Thrives in This Internship

Successful interns tend to be:

• Deeply committed to public interest environmental justice, and human rights;
• Curious, meticulous researchers who write clearly and think critically;
• Collaborative and communicative, but self-directed in managing time and projects;
• Adaptable and open-minded, eager to learn across legal systems and cultures; and
• Multilingual or bring lived experience from frontline or underrepresented communities (preferred but not required)

What Success Looks Like

• Meaningful Scientific Contribution: You complete high-quality research and writing that directly supports frontline legal partners.
• Strong Mentorship Relationships: You build supportive, lasting connections with ELAW scientists who care deeply about your growth.
• Clarity on Career Path: You leave with insight into your values, your place in the global environmental justice movement, and what comes next.
• Positive Community Impact: Your work contributes to legal tools to better protect those defending the environment.

What Makes This Internship Unique

• Global Exposure: Interns engage with the use of scientific information in environmental advocacy with partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
• Hands‑On Experience: This is not a siloed research position—you’ll work on live issues and real‑world advocacy.
• Movement‑Aligned Mentorship: Interns receive clear supervision, collaborative feedback, and intentional support.
• A Mission‑Driven Team: Our team is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in shared values—not just expertise.
• Remote Flexibility with Real Connection: Whether remote or in Eugene, interns are included in meetings, team communications, and one‑on‑one check‑ins.

Our Commitment to Equity

We actively seek interns from diverse backgrounds and encourage applications from those historically underrepresented in the legal field.

We recognize that unpaid or underfunded internships create barriers for many students. To expand access, ELAW offers fully remote, 10-week full‑time internships compensated at $17.50 per hour (up to $7,000 total).

We do not expect all candidates to follow the same academic or professional path. If your experience doesn't match our eligibility criteria exactly but you’ve completed rigorous science education that you believe is equivalent to two years of graduate‑level science education — we encourage you to explain in your cover letter how your background prepares you to succeed in this internship.

ELAW is committed to equity, inclusion, and justice in our work and in our workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, or any other protected identity.