Position Description and Application Information
APPLICATION PACKETS ARE DUE BY FEBRUARY 5, 2024, 11:59 P.M. ET.
The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) Summer Internship Program provides undergraduate students opportunities to help address issues impacting coastal communities by combining social and environmental conservation sciences. Through this program, IISG’s interns will gain knowledge and skills in practices that help Lake Michigan coastal communities make more informed decisions about resource management and everyday activities. These paid internships may include research, communications, and/or outreach activities. Applicants may have the opportunity to participate in activities (e.g., attending a professional conference) outside of their specific internship duties.
As part of this program, IISG offers required professional development trainings. Throughout their employment, each intern will participate in professional development opportunities that will require approximately eight hours or one hour per week; one or more of the sessions may take more than an hour, so in some weeks, no training will be offered.
INTERN POSITIONS
Water Affordability
Mentor/Supervisor Name: Margaret Schneemann
Description: IISG is seeking a water affordability intern to work remotely with the IISG water resource economist. Candidates should have a strong interest in one or more of the following areas: water policy/governance, utility rate setting, data management, and urban planning. The successful applicant will:
- Lead the collection of water pricing and policy data for the northeastern Illinois region. This data will be used to inform water affordability tools and research to advance water equity objectives.
- Gather data from current municipal ordinances and websites, conduct phone interviews, and research water pricing and governance practices.
- Participate in regional and state partner meetings about water rate setting, water affordability, and water policy when available.
- According to time and interest, contribute to data analysis and development of research and outreach products.
The successful applicant will be an employee of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Experience with Excel spreadsheets.
- Experience with survey research, including conducting telephone interviews.
- Comfortable working independently to meet project goals and deadlines.
- Able to work remotely, including having necessary technology (computer, internet connection, video conferencing capability).
- Able to conduct telephone interviews, including having a reliable phone connection and call-back number.
Preferred:
- Experience with data management.
- Detailed-oriented with strong organizational skills.
- Coursework in social science research methods.
Location: Remote
All interns in the IISG program will be paid $17.00 per hour and work up to 37.5 hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks (June 3–July 26). Additional weeks may be available at the discretion of each intern’s mentor and are noted in the position description. Occasional work during evenings and/or weekends may be required. Each intern will be a student employee of Purdue University or the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Application packets are due by February 5, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET. Successful applications will be notified of their acceptance by March 29, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET.
Eligibility
- Undergraduates currently enrolled in any 2- or 4-year accredited U.S. community college, college, or university.
- Graduate students are not eligible.
- Applicants should be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or have an active F-1 visa.
- Those who have previously participated in the IISG Summer Student Internship or Community Engaged Internship programs are not eligible.
Each intern is responsible for the cost of housing plus transportation to and from their workplace. See each project description for information on whether the position is remote, in-person, or hybrid.
Application
Applicants should submit their materials to the 2024 IISG Summer Student Internship Program using the submission button below. All questions should be directed to Angela Archer, amcbride@purdue.edu, 765-496-3722.
Applications should include:
- Cover letter − tell us about yourself, how your experiences will benefit this internship, and how this opportunity will help you with your career goals. (1−2 pages).
- Curriculum vitae or resume detailing education and work experiences (2 pages maximum).
- Ranked preference of the internship position.
- Copy of unofficial transcript(s).
- One letter of recommendation, which can be sent directly to amcbride@purdue.edu on your behalf or included in your application (1 page max).
- Where or how you learned about the IISG Internship Program. (This information is used to improve future communications to interested students about IISG opportunities.)
EMPLOYMENT STATEMENTS
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
The people of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant value diversity, equity, and inclusion in both our organization and the communities we serve. Therefore, we strive to make access to research, outreach, education, and employment opportunities available to everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, place of origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, disability, or veteran status. The full IISG values statement can be found at https://iiseagrant.org/about/our-values/.
Purdue University
Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran. The University will conduct its programs, services and activities consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and orders and in conformance with the procedures and limitations as set forth in Purdue’s Equal Opportunity, Equal Access and Affirmative Action policy which provides specific contractual rights and remedies. Additionally, the University promotes the full realization of equal employment opportunity for women, minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans through its affirmative action program.
University of Illinois
The University of Illinois System is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all Federal, State and local laws regarding it. EEO is a set of standards that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including recruiting, hiring, disciplinary actions, terminations, promotions, pay practices, training, wages, and benefits.