New Projects, New Journeys: Internships with Global Reach

Two years ago, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the partnership between Tufts Institute of the Environment (TIE) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), a new internship program was launched for Tufts graduate students. These co-sponsored internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable experience working on global environmental policy issues over one year while engaging in cutting-edge research.

Apart from working on issues at the forefront of environmental policy, interns also get the chance to travel and participate in ongoing field work that cuts across disciplines. In past years, students have had the opportunity to work on water-related issues in the NENA region, clean energy in India, USAID’s Sustainable Water Partnership program and greenhouse gas mitigation. The internship experience is further enhanced through participation in TIE’s student development activities that take place through TIE’s Environmental Research Fellowship program.

Stefan Koester, whose internship in 2017-18 focused on improving stove design and the associated impact on health and climate, found his internship experience to be a very fulfilling one.

“I traveled to India to attend the Clean Cookstove Alliance Global Forum. There, I learned from experts, entrepreneurs, and the women using advanced stove technologies,” he said. Interns benefit from the guidance and mentorship offered by both TIE and SEI and get the opportunity to produce important environment-related research. “The partnership between SEI and TIE represents the valuable lessons of multi-disciplinary work across different organizations. I learned the necessary rigors of academic research based on field work and data collection, along with valuable communication skills,” Stefan said.

This year’s internships focus on sustainable bioenergy and development in Kenya and water security in the Mara Basin. Applications are now open.