Internships
The School of Environmental Sustainability connects students with internships that provide valuable hands-on experience in the environmental field. We offer internships on campus and partner with premier Chicago-area organizations to provide opportunities beyond the university. Most of the following SES internships are paid positions supported primarily by donor gifts. In addition, students can find many more outside internships in the Chicago region, providing an expansive range of experiences in environmental jobs.
Current SES Internships with External Organizations
SES partners with external organizations to offer internships on a per-semester basis. Job descriptions and schedules vary based on the needs of the host sites. Selected students will commit to working with host sites for a minimum of 10 hours per week, at a rate of $16.20 per hour, for up to a maximum of 140 hours ($2,268.00) for the internship duration. (Wages may vary slightly based on state minimum wage rate increases). The internship is funded by Loyola University (hours are logged in KRONOS), and the total number of weekly hours for all Loyola positions combined cannot exceed 19.5 hours. Please note: Students can apply for multiple positions but can only hold one external internship position at a time.
To apply, students must submit a one-page resume including relevant courses and experiences and a cover letter outlining how this internship could help them advance their goals and enrich their Loyola experience. Send materials to Karen Schauwecker at kschauwecker@luc.edu by 4 pm on Friday, December 13, 2024. Note the following instructions:
- Please combine the resume and cover letter into one PDF document before submitting it.
- Name the document “last name_first name_name of organization.”
- If you are applying for multiple sites, please submit separate applications.
- Email the materials to uwekschauwecker@luc.edu using the subject line “External Internship application materials.”
Applications will be shared with the host organizations, and their staff members will contact students regarding interviews. Selections will be determined before the start of the fall semester and all applicants will be notified. Please email kschauwecker@luc.edu with any questions.
Positions available:
Chicago Council on Science and Technology, Spring 2025 Internship
Chicago Council on Science and Technology is a non-profit organization in Chicago that provides science and sustainability programs throughout neighborhoods in Chicago. This SES internship at C2ST will provide a student with skills in science communication, marketing, event planning and promotion, volunteer organization, and general community outreach. The intern will also develop science communication content for the C2ST website and social media channels. The internship position at C2ST is mostly virtual, with some in-person components.
Application deadline: December 16, 2024
Internship details: C2ST Internship - Spring 2025
Edgewater Environmental Coalition, Spring 2025 Internship
EEC is a coalition of community members and environmental stewards. The organization is looking for an energetic, community-minded individual to assist non-profit leaders in managing neighborhood-based advocacy, projects, and other organization priorities. This position includes a combination of project management, public, and volunteer communication, marketing and public outreach, and administrative tasks.
Application deadline: December 16, 2024
Internship details: Edgewater Environmental Coalition Internship - Spring 2025
Environmental Law and Policy Center, Spring 2025 Policy Internship
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy organization. EPLC offers several policy and science internships for undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants should have a strong academic record, excellent writing and analytical skills, and a demonstrated interest in and commitment to public interest and environmental advocacy.
Application deadline: December 16, 2024
Internship details: ELPC Policy Internship - Spring 2025
Environmental Law and Policy Center, Spring 2025 Communications Internship
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy organization. EPLC seeks a talented intern to join their communications team. The candidate will have the opportunity to work as part of an integrated communications team that leverages web, e-mail, social media, reports, and traditional media to promote ELPC’s advocacy efforts in clean energy, clean water, clean transportation, climate change, and natural resource protection.
Application deadline: December 16, 2024
Internship details: ELPC Communications Internship - Spring 2025
Institute of Cultural Affairs Internship, Spring 2025 Internship
The Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) promotes a just and equitable society by catalyzing sustainable communities and demonstrating sustainable practices to reverse the negative human impact on the planet. ICA seeks dedicated and driven student interns who are taking coursework in the sustainability field(s) and are interested in community and human development.
Application deadline: December 16, 2024
Internship details: ICA-Internship-Spring-2025
Additional SES Internships
SES Lab Assistant
The School of Environmental Sustainability is seeking a qualified undergraduate student assistant to contribute to the mission of the SES through the maintenance of research and teaching labs. This position will work closely with the SES Analytical Lab Manager on cleaning and organizing the labs, maintaining inventories, preparing solutions, etc.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
SES Communications Internship
Two internship positions will support communications efforts for Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability. Key focuses of the position are writing, social media, and website content management. Depending on the interests and skills of individual interns, activities may also include graphic design or video production.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
SES Program Assistant (Graduate Student)
The School of Environmental Sustainability is seeking a qualified graduate student to join the team as a program assistant to contribute to the mission of the SES through the implementation of special projects and events. This position will work closely with the SES Director of Strategy and Planning on the implementation of special projects and events, including the annual Climate Change Conference/Symposium, the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge, curricular mapping, strategic planning, and other projects as needed.
Apply by sending your resume/CV and a cover letter describing your interest in the position, including the contact information for two references, to shokenmaier@luc.edu.
Application Deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
SES Searle Biodiesel Lab Internship
The School of Environmental Sustainability’s Biodiesel Program is seeking qualified student interns to operate the Biodiesel Program in the Searle Biodiesel Lab. This paid internship opportunity is open to students of every level and from every discipline. Interns work in a team capacity to run the lab’s day-to-day operations (biodiesel production, oil collection, waste processing). Interns also take leadership roles on projects in the lab (new product development, education outreach, marketing, energy efficiency). Interns will have opportunities to work in chemistry, product design, business operations, marketing, and research.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
SES Urban Agriculture Internship
Internships in the SES Urban Agriculture program are aimed at providing an entry level hands-on learning experience in agricultural production and food systems for LUC students. This is a four-month long, unpaid Internship with a minimum commitment of 10 hours/week. Accepted students have the option to enroll in ENVS 395 or ENVS 395 Capstone to receive 3 credit hours.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
SES Urban Agriculture Team Leader
Team Leaders support the Urban Agriculture program goals and lead small teams of students in the maintenance and operations of the aquaponics and hydroponics systems, Greenhouse Lab, mycology lab, farmers market, plant sales, and outdoor food production. Team leaders will be assigned management-level responsibilities in these areas with reporting requirements and weekly meetings. This position is aimed at LUC students with previous experience in food production, current SES sood systems and sustainable sgriculture (FSSA) majors, graduate program students, and third and fourth year undergraduate students.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Office of Sustainability Internship, Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
The Office of Sustainability seeks qualified student interns to contribute to Loyola’s campus sustainability programs. Sustainability reaches into many corners of the University and involves partnership building to set strategies and goals to create a sustainability culture through action. Interns will work in a team capacity (Student Sustainability Engagement team or Sustainable Materials Management team) with each other and staff to support data collection, conduct outreach, and have a leadership role with events and projects related to waste reduction, transportation, energy, and other campus sustainability initiatives.
Application deadline: August 8, 2024
Learn more and apply: Office of Sustainability Internships 2024-2025
Office of Sustainability Graduate Internship - Communications and Engagement
The Office of Sustainability is seeking qualified student interns to contribute to Loyola’s campus sustainability programs. Sustainability reaches into many corners of the University and involves partnership building to set strategies and goals in creating a culture of sustainability through action. The graduate intern position will work closely with Office of Sustainability staff as well as the larger undergraduate intern team to develop communications materials, conduct outreach, and have a leadership role with events and projects related to waste reduction, transportation, energy, and other campus sustainability initiatives.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Office of Sustainability Graduate Internship
The Office of Sustainability is seeking qualified student interns to contribute to Loyola’s campus sustainability programs. Sustainability reaches into many corners of the University and involves partnership building to set strategies and goals in creating a culture of sustainability through action. The graduate intern position will work closely with Office of Sustainability staff as well as the larger undergraduate intern team to collect and analyze campus sustainability data, conduct research, and have a leadership role with events and projects related to waste reduction, transportation, energy, and other campus sustainability initiatives.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Healing Earth Internship
The Healing Earth (HE) Student Worker supports the HE team in administration, organization, research, outreach, communication, translations (if applicable), and miscellaneous tasks that are associated with the Healing Earth project. Healing Earth is a free, online environmental science textbook for upper-level secondary school students, beginning college students, and adult learners.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Delta Institute Internship
The Delta Institute is a nonprofit organization formed in 1998 that works in partnership with business, government and communities in the Great Lakes region to create and implement innovative, market-driven solutions. Delta works to build environmental resilience, economic vitality, and healthy communities. You can learn more about the Delta Institute at www.delta-institute.org.
Depending on the specifics of the individual intern, interns provide a variety of different services in areas like writing and content development for social media and web platforms, and providing support for events, fundraising initiatives, and project communications. Delta values the diverse perspectives our interns bring to our work, and interns are invited to our staff meetings and any relevant project meetings during their internship.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Glenwood Sunday Market Internship
Three Glenwood Market internship positions will be available for the Summer/Fall 2023 semesters with the Rogers Park Business Alliance. Internship start date is June 1 and the end date is October 28, 10-15 hours per week, at a rate of $15 per hour. Students can take the internship for Experiential Learning/Internship credit (ENVS 395).
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Collections Internship, Fall 2024
Under the supervision of Collections staff, the intern will assist with processing botanical specimens into the herbarium, with a focus on scanning specimens, updating catalogue records in Arctos, and collection reorganization. Other duties may include preservation repairs to herbarium specimens, cataloguing, or documentation research. The intern will complete one blog post about their internship experience to share with museum audiences.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Conservation Biology/Animal Husbandry Internship, Fall 2024
This internship involves working with animals in the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (PNNM) conservation programs, such as Blanding’s turtles and smooth green snakes, as well as all animals in the Living Collections, including snakes, amphibians, fish, box turtles and aquatic turtles, birds, and invertebrates. Activities will include feeding, cleaning, and handling.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
Stein Learning Garden Internship
A fall semester 2023 internship is available at Stein Learning Gardens, located at 7840 Sout Racine in Chicago. The student will work at least 10 hours per week, at a rate of $16 per hour, for up to 140 hours ($2,240) for the internship duration. The student can take the internship for experiential learning/internship credit.
The intern will play a crucial role in supporting the organization's mission by assisting with community engagement and helping to plan educational programming. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in urban farming, environmental education, and community development while positively impacting the community.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
WasteNot Compost Internship, Fall 2024
WasteNot Compost invites SES students to join their internship program to learn more about the commercial composting industry.
Application deadline: Closed. Check back for future openings.
External Internships
The Chicago area is home to diverse businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies that provide exceptional environmental internships. We strongly encourage all our students to seek early work experience by participating in one or more internships during their undergraduate careers. Internships help students understand various environmental careers and provide valuable work experience that will help new graduates get hired. Loyola students can find internships and jobs outside SES on Handshake.