Climate & Health Intern

The Healthy Communities team in Houston, TX supports community-based organizations as they work on community centered projects and solutions ranging from community-led monitoring of criteria and hazardous air pollutants, addressing blind spots in community exposures by collectively quantifying and mapping air toxics in residential neighborhoods and near permitted facilities in Harris County. EDF and other groups work to analyze, visualize and share data with the public, as well as local and state governments, community-led disaster planners, policy makers and regulators. We are also working to build geospatial screening and mapping tools to examine cumulative vulnerability at the neighborhood level. 

Overall Function 

The intern will contribute to EDF’s work in updating the US Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) developed by EDF in partnership with Texas A&M University. One of the primary tasks will be to assess current state of the existing 185 indicators, the current versions of the data available, and cataloging any changes. This work also includes assessment of new indicators and tool updates that are needed. By the end of the internship, the intern will have cataloged the to the existing tool for a second iteration of the CVI. The intern will also have the opportunity to support research on emerging issue areas to reduce community exposure to toxic chemicals. The intern will report to the Senior Health Scientist and work closely with other members of the Healthy Communities team. 

Key Responsibilities 

Tasks will include but are not limited to: 

• Research the status of environmental, climate, health, infrastructure, and socioeconomic indicators of CVI, including reviewing existing datasets to identify updates, gaps, or missing datasets. 

• In collaboration with EDF teams and external partners, research sources of data not currently included in the CVI that would be useful additions or to replace missing datasets. 

• Meet and collaborate with multidisciplinary EDF teams to gather and process data for updating the CVI. 

• Support research on emerging opportunities related to chemical exposure, which may include PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in drinking water and community impacts of data centers.  

• Participate in advancing EDF’s organizational effectiveness and culture goals, so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included and empowered to address environmental and organizational challenges in ways that align with EDF values. 

Qualifications 

• Must be enrolled in CUNY Brooklyn College’s Urban Sustainability Program. 

• Enrolled in a degree program with coursework or demonstrated interest in climate, environment, air quality, water quality, public health, data analysis or evaluation, or climate and environmental justice. 

• Experience using R, Python, GIS mapping, and statistical analysis is a plus. 

• Experience using Canva and Microsoft office preferred. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail oriented. 

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines. 

• Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due. 

• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds. 

• Demonstrate initiative and problem solving skills.