Internships with the China Environment Forum

Since 1997, the Wilson Center's China Environment Forum (CEF) has been the “go-to” resource for convening policy, business, research, and NGO practitioners from around the world on the most pressing energy, water, and pollution problems facing China. We play a unique, nonpartisan role in creating multi-stakeholder dialogues around China’s energy and environmental challenges, identifying new areas for collaboration. 

The China Environment Forum offers rewarding internships to students who are studying or have experience related to environmental and energy challenges in China and trans-boundary environmental issues related to China. Currently, our projects focus on US-China climate leadership to reduce GHG emissions in agriculture, plastic, climate, and development threats to vulnerable deltas in China and Southeast Asia, and China's overseas critical mineral investments in Africa and Southeast Asia, so additional background in these fields is a plus. CEF provides interns with experiences that enhance their professional research, writing, and communication skills and prepares them for careers in environmental, energy, and climate policy. 

We are no longer recruiting fall 2024 interns. Please check back later for our Spring 2025 application cycle announcement. 

Check out some pictures from our internship program in the gallery below!

CEF typically selects 2 staff assistant interns for each academic semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer terms of approximately three to four months). However, appointments can be made throughout the year for periods of varying length. No internship will exceed one year in duration, and all internships must be served in Washington, D.C, in-person.

These internships are designed to provide the individuals selected with the opportunity for practical experience in an environment that successfully mixes academic study with public policy. Current and past research topics have included the ocean plastics pipeline, choke points of water-energy-food confrontations in China, building US-China clean energy networks, food safety and waste management issues, agrifood systems, and communications. Interns will have opportunity to publish in the New Security Beat as well as relevant publications.

The primary responsibilities of this internship would be:

• Writing or editing articles for peer-reviewed or popular media, such as blog posts, on topics related to China and the environment
• Researching from Internet, library, and interview-based sources to support ongoing projects
• Events management, including planning and logistical support for conferences and panels
• Fundraising through the preparation of grants for research proposals
• Curating social media content and managing website content
• Preparing and designing publication and outreach materials
• Attending events related to the environment and current issues at Wilson Center and around Washington, D.C.

Minimum Requirements:

This opportunity is open to highly qualified undergraduates, recent graduates, or graduate students. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (or equivalent). Applicants must be current students, recent graduates (within one calendar year), and/or have been accepted to enter an advanced degree program. Non-degree seeking students are ineligible.

International students studying in the US are eligible, but they must hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa and appropriate work authorization. All international students must obtain written permission (or CPT/OPT) from their Designated School Official or Responsible Officer for visas at their university stating that they are in valid immigration status and eligible to do an internship at the Center.

The Wilson Center does NOT sponsor visas for interns. International students that are not already studying in the US on a F-1/J-1 visa must go through a university exchange program or an outside organization (internship placement agency) that will sponsor their visa.

Successful applicants should:

• Have strong English editing and writing skills
• Bonus for possessing a high fluency in both written and spoken Mandarin Chinese (with a comfort level enabling translation of documents) OR conversational Chinese
• Possess strong research skills such as in academic or non-profit work
• Be detail-oriented and able to handle multiple tasks
• Be able to work independently and as part of a group
• Have a documented interest in China, environmental studies, or both
• Be skilled in major social networking sites, including X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Weibo etc.
• Prior experience and skills in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign and strong knowledge of information graphics and data visualization best practices is preferred.

Application Process and Materials

CEF is offering a paid ($17.45/hour) internship. As a general rule, we expect individuals to be able to devote 25 - 30 hours per week, depending on your schedule.

International students are eligible, but they must hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa and appropriate work authorization, especially if they are receiving compensation for the internships. All international students must obtain written permission from their Designated School Official or Responsible Visa Officer at their university stating that they are in valid immigration status and eligible to do an internship at the Center.  Applicants must have the appropriate visa to undertake the internship. The Wilson Center is an equal opportunity employer and follows equal opportunity employment guidelines in the selection of its interns.

To apply, please submit via email to CEF@wilsoncenter.org :

1. A resume/CV 

2. A cover letter explaining your interest in CEF and/or specific research interests

3. Two references (with contact information) 

4. A writing sample (maximum 5 pages). As the responsibilities of this internship consist mainly of researching, writing, and editing, please submit a short writing sample (something you have written in the past) and elaborate on these skills in your CV and cover letter.

China Environment Forum
Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Email: cef@wilsoncenter.org

Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview. To ensure your consideration, please submit only a completed application.