Penn’s Civic Sustainability Fellowship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students at Penn. This eleven-week paid summer program places research interns in summer positions with city agencies and non-profit organization to support the City’s sustainability objectives and provide professional development and real-world learning opportunities to Penn students.

Fellowship Placements: Civic Sustainability Fellows are matched with organizations from across the region. Organizations have included:

• City of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability
• Philadelphia Energy Authority
• City of Philadelphia’s Division of Energy and Climate Solutions
• Solarize Philly
• Philadelphia Green Capital Corp
• The School District of Philadelphia
• UC Green

Requirements: To be eligible for this internship, applicants should have strong communication skills, project management capabilities, and knowledge of environmental sustainability topics such as energy efficiency, waste and recycling, transportation, or urban greening. Previous experience working with diverse stakeholders is also preferred. Specifics requirements are based on each individual internship. 

Job Duties: Fellows are responsible for implementing specific projects and initiatives as directed by their project partners. Fellows and project partners collaborate to define objectives and anticipated outcomes. Additionally, fellows are expected to measure and evaluate the success of their projects and provide recommendations for future improvements. Each fellow will present their work to the Penn Sustainability Office, their project partner, and other stakeholders at the end of the summer term. 

Internship Details: The program offers three-to-four paid 30 hour/week positions every summer. The fellowship period spans the academic summer term and all work is completed in-person. Applications open in February and are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. Preference is given to applicants who are eligible for work-study opportunities. 

Overall, the Penn Civic Sustainability Fellows program offers a unique opportunity for Penn students to gain hands-on experience in sustainability-focused roles within city agencies and non-profit organizations. It aligns with the city's sustainability objectives while fostering professional growth and community engagement among the interns.