Used Passenger Vehicle Market and Scrappage Model Intern

Do you want to begin a career in academic or policy research? Are you interested in contributing to impactful, balanced research that is aimed at improving environmental, energy and natural resource decisions? A summer research internship with Resources for the Future (RFF) might be right for you. The RFF summer internship program provides an opportunity for students to prepare for careers that engage in academic and policy-relevant research. Interns are essential members of the Resources for the Future (RFF) Research and Policy Engagement team. They are responsible for providing technical support that, under the direction of RFF Fellows, allows for the production of compelling and impactful research that aligns with RFF’s mission of improving environmental, energy and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement.

Resources for the Future (RFF) is an independent, nonprofit research institution in Washington, DC. Our mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. We work with leading national and global partners—from technologists at NASA to climate scientists at our new European institute—to apply an economic lens to climate change and other global environmental and resource challenges of the 21st century. We’re leaders in our field: RFF was recently named #1 for environmental economics from a field of 8,000 global institutions. RFF’s research and engagement activities center on the economics of: (1) designing smart emissions reduction strategies; (2) Confronting risks and building resilience; and (3) cross-cutting issues and strategies. RFF seeks impact with decisionmakers in key venues, including at the federal, state, and international levels, and with the business community. Much of RFF’s current work is focused on strategies for addressing the climate challenge.

Our research internships are a 10-week program paid at $15 an hour for up to 35 hours a week. Internships this year will be conducted virtually unless otherwise noted.

Applications will remain open until March 8th. We anticipate making hiring decisions by April 16th. Internships will run from June 7, 2021 to August 13, 2021. Start or end dates can be changed with an approved exception.

Projects currently recruiting for interns include:

• Control of Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Energy Transition Policy
• Wildfire, Climate Adaptation, and Rural Communities
• Parks, Green Space, and Environmental Justice
• Developing US & Canadian Electric Power Transmission Network Models
• Use of Energy Savings Devices on Heavy Duty Truck Trailers

Duration: Our research internships are a 10-week program paid at $15 an hour for up to 35 hours a week. They will be conducted virtually unless otherwise noted. Internships will run from June 7, 2021 to August 13, 2021. Start or end dates can be changed with an approved exception.

We are seeking an intern to support an ongoing project that will build a used passenger vehicle market equilibrium and scrappage model using a variety of different data sources, including the National Household travel Survey. The project requires merging the used vehicle equilibrium and scrappage model with an existing model of the new vehicle market. The intern will:

• Assist with organizing and compiling datasets required to build the model.
• Code used vehicle equilibrium conditions.
• Calibrate vehicle scrappage schedules.

• Education: Priority is given to candidates enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that is relevant to RFF’s research and mission. Highly motivated candidates in the social and natural sciences with training in economics and quantitative methods, or with a keen interest in public policy, are encouraged to apply.
• Desirable Skills
  • Strong writing and communication skills
  • Experience and expertise with large datasets
  • Strong information and data gathering skills
  • Strong writing and communication skills

To Apply: All applications must be submitted electronically. Please fill out the application and supplemental questions and upload the following, beginning the name of each file with your last name:

• A cover letter that explains your interest in and how your qualifications match to the specific project.
• Resume summarizing your experiences and qualifications for the position
• Copy of your academic transcript(s) (unofficial transcripts are acceptable at this stage)
• The name, address, phone number and email information for three references