The WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition at World Resources Institute (WRI) is hiring an Energy Research Intern for a full-time, 3-month paid internship based in Washington, D.C. Pay is $20/hour for undergrads, $22/hour for graduates and $24/hour for PhD students. The role is hybrid, with at least 8 days per month in the office, and combines research support with project coordination. Applicants need existing US work authorization at the time of application and must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy, and every detail is set out below.
About the WRI Polsky Energy Center
The WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition (WRI Polsky Energy Center) delivers pragmatic, scalable and urgently needed solutions to achieve a clean, abundant, affordable and reliable energy future. It harnesses WRI's renowned analytical power, convening ability and global expertise.
The center works with:
🏛️ Governments
🔌 Utilities
🏭 Companies
🏦 Financial institutions
🤝 Civil society
Together with these partners, it looks for bold solutions to the barriers that stand in the way of the energy transition, including:
🗼 Modernizing grids
💳 Unlocking financing
⛏️ Sourcing critical minerals responsibly
👷 Building a future-ready workforce
What Does the Energy Research Intern Do?
As an intern supporting the WRI Polsky Energy Center's global research and data function, you will gain hands-on experience developing high-impact research to advance the clean energy transition. The role offers exposure to applied research careers in a non-profit setting, with opportunities to see how research translates into real-world impact.
The internship includes two strands of work: research support and project coordination.
Research Support Responsibilities
📘 Supporting the development of one or more major research products, which may include the center's flagship report on electricity demand growth and/or other reports
🔥 Possible report topics include clean industrial heat, electric transport as a grid asset or critical minerals, depending on program needs and the intern's interest and expertise
📚 Literature reviews
📊 Data gathering and analysis
🧩 Research synthesis
✍️ Drafting content
🔎 Fact-checking
✅ Quality assurance
Project Coordination Responsibilities
🗓️ Coordinating team meetings, including scheduling, agendas, notes and action items
🎤 Organizing knowledge-sharing events such as brownbags and research seminars
🗂️ Supporting knowledge management and documentation systems
🌐 Facilitating communication across WRI's global research network
What You Will Learn During the Internship
Through this internship you will:
💡 Deepen your knowledge of energy transition challenges such as large load growth, grid modernization, critical minerals and workforce issues
🔬 Gain exposure to how rigorous, independent research is produced and used to create impact by a mission-driven, non-profit organization
🧭 Gain experience coordinating across global, multidisciplinary research teams
🛠️ Develop skills in research design, data analysis and project coordination
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Who Can Apply? Requirements for the Role
🎓 Enrollment in or recent completion of a master's or PhD program in a relevant field, for example energy, environmental science, economics, public policy, engineering or sustainability
🧠 Familiarity with one or more of the center's priority themes (listed below)
📐 Skills in research design, data analysis and project coordination
The Center's Priority Themes
Candidates should be familiar with at least one of these themes of the WRI Polsky Energy Center:
🏗️ Transmission and distribution infrastructure
💵 Finance
🪨 Critical minerals
🏢 Large buyer energy demand
📍 Clean energy siting
🚀 Energy entrepreneurship and workforce issues
Work Authorization and Residency Rules
🪪 Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission
🚫 WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position
🏠 To be eligible, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment
How Much Does the WRI Energy Research Internship Pay?
The internship is paid by the hour, depending on your study level:
🎒 Undergrads: $20/hour
📜 Graduates: $22/hour
🧪 PhD students: $24/hour
WRI states that it is committed to pay transparency and equity among all employees and maintains an environment where pay transparency is encouraged. It complies with local laws in all employment-related activities, including compensation, pay transparency and pay equity. If you are comparing this role with other placements, our guide on how paid internships and funded traineeships really work explains the difference between an employer-paid internship and a grant-funded one.
Schedule, Length and Work Arrangement
⏱️ Work schedule: full time
📆 Length of contract: a full-time 3-month internship
🔀 Work arrangement: Office Flex (Hybrid)
🏙️ Office days: you will be required to work in the Washington DC office at least 8 days per month
Where You Will Be Based
📌 This is a hybrid internship based out of WRI's Washington D.C. office
🧳 You can be based in the Washington DC office, with at least 8 days per month on site
How to Apply
📄 Submit a resume with a cover letter
🖥️ Applications must be made through the WRI Careers portal to be considered
🔖 The Job Requisition ID is 2026-JR100512
⚠️ WRI may close applications sooner if it receives a high volume of applications from qualified candidates
About World Resources Institute
World Resources Institute works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, it leverages its data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like:
🌾 Food, land and water
☀️ Energy
🌆 Cities
Its 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.
Internships at WRI
Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates and other candidates who wish to gain knowledge about a specific area of WRI's work. WRI strives to attract diverse, intellectually driven candidates with a passion for sustainability and development, and provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all its programs.
WRI's Mission and Values
WRI's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Its values are shared ideals that bind the organization together:
🧱 Independence
⚖️ Integrity
🎯 Impact
🫱 Partnership
💚 Care
Culture, Equity and Accommodations
WRI is committed to advancing gender, racial and social equity for human well-being in its mission, and applies this principle to its organizational and programmatic practices, including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.
WRI is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting a diverse workplace. Its People team carefully reviews all applications. If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation, or you are having difficulty using the website to apply, you can contact WRI's Human Resources department; the contact details are in the Links section below, together with WRI's privacy policy on how personal data is processed.
Find more placements like this one in the Internship category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the WRI Energy Research Internship paid?
Yes. The pay is $20/hour for undergrads, $22/hour for graduates and $24/hour for PhD students. It is a full-time, 3-month internship.
Can international applicants apply?
Only if they already hold US work authorization. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application, and WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.
Do I need to live near Washington, D.C.?
Yes. To be eligible, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.
Is the internship remote?
No. It is a hybrid internship based out of the Washington D.C. office, and you must work in the office at least 8 days per month.
What degree do I need?
You need to be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a master's or PhD program in a relevant field such as energy, environmental science, economics, public policy, engineering or sustainability.
What documents do I need to apply?
A resume with a cover letter, submitted through the WRI Careers portal. Applications sent any other way are not considered.
Can the application close before the deadline?
Yes. The deadline is 16 October 2026, but WRI may close applications sooner if it receives a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.
Which research topics could I work on?
Depending on program needs and your interest and expertise, you may support the center's flagship report on electricity demand growth or reports on clean industrial heat, electric transport as a grid asset or critical minerals.
Deadline
⏳ 16 October 2026
Links
📝 Online application (WRI Careers portal): https://wri.wd501.myworkdayjobs.com/WRI/job/Energy-Research-Intern_2026-JR100512/apply
📰 Vacancy page: https://www.wri.org/careers/jobs/energy-research-intern-2026-jr100512
🔐 WRI privacy policy: https://www.wri.org/about/privacy-policy
♿ Accommodation requests or difficulty using the website (WRI Human Resources): recruiter@wri.org · +1 (202) 729-7851
