Student Internships

CSS has developed an innovative internship program that combines its research activities with the development of future professionals. The Sustainable Systems Internship Program provides graduate and undergraduate students with opportunities to perform quality work and gain practical experience enabling them to assist their future employers in making more informed decisions. Projects may focus on any of the following areas:

Sustainable development
Industrial ecology
Renewable energy & materials
Life cycle assessment, design and management
Pollution prevention

The program has a unique structure linking CSS, the sponsor and higher education. Students will work directly with a sponsor at a work site and a faculty advisor will provide academic guidance on the project. CSS will handle all administrative tasks associated with the intern, such as posting internship opportunities, reviewing and distributing of student applications to sponsor, scheduling of interviews, coordinating of faculty mentors, familiarizing student with appropriate reference materials, processing payroll, and communicating with the sponsor. Students will produce a final product such as a final report and make a presentation describing their results and experience.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUMMER 2009 INTERNSHIPS
Steelcase (FILLED)
CSS Factsheets (FILLED)
CSS Wet Weather (2 OPEN POSITIONS - DUE MAY 1)

To apply, please use this Application Form

Please use this file-naming convention for electronic submissions: rename the application form with your Lastname_Firstname; append your resume & cover letter & transcripts; and email as ONLY ONE FILE in .doc or .pdf format to css.info@umich.edu

- List of past Sustainable Systems Internships

Expectations of the Sponsor

Create a valuable experience for the intern.
Define the project and duties for the intern and supervise his/her activities.
Cooperate with the faculty mentor.

Provide financial support for the intern. If the sponsor already has an established internship program, payment for the CSS intern could be arranged through that program. Otherwise, the sponsor can arrange a grant to the Center. Depending on the intern's status as an undergraduate or graduate student and their prior academic and work experience, the Center recommends a pay range of $12-$20/hr. Please contact us for more detail on the exact grant amounts needed to support a student at different hourly rates. These amounts are based on 17 weeks at 40 hours per week (beginning May 4, 2009, and ending August 28, 2009).

- Sponsor application form

Previous Sponsors of Internships