Energize Colleges Energy Research Assistant Intern

Be a part of the Climate Solution!

Are you interested in energy efficiency and sustainability? Do you want to learn about and contribute to your campus’s climate change solutions? SEI’s Energize Colleges Program and Chabot College are seeking students for the position of Energy Research Assistant Intern. Join the Energize Colleges Program to gain real-world experience by contributing to a meaningful project related to sustainability and energy efficiency!

Note that you must be a student of Chabot College to be considered for this position. 

The four goals of the Energize Colleges Internship Program are to:

• Develop intern awareness, knowledge, and behavior associated with energy efficiency concepts, including energy efficiency, demand side management, and electrification.
• Develop interns’ technical skills and career readiness by providing training, hands-on experience, and work and/or internship experiences.
• Provide resources and mentoring to increase interns’ knowledge of sustainability and energy careers. 
• Develop interns’ skills in the coordination of energy, education, and workforce development projects.

This internship requires a commitment to working 12-15 hours per week for a total of 150 hours from February 2026 to May 2026. Interns are compensated at $20 per hour. Interns will assist their site with energy efficiency and/or electrification-related projects, the creation of campus education and outreach resources, and/or the integration of energy efficiency, demand side management, and electrification concepts into course materials.

This is a hybrid position; work is conducted on-site 1 day per week and remotely 2-4 days per week. Job duties will vary based on intern interest, but can include any of the following:

• Support campus initiatives to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (this can include supporting the work of the campus energy and/or building construction manager or yourself).
• Create/Facilitate presentations and preparation of campus/community resources about reducing energy/greenhouse gas emissions on campus and at home.
• Support a campus project to help determine potential energy savings through end-of-life equipment replacement and electrification.
• Collect data from various software tools and sub-metering data analysis for end-use accounting, energy, and water cost analysis.
• Identify and develop new opportunities to utilize the campus as a living lab for academic learning and share with faculty (for example: the intern may help develop an energy audit activity for a class and then test viability through conducting an energy audit for a classroom/building).
• Conduct outreach to the campus community about energy use, such as powering down computers, shutting off lights (all the energy components of a green office program).
• Determine the time of day used for classrooms to determine if class meetings can be consolidated on certain days/evenings to reduce energy use.
• Assist with the research, development, and draft update of energy efficiency components of a Campus Sustainability Plan.
• Create a lab activity to demonstrate monitoring of energy production, use, and optimization between supply and demand.
• Assist with outreach via newsletters, emails, and websites to students about energy jobs.
• Help put together a career fair focused on sustainability that includes energy-related employers.
• Assist with outreach/education to high school students about energy careers.
• Conduct research around energy careers to share with students via classroom visits.
• Work on targeted sharing with students by academic discipline.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Be a currently enrolled graduate or undergraduate student at Chabot College.
• Be interested in energy efficiency and sustainability.
• Either coursework, volunteer work, or experience in any of the following fields: building professions, energy workforce positions, or energy-related majors.
• Be able to provide a valid Federal W-9 form, required identification, and authorization for employment.
• Must be 18 years or older to apply. 
• Be an organized self-starter with excellent time management skills.
• Knowledge, familiarity, and/or a strong interest in climate change and energy efficiency.
• Project management or campus organization experience is a bonus, but not required (volunteer work and coursework may count).
• Strong communication and workplace skills, such as accountability, self-motivation, the ability to work both independently and on teams, respect, openness to giving and receiving feedback, organization, and timeliness.

About SEI: Building Leaders For A Resilient World, and Energize Colleges 

SEI is a nonprofit environmental consultancy that builds leaders to drive and accelerate sustainability solutions. For over 25 years, SEI has partnered with schools, communities, and businesses to develop a sustainability leadership pathway from elementary school to early career. The Energize Colleges program helps build a highly qualified energy and sustainability workforce through paid, hands-on internships and fellowships, and academic learning experiences for students to explore sustainability career opportunities. 

Our Hiring Values

SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to uplifting the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities can thrive. We strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we partner with and serve, especially those most impacted by climate change and environmental, social, and economic injustice. We welcome candidates who share SEI’s commitment to cultivating a people-centered work environment. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.