Atmospheric Policy and Analysis

Zintellect offers a postgraduate internship with the U.S. EPA's Office of Air and Radiation in Washington, DC. The role involves supporting the Stratospheric Protection Division in developing programs for non-ozone depleting alternatives and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Interns will engage in research, produce publications, and learn about the Clean Air Act and climate protection efforts, while collaborating with various agencies on climate policy.
A postgraduate research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). This internship will be served with the Stratospheric Protection Division (SPD) in Washington, DC.



The intern will join SPD’s Alternatives and Emissions Reduction Branch (AERB), which is responsible for developing and implementing voluntary and regulatory programs that facilitate the safe transition to non-ozone depleting alternatives and that promote technologies and practices that minimize emissions of global warming gases. Under the guidance of SPD staff, the participant will be involved in the generation, management, and dispensing of information, which may include speeches, publications, and public service announcements.



The participant will learn how EPA works to protect air quality via regulatory and non-regulatory approaches. S/he will also learn the tools and strategies to effectively communicate SPD’s message.



Through this project, the participant will gain an understanding of EPA’s Clean Air Act programs and related international activities by observing how EPA coordinates with other federal agencies to meet stratospheric ozone and climate protection goals. S/he will have opportunities to submit/present research and project results to interagency groups, professional societies and conferences, and peer-reviewed journals. Under the guidance of the mentor, the participant will learn to:




Participate in technical workshops and partnerships promote climate-friendly alternatives to HFCs through collaboration with other agencies and international organizations and coalitions.
Produce publications and other educational outreach in support of international and interagency collaborations on climate science and policy.
Synthesize technical and policy information for presentation to EPA senior managers and appropriate stakeholder groups.
Understand how domestic regulation under the Clean Air Act on alternatives and international and domestic policy work to protect the climate system from hydrofluorocarbon emissions, a class of potent greenhouse gases.


This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA.