Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) Internship

RTI International is offering a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) Internship in Durham, NC. The intern will support research in agricultural policy, technology adoption, and environmental sustainability. Responsibilities include conducting research, literature reviews, data analysis, and presenting findings. Candidates should be pursuing a relevant degree and possess strong writing and research skills. The position allows for remote work, though local candidates are preferred for occasional on-site work.
Why RTI

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

About the Hiring Group

RTI is seeking an intern to support the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) team within the Water, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Solutions (WARES) group. The SAFS team advances agriculture and food systems that protect the environment and strengthen communities. We work with a wide range of federal, state, local, NGO, foundation, and commercial clients in both domestic and international contexts.

What You'll Do

This internship will involve research across a variety of areas depending on project needs. The SAFS portfolio includes work in agricultural policy, technology adoption, evaluation and impact assessment, agricultural trade, food manufacturing and processing, and issues at the intersection of agriculture and the environment. Interns will support a variety of tasks using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Responsibilities may include:
• Conducting background research and gathering information
• Performing structured literature reviews
• Assisting with data cleaning, analysis, and metrics tracking
• Presenting findings through infographics or PowerPoint slide decks
• Supporting project or proposal coordination

What You'll Need

Desired Skills and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree related to agriculture, food systems, environmental science, economics, policy, or related fields. Additional desired skills include:
• Strong writing and research abilities
• Interest in agriculture, food systems, and/or environmental sustainability
• Experience applying statistical or econometric methods using large data sets.
• Familiarity with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, R, Stata, Python, Tableau)
• Experience conducting data visualizations and building PowerPoint slide decks
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Work Schedule and Location

Interns can expect to work 20-40 hours in the May – August 2026 time period (start and end dates flexible). Work can be conducted remotely; however, candidates located in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina who can occasionally work on-site are preferred.

EEO & Pay Equity Statements

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.