Institute at Brown for Environment and Society

IBES/STEP Internship Program

Connecting Brown undergraduates with paid internships at organizations that offer hands-on experience in climate, sustainability, and the environment.

The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society offers paid, hands-on internships for Brown University undergraduate students at organizations across sectors. 

The STEP internships allow students to explore career options and learn through experience about topics such as climate finance, environmental policy, renewable energy, marine restoration, urban government, and more. 

STEP student interns receive: 

Partner Organizations and Opportunities

Employer application deadlines:

  • For Fall 2026: Host applications are now closed.
  • For Spring 2027: Host applications are due September 14, with the match process in early November 2026.
  • For Summer 2027: (Specific dates TBA) Host applications due in November 2026, with the match process in March 2027.

The Summer 2026 cycle included a broad array of Brown-developed opportunities, including:

  • Campus Climate Network
  • George Wiley Center
  • Grassroots International
  • Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
  • Orion Magazine
  • Providence Resilience Partnership
  • Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
  • Stockholm Environment Institute
  • The Ocean Project
  • University of Miami- Center for Ethics and Public Service
  • Waterspirit
  • Providence City Council
  • RI DEM Bureau of Natural Resources

Sustainable Finance and Investing

  • Blue Forest
  • Concentro
  • Mana Impact
  • Reciprocal
  • SeaAhead
  • Suyana Climate Insurance

Climate Tech

  • Alsym
  • EarthAcre
  • Fuss & O'Neill
  • Mirico
     
  • Audubon Society of Rhode Island
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance

Student Requirements and Eligibility

  • Student eligibility: The program is open to all Brown undergraduate students.
  • Commitment: Students must complete a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks of supervised, full-time work by the end of the summer. This typically totals 350 hours of effort (averaging 35 hours per week).
  • Responsibilities: Interns are expected to perform the specific duties described in their internship posting to the best of their abilities and must secure their own housing for the summer.

Timeline Overview and Next Cycles

Internship cycles

Internship cohorts begin in September, January, and June. Check the SPRINT website for details.

Next Cycle: Spring 2027

  • Employer applications due: September 14, 2026
  • Student application period: September 28 to October 12, 2026. Apply via the SPRINT Fellowships portal.
  • Matches announced: November 18, 2026.
  • Student acceptance deadline: December 8, 2026.
  • Program period: January 27 to May 11, 2026.

FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions about the program.