Work With Us
Explore paid internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate-level students
Each spring, FracTracker Alliance welcomes undergraduate and graduate college and university students with a passion for using data and mapping to fight environmental injustice to join our team. Working with FracTracker Alliance offers students invaluable resume-building work experience and networking opportunities. Our interns work closely with members of our staff team, learning about and contributing to our science and fact based work shedding light on the impacts of oil, gas and petrochemical industries. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in events that increase their professional networks, work on projects that will enhance their skill sets, and interact with our diverse network of partner organizations.
Learn more about our General Internship and Visiting Scholar Programs below.
General Internship Program
Generally, the responsibilities of interns revolve around the daily work of the other FracTracker staff, as well as time-sensitive projects. Due to FracTracker’s web and mapping focus, we seek applicants with skills or interest in geographic information systems (GIS), data visualization, environmental justice, community organizing and communications. Responsibilities will vary based on the specific nature of the internship, but may include:
- Data mining, cleaning, management, and GIS mapping
- Website and e-newsletter maintenance
- Communication, marketing, and social media tasks
- Translation of data into information and stories for the blog
- Project-specific outreach to nonprofit and other external partners
- Event planning and organization
- Helping to maintain/enhance social media and networking presence
- Administrative support when needed (including data entry, schedule coordination, taking and preparing meeting notes, etc.)
- Field research
- Participation in software development, integration, and system testing
Applicants should be currently attending or have recently attended a college or university, preferably in the United States.
Visiting Scholars Program
In addition to our collegiate internship program, FracTracker also offers a more flexible but rigorous Visiting Scholar Program. This program provides a unique opportunity for graduate students, post-docs, and other experts to further their scholarly endeavors with us. Subject areas can vary widely, from anthropology to environmental science; from renewables to oil and gas impacts.
Visiting scholars will work directly with the data, people, and organizations that function within their study of extractive industries. Typically the most effective way to conduct research is to participate as an active member in the community being studied. This program enriches both the work of FracTracker and the Visiting Scholar. In addition to presentations to staff and external partners, at the end of the term (as agreed upon by the Scholar and FracTracker), each Visiting Scholar must provide a report on the project’s outcomes and how it shaped his/her research interests and goals.
Visiting Scholars generally represent their home institutions or serve as independent researchers. In either case, each Visiting Scholar should seek financial compensation for their time through their home institutions or independent resources. FracTracker will provide the Visiting Scholar with office space and standard IT setup.
If you are interested in serving as a Visiting Scholar with FracTracker, please send us a proposal that outlines your project concept: info@fractracker.org.
Within your proposal, please include: 1) A concise and clear explanation of the proposed study/project, with a work plan detailing the stages of the project and ways to identify the goals have been reached (maximum 2 pages); 2) An indication of which FracTracker office you would like to be based – please see our current list of offices across the U.S.; 3) References, including a support letter from institutional or departmental head (if representing an institution), or 2 reference letters if on independent study.
For more information, please contact Erika Ninos at ninos@fractracker.org.
Current Opportunities
Environmental Health Fellowship (Summer 2023)
This paid, remote fellowship will provide a graduate student with the opportunity to deepen their academic understanding of environmental issues affecting the heavily-fracked region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The fellow will work in close collaboration with their FracTracker supervisor and their academic advisor (if applicable).
Title: FracTracker Alliance Environmental Health Fellow
Eligibility: Current graduate students
Fellowship Period: 12 weeks (6/5/23 – 8/25/23)
Additionally, the Fellow will receive a stipend to attend the American Public Health Association annual meeting, which will be in Atlanta, GA from Nov. 12-15, 2023.
Application Deadline: February 20, 2023, at 5 p.m. EST
Compensation: $20/hour, 37.5 hours per week
Location: Remote, reporting to the Pittsburgh FracTracker office
READ THE FULL DESCRIPTION & APPLY TODAY
Past Projects
Articles and presentations by interns from across the U.S.
Our interns and student collaborators have worked on some incredible projects. To date, we have hosted interns from the following institutions:
- Auburn University
- Columbia University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Denison University
- Dickinson College
- Drexel University
- Duquesne University
- Grand Valley State University
- Humboldt State University
- Kaplan University
- McGill University
- Michigan Tech
- North Eastern University
- Northern Arizona University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- San Francisco State University
- Stony Brook University
- The George Washington University
- The Ohio State University
- University of California Berkeley
- University of Maryland
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Redlands
- Vassar College
- Washington & Jefferson College
Just want to keep up with FracTracker?
216 Franklin St, Suite 400, Johnstown, PA 15901
Phone: +1 (717) 303-0403 | info@fractracker.org
FracTracker Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit: Tax identification number: 80-0844297