Summer 2027 Insurance Policy Research Intern

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

NRDC’s Environmental Health Department seeks a graduate intern to support projects and priorities for its Adaptation Division. The intern reports to a Senior Advocate, Adaptation, and may be based in the New York or Washington, DC office. Interns are expected to work onsite three days per week under NRDC’s hybrid work model. The intern will support NRDC’s Insurance for a FAIR Future initiative, which advances solutions to the property insurance affordability and availability crisis and explores how insurance can strengthen climate resilience and adaptation. Work includes policy and literature research; synthesizing research and state-level developments into accessible internal briefs; and supporting engagement with community organizations, consumer advocates, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The intern may also contribute to external blogs, educational materials, stakeholder convenings, and events. The intern will lead a primary project aligned with the initiative’s goals. Potential deliverables include policy analysis, internal research briefs, stakeholder meeting materials, and recommendations on promising state-level policies and practices that can maintain access to insurance while reducing physical and financial risk. The internship lasts 10 weeks, is 35 hours per week, and offers a $10,000 stipend paid biweekly. The incumbent will not qualify as an NRDC employee, fellow, volunteer, or independent contractor, and employment after the internship is not guaranteed.

Requirements

Must be currently enrolled in a graduate program.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Research and/or data analysis skills.
Initiative, proactiveness, and creativity.
Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience with disaster insurance and/or financing investments in climate adaptation or risk reduction is preferred but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

Conduct policy and literature research related to property insurance affordability and availability, climate resilience, and adaptation.
Synthesize emerging research and state-level developments into accessible internal briefs.
Support engagement with community organizations, consumer advocates, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
Potentially contribute to external blogs, educational materials, stakeholder convenings, and events.
Lead a primary project aligned with the Insurance for a FAIR Future initiative’s goals.
Develop project deliverables that may include policy analysis, research briefs, stakeholder meeting materials, and recommendations on promising state-level policies and practices.