Intern, Spatial Planning for Climate Change

CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

This internship supports the Spatial Planning for Climate Change: Land Use for Conservation, Agriculture and Energy (SPARCLE) initiative under the Arnhold UC Santa Barbara–Conservation International Climate Solutions Collaborative. The internship is designed as a structured, graduate-level learning experience focused on applied research in spatial planning for climate change. The intern will contribute to a technical assessment of spatial planning tools and emerging approaches, including the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in conservation planning, while receiving mentorship from Conservation International scientists and gaining exposure to real-world, decision-oriented conservation science.

Requirements

• Working towards the completion of a Master’s degree in environmental science, conservation planning, geography, or a related field.
• Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing scientific information.
• Familiarity with or interest in conservation prioritization tools.
• Experience with GIS or geospatial analysis tools.
• Experience or interest in coding languages such as R or Python.
• Ability to process geospatial datasets and generate mapped outputs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work semi-independently while meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop an understanding of how scientific research translates into real-world conservation and land-use decision-making.
• Gain hands-on experience evaluating spatial planning tools used in conservation prioritization and build knowledge of emerging applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in conservation science.
• Strengthen skills in conducting literature reviews, synthesizing scientific findings, and performing technical assessments.
• Gain experience working within a multi-institution, interdisciplinary science team and produce a technical written output summarizing findings and recommendations.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern