Working With CCSI

We offer a limited number of unpaid and paid research and administrative internships for undergraduate and graduate students (including graduate students in law, business, international affairs, and environmental studies) during the fall, spring and summer. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and writing sample all together in a single file, in that order. The cover letter should include a distinct list of which internships you are applying for (you may include as many as you’d like). Please submit materials to Nancy Siporin ([email protected]), unless otherwise specified.  

Application deadlines are as follows unless otherwise noted (although applications will be considered on a rolling basis):

• Fall semester: September 15 
• Spring semester: January 15
• Summer: March 1 (unless otherwise indicated)

Candidates must currently be enrolled in a degree program, have astute research, analytical and writing skills, and enjoy working on a team. Students enrolled at other academic institutions may apply for all positions, but only students currently enrolled at Columbia University are eligible to receive payment if selected for a paid position. Candidates must commit to at least 10-15 hours per week for Spring or Fall internships unless otherwise indicated, but more hours are possible. Summer internships are full-time (35-40 hours per week) unless otherwise noted. Continuation into subsequent semesters is possible, and course or academic internship credit can be granted in limited cases.

If you are applying for a paid internship, please indicate if you are work-study eligible (preferred but not required).

Internship opportunities available for Spring 2024 (remote possible):

(Additional internships will be posted by mid-end of December 2023)

Paid internship: Responsible and Rights-Respecting Land Investments 

CCSI seeks a JD, LLM, or other graduate student to support the Center’s research and advisory work on responsible and rights-respecting land-based investments. The internship will involve working closely with staff on priority projects requiring research, analysis, partner liaison, writing, and finalizing reports. These projects may include contributing to our technical support collaborations with civil society or government on topics such as land rights, Indigenous peoples’ rights, climate change and the just energy transition, community development agreements, and investment approval processes. Preference will be given to candidates with strong research and writing skills, attention to detail, and organizational skills. Knowledge or experience of issues relating to responsible land-based investment, land rights, government policymaking related to investments, climate change considerations and/or community rights in the context of resource investments (particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia) is desirable. French-speaking skills are a plus, though not required for the position. Applicants with at least 2 semesters of graduate study remaining are preferred.

What CCSI offers: Through the internship experience, interns can expect to make substantive contributions to research and/or administrative activities at CCSI. The internship experience is a mutually beneficial one, and provides interns with opportunities for professional growth and learning. CCSI develops specific terms of reference for every intern each semester, with clear tasks and timelines.

What CCSI looks for: Ideal candidates should be detailed-oriented, well-organized and responsive, and prioritize and carry out tasks with minimal supervision. Candidates should also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Our interns have included both undergraduate and graduate students from Columbia College, Columbia Law School, the School of International and Public Affairs, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Columbia Business School. We also occasionally accept Interns from outside the university.

Visiting Scholars can include international scholars, professors, judges, practitioners, and government officials, as well as doctoral students at the start of their scholarly careers. Visiting Scholars must apply through Columbia Law School’s Visiting Scholars Program. Applications for Visiting Scholars are reviewed three times during the year, corresponding with three program intakes, as follows:

• Fall semester: applications due no later than April 1.
• Spring semester: applications due no later than September 1.
• Summer semester: applications due no later than March 1.