Professional Development

Earth Institute Resources and Opportunities

The Earth Institute Job List includes some 150 current opportunities at any one time, including a diverse mix of full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities. The Resume Book is searchable database for employers who are recruiting for sustainability positions. Check out the student user guide for instructions on accessing the database.

The Sustainability Seminar Series comprises half- and full-day non-credit seminars that help students gain cutting-edge skills they can use to succeed in the field. Below is a list of past seminars. For a list of upcoming events and to RSVP, visit the Earth Institute Professional Development page.

  • LEED Green Associate Exam Preparation Seminar
  • Urban Metabolism
  • Planning a Green Vehicle Fleet
  • Sustainable Smart Technology and Controls Seminar
  • General Motor’s Electric Vehicles and Sustainability Report Seminar
  • Advanced and Financial Excel Skills Training
  • Climate Adaptation Planning Seminar
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Seminar
  • Sustainability Metrics
  • Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard
  • Public Speaking – Communication Strategy and Delivery
  • Product Lifecycle Assessment and Carbon Footprinting
  • Consulting 101: How Consultants Win Work
  • Networking and Interviewing Skills Seminar
  • Corporate Sustainability Consulting
  • IRRI Mexico: Projects for Local Sustainable Solution

Each academic year, the Research Assistant Program grants undergraduate students the opportunity to work on exciting research projects with distinguished faculty and researchers at the Earth Institute. Opportunities are advertised to undergraduate students in August and December, and new research assistants are chosen each semester. Because research assistantships are generally for graduate students, these programs provide an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to gain valuable experience and exposure to research. You can read about past research assistant projects online.

The Collaborative Research Grant, launched in 2017, provides undergraduate and masters students with an opportunity to work alongside Columbia University faculty on a research project of the student’s choosing. Students may apply for funding for up to two semesters (fall/spring or spring/fall), which will enable them to explore the research project more fully than a typical one semester project would allow. Applications will be accepted from students from a variety of backgrounds and departments as long as the research focuses on an area related to environmental sustainability.

In December of 2004, the Earth Institute launched a new intern program, offering both undergraduates and graduates a chance to intern with different divisions of the Earth Institute. Since its inception, over 300 interns have helped us pursue our mission as part of Earth Institute initiatives. You can find the current semester’s opportunities online.

Every year, Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale team up to  host the All Ivy Environmental and Sustainable Development Career Fair. This event hosts representatives from public agencies, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, businesses and industries with the opportunity to connect with top graduate and undergraduate students.

Sponsoring the event are the Center for Careers and Life After Brown (Career LAB), Columbia University’s Earth Institute, Cornell Career Services, Dartmouth Center for Professional Development, Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Career Services, University of Pennsylvania Career Services, Princeton University Office of Career Services, Yale Office of Career Strategies, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and the Yale School of Management.

Center for Career Education Resources

  • Academic major exploration resources, such as the “What can you do with a degree in Sustainable Development?” tip sheet.
  • Individual career counseling, workshops, speaker events, and online resources to help with career planning and internship/job applications, interviewing, networking, negotiations, and the decision to pursue graduate school.
  • Industry-specific resources covering career paths, employers, professional associations, internship/job sites, and research opportunities.
  • LionSHARE internship/jobs database.
  • CCE Internship Programs – Gain experience through CCE’s domestic and international internship programs.
  • Career Events– Participate in our career fairs, industry showcases, site visits and other events to meet employers and alumni.