External Opportunities

A continuously updated list of external research funding and green job opportunities geared towards students, faculty, and other members of the Earth Commons network.

Research Funding

External research funding and grant opportunities for faculty and students.

Events & Programs

External events, programs, and forums.

Green Jobs

Job, fellowship and internship opportunities in environment and sustainability

Last updated April 10th, 2024

Research Funding

NSF Dear Colleague Letter: Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS): Innovative Solutions to Climate Change

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encourages the science and engineering communities to develop forward-thinking research that will demonstrably aid in the Nation’s goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and developing approaches for adapting to the change that is already occurring. CAS: Innovative Solutions to Climate Change is a call to action that encourages the submission of certain types of proposals to appropriate existing NSF core programs to lay the foundation for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and to answer fundamental questions related to novel approaches and solutions to climate change.

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NSF: Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks, Due 5/15

Supports multi-organizational teams to collaboratively produce convergent research, education and outreach that addresses grand challenges in sustainable regional systems. Proposals are due May 15th 2024

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NSF: Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet (CHIRRP), Due 6/6

The Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet Program (CHIRRP) invites projects focusing on innovative and transformative research that advances Earth system hazard knowledge and risk mitigation in partnership with affected communities. CHIRRP projects are expected to advance understanding, forecasting and/or prediction of future Earth system hazards and risks, engage communities in development of research questions and approaches, and produce actionable, science-based solution pathways for adaptation methodologies, products, and services. The deadline is June 6, 2024, and concept outlines must be submitted 30 days in advance of a full proposal.

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NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER), Due 7/24

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply. Due July 24th.

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NSF: Biodiversity on a Changing Planet RFP, Due 9/5

The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Biodiversity on a Changing Planet Program (BoCP) invites submissions of interdisciplinary proposals addressing grand challenges in biodiversity science within the context of unprecedented environmental change, including climate change. Projects must integrate cellular, organismal, ecological, evolutionary, geological or paleontological approaches. Proposal submissions are due September 5th.

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Events & Programs

UNEP and PEDRR Online Course: Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (new window) and the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) (new window) are offering a free online course in  ’Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience’. Students will join a learning community of 75,000+ course participants from 192+ countries. The course is self-paced, and participants will receive a UN Environment Programme course certificate upon course completion. The course is available until August 2024.

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The IBM Sustainability Accelerator Resilient Cities Cohort

The IBM Sustainability Accelerator supports communities vulnerable to environmental challenges by taking on a new sustainability topic and cohort of organizations each year. In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, this year’s cohort will aim to find ways to foster urban resiliency in the long-term. Proposals must be submitted via the IBM Proposal Submission Portal by April 30, 2024

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Green Jobs

Want more opportunities?

The following are jobs and internships shared with our institute. For a more complete listing of internships and post-graduate opportunities, please visit Handshake. (new window)

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Various positions are constantly posted.
- Look at USAjobs.gov for updated information.
Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Corps
- DOE is collecting resumes for candidates interested in becoming part of the Clean Energy Corps via their applicant portal and USAJOBS
- Staff positions are available across the country in a number of disciplines
- Find more info here
Casey Trees
- This DC-based nonprofit continuously hires for various roles throughout the year.
- They are committed to restoring, enhancing, and protecting the tree canopy of the nation’s capital
- Visit Casey Trees’ jobs page (new window) to find open positions
Reduction In Motion
- This zero waste and sustainability consulting group is hiring for positions in the DMV area
- Visit their careers page for openings
Green Corps Organizer Program – The Field School for Environmental Organizing
- This program is accepting 20 college graduates. In the year-long program, participants will first learn through their paid training program before joining campaigns to get hands-on experience. Find more info here
- Directly contact field organizer Kendyl Smith with questions (260-906-6473 or kendyl@greencorps.org)
The Big Bets Climate Fellowship with the Rockefeller Foundation
- In its inaugural year, The Big Bets Climate Fellowship will empower a diverse and interdisciplinary cohort of emerging leaders working to reverse the climate crisis and accelerate opportunity for the most vulnerable.
- Find more info here
Community Building and Engagement Coordinator with The Planetary Health Alliance (PHA)
- The PHA seeks a detail-oriented and motivated Community Building and Engagement Coordinator to support the PHA team in building an activated Planetary Health movement, including youth and PHA members, through community engagement and programming.
- Find more info here
State Science Policy Fellowship with Maryland Sea Grant
- This unique opportunity will place fellows in coastal sustainability, coastal management, and environmental policy positions within Maryland through partnerships with state agencies and University of Maryland leadership to provide science expertise to develop policy.
- Apply by May 20th.
- Find more info here
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
- Natural Resources Technician I
  - In this seasonal role, among other duties, candidates will help with the collection of water quality, biological, and habitat data in both tidal and non-tidal rivers of Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland’s Coastal Bays and Deep Creek Lake. Find more info here.
- Natural Resource Specialist II
  - In this role, candidates will perform professional management of watershed monitoring programs pertaining to NPDES MS4 and TMDL required monitoring through fieldwork, investigations, data analysis and report preparation. Find more info here.
City of Gaithersburg
- Sustainability Coordinator
  - The candidate will perform difficult and responsible administrative, planning, technical, and professional work in organizing, developing, and coordinating the City’s environmental and sustainability programs
  - Find more info here
- Sustainability Administrator
  - The candidate will perform complex and responsible administrative, planning, technical, and professional work in organizing, developing, and coordinating the City’s Climate Action Plan and environmental sustainability program
  - Find more info here
U.S Department of Energy Office of International Affairs Fellowships
- This fellowship will support the approximately 18 international clean energy initiatives and campaigns in which the United States participates within the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), a multilateral organization with 29 member countries working to rapidly increase the deployment of clean energy technologies.
- Find more info here
- Apply by May 17
Faith and Justice Student Fellowship at Georgetown’s Center on Faith + Justice
- Open to undergraduate and/or graduate students, fellows will help the CFJ develop educational programming and advocacy campaigns related to the theme of Ecojustice and Democracy. Students will engage in advocacy campaigns, event planning, research, and drafting articles related to these themes, in collaboration with CFJ staff.
- Apply here

Green Internships

Climate Defiance is hiring paid campus fellows to organize against fossil fuel extraction. They are a new, youth-led group focused on using peaceful, direct action to call on Biden to stop fossil fuel leasing on federal lands. This fellowship begins immediately and involves 10 hours per week of work. The hours are flexible, and pay is $17 an hour. Apply >>

The ORISE Research Participation Programs at the EPA are educational and training programs designed to provide college students, recent graduates, and university faculty opportunities to participate in project-specific EPA research and developmental activities. Discover open opportunities here

FoodPrints Classroom Assistant (Spring 2024): FRESHFARM is looking for interns to assist with the FoodPrints program. Interns will work directly with the school’s Lead FoodPrints teacher(s) for preschool through 5th-grade classes at one or more public elementary schools in Washington, DC during the 2024 Spring Semester. Find more information here.

Appalachian Conservation Corps is hiring for over 20 internships at National Parks and Battlefields in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. These positions include work on plant and resource management, science communication, and preservation roles. Find more info here.

Nature Camp Counselors for Potomac Overlook Regional Park’s Camp Overlook: Camp Overlook is a highly successful and immersive summer camp that gets kids out into a 68-acre park. Camp counselors help prepare innovative and nature-filled lesson plans for campers and also get to work with the animals housed at the nature center. Find more info here.

DOE Office of Science internships: Applications are currently open for 2 undergraduate internship programs: the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program and the Community College Internships (CCI) program. Interns work directly with national laboratory scientists and engineers on research or technology projects that support the DOE mission. The application deadline is May 22, 2024. Find more info here.

Work With Us

Looking for internal opportunities at the Earth Commons? Work with us on the development and implementation of a variety of environment and sustainability initiatives as well as research and teaching. Check out job openings on our “Work with Us” page.

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