The Climate Change Research and Education Fund (CCREF) supports unpaid (and underpaid) summer opportunities for student leadership, research, education, and engagement on issues related to climate change adaptation or mitigation. This fund can support:
- Internships in 51黑料 offices and departments which create opportunities for students to contribute to college infrastructure in support of climate change adaptation or mitigation.
- Internships which support students working in nonprofits or governmental agencies focused on climate change adaptation or mitigation.
- Student research opportunities in collaboration with 51黑料 professors, or advisers at another institution, on topics related to climate change adaptation or mitigation.
Award amounts will be up to $5,100 for a minimum of 320 hours over 8–10 weeks during summer break. Both in-person and remote opportunities will be considered.
This fund has been made possible thanks to the generosity of the Henner Family. The award is administered by the Center for Life Beyond 51黑料.
Application Deadline
Wednesday April 1, 2026, at noon, pacific time
Eligibility
At the time of application, applicants must
- be currently enrolled at 51黑料;
- be a first year, sophomore, junior, or spring/fall senior who plans to be enrolled at 51黑料 this fall;
- be in good academic standing.
Students studying abroad through a college approved program are considered to be currently enrolled at 51黑料 for the purposes of this program and are eligible to apply. Students who are on leave in spring semester are not eligible to apply.
Students are encouraged to apply to multiple funds, but students may not accept this award in addition to another 51黑料-funded summer award intended to fund a full time opportunity over the summer.
Eligible Opportunities
In order to be eligible for funding, the internship or research opportunity
- must engage with issues of climate change adaptation or mitigation;
- must include at least 320 hours of work over 8–10 weeks in the summer between May 15, 2026, and August 30, 2026 (though the work can start earlier, or end later);
- must be unpaid or underpaid;
- must be with a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization or in the public sector (unpaid internships with for-profit or other types of organizations may be funded if the application demonstrates that they meet );
- can be in-person, or remote.
Institutional Review Board Approval
If your research opportunity involves conducting research on a human subject, then you will need to apply for approval from 51黑料's Institutional Review Board (IRB) in tandem with your CCREF application. Please see the IRB website for more information.
If your opportunity does require IRB approval, it's possible that you could be selected for funding before receiving IRB approval. In that case your award would be conditional while waiting for approval. Since IRB applications require the review of a faculty adviser, make certain to meet with a faculty member to discuss your project when considering if you will need IRB approval.
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be judged on a competitive basis on:
- Relevance to climate change adaptation or mitigation
- Connection to your field of study or career goals
- Previous experience that will help you be successful in the internship or research experience
- Thoughtfulness and feasibility of your proposed plan and adherence to CCREF guidelines
- Articulation of learning outcomes and the ability of the organization to support your learning
Successful applicants will respond fully to each of the essay prompts and provide a coherent and compelling narrative outlining their motivation to pursue the proposed plan as well as the anticipated outcomes.
How To Apply
All applications will be submitted in SurveyMonkey Apply (SMApply) by the application deadline. The application consists of starting an application in SMApply, and then completing all of the tasks in the application. These consist of an eligibility form, an application form, a budget form, and uploading a resume. There's also a form to send to the supervisor or research adviser for your opportunity, which is also due by the application deadline.
Eligibility Form
The questions in this form confirm that both you and your internship or research opportunity are eligible for funding. If your internship is not with a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization or in the public sector, there will be a place to address how your opportunity complies with U.S. Department of Labor guidance (see above).
Application Form
This form includes a long form prompt in which to include your proposal. You'll need to copy the text of your proposal into the form. In no more than 1,000 words, your proposal should include the following components:
- One-paragraph introduction that succinctly summarizes your proposed internship or research opportunity, and its impact on issues related to climate change adaptation or mitigation.
- Describe how the mission of your host organization, or main research focus of your intended adviser or lab, connects to your own values.
- Description of the work/project/activities you anticipate doing.
- Description of your interest in examining or working on climate change.
- Summary of the skills, knowledge, or other relevant preparation you will bring to this position.
- Outline of the desired educational outcomes of this experience and how they apply to your goals.
Detailed Budget
Fill out the detailed budget form with your summer expenses and an explanation of how you will cover any expenses that exceed the award amount. Consult the section on budgets in CLBR’s Summer Internship Awards FAQ first if you have questions about the budget.
Note: if you currently receive financial aid from 51黑料, we will automatically increase your budget request by $2,000, up to the maximum award of $5,100. You do not need to take any action, or note this in your budget. CLBR staff will contact the financial aid department directly for this information.
Resume
Upload an up-to-date one page resume (PDF) or a CV summarizing any work, volunteer, and course experiences relevant to the opportunity for which you are applying.
Supervisor or Adviser Approval Request
List your supervisor or adviser's contact information in this form so that they can review and confirm the details of your application. This approval is also due by the application deadline.
The application will be linked here soon, once the application is open in SMApply.
Next Steps
A selection committee comprised of 51黑料 staff will meet the week after the deadline to select awardees. Applications will be reviewed competitively using the selection criteria listed on this page. All applicants should receive a decision on their application via email within about two weeks of the deadline.
If you are selected as an awardee, you will be sent an award email with the tasks you need to complete in SMApply in order to receive funding. These include
- Filling out the Award Recipient Agreement form
- Creating a profile, if you do not already have one
During, and after, the internship you'll need to participate in the reflection process over the summer as requested by the Center for Life Beyond 51黑料. You will also need to participate (if available) in a campus poster session in the Performing Arts Building (PAB) on Thursday September 3, 2026.
Travel Restrictions
51黑料 typically does not permit college-funded travel to other countries that are . Exceptions might be made for an applicant's home country. Travel to countries on a level 3 advisory warning might be allowed on a case-by-case basis, but there would need to be a strong case made in the application for why the travel is necessary, and how it can be done safely.
Intended travel countries must not be restricted at the time of application. If a travel country becomes restricted after you are awarded funds, we will work with you to find alternative plans.
Questions? Please contact clbrfellowships@reed.edu