Northeast Smart Cities Research & Innovation Internship

Northeast Smart Cities Research & Innovation Internship – Fall 2025
Offered by ESG Real Estate Lab

Are you passionate about urban innovation, community development, or sustainability? This is not your typical internship. Join a hands-on project exploring how mid-sized Northeast cities can become smarter, more sustainable, and more vibrant. You’ll work with cutting-edge partners—from city planners to real estate developers and ESG strategists—who are shaping the future of urban living.

About Us

We are a real estate think tank exploring all dimensions of urban development: from community and mobility to sustainability, technology, and design. Our mission is to bridge research, policy, and innovation to create better places, and we want curious, driven interns to join us on this journey.

About the Opportunity

This Fall 2025 internship offers students a hands-on experience at the intersection of real estate, urban planning, and impact. You’ll have the opportunity to:

Conduct comparative research on cities in the Northeast (50K–100K residents and 100K–500K residents; ~45 cities total)

Investigate urban mobility, sustainability, green spaces, and public infrastructure initiatives

Contribute to idea-generative city profiles, comparative analyses, and actionable insights

Engage with city officials, planners, and community stakeholders to understand what works and what could improve

Help develop presentations, reports, or visualizations used to inform communities and spark dialogue

This is not just another ranking project—it’s about generating ideas, comparing what works, and helping underperforming cities learn from their peers.

What You’ll Do

Conduct research on urban development, sustainability, and mobility trends

Analyze comparative city data and highlight successful programs and lessons learned

Engage with city leaders and local stakeholders to collect insights and perspectives

Develop reports, infographics, and presentations that make findings actionable

Collaborate with a team of interns, faculty, and city partners across research, engagement, and planning perspectives

Who Should Apply

We welcome undergraduate and graduate students with backgrounds in:

Real estate

Urban planning or architecture

Environmental studies or sustainability

Business, finance, or policy

Data science or technology

Ideal candidates are:

Curious about cities, communities, infrastructure, and sustainability

Excited to bridge academic knowledge with real-world impact

Comfortable working independently and collaboratively

Strong communicators—written and verbal

Details

Duration: Flexible (Fall 2025)

Format: Remote

Commitment: Part-time

Compensation: Unpaid or stipend-based (depending on placement)