BCLA Summer Internship Program - Environmental Studies Research Assistant

The BCLA Summer Internship Program aims to secure meaningful internship placements for students across a variety of sectors, including nonprofit organizations, community initiatives, research projects, and entrepreneurial ventures. 

The internship below is offered in partnership with a supporting organization that is excited to invest in and support an LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts student. 

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Position Title: Environmental Studies Research Assistant Intern 

Location:  University Applied Research Center at LMU 

Job Type: Remote 

Number of Positions: 1 Intern    
Academic Level: BCLA incoming Junior, Senior (as of Fall 2026)
College: Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts    

Hours: Approximately 24 hours/week (10 weeks)    

Duration: (June 1 – Aug 7) Summer 2026    

Compensation: [$4000 BCLA stipend, and/or course credit, as applicable]

The Environmental Studies Research Assistant Intern will support community-engaged environmental research initiatives focused on environmental equity, public space, and urban greening. This internship provides an opportunity to contribute to projects examining community experiences with a local park in Oceano, California, as well as tree planting programs in underserved neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland. 

This role is well suited for a student interested in environmental sustainability, community-based research, and applied environmental studies. Preference will be given to students with experience or coursework in qualitative research methods. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Support qualitative research related to environmental sustainability and community engagement 
• Assist with collecting, organizing, and analyzing qualitative data such as interviews, notes, and community feedback 
• Conduct literature reviews related to parks, urban greening, and environmental equity 
• Help synthesize research findings and prepare summaries or reports 
• Assist with documenting community experiences related to local park use and urban tree planting initiatives 
• Participate in periodic meetings with the project supervisor to discuss research progress 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Coursework or academic background in Environmental Studies, Sociology, Urban Studies, Political Science, Geography, or related fields 
• Experience or familiarity with qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus groups, or thematic analysis preferred 
• Strong writing, research, and organizational skills 
• Interest in environmental sustainability and community-engaged research 
• Ability to work independently and manage project tasks 
• Learning Outcomes 
  Students in this internship will: 
• Gain experience supporting community-engaged environmental research 
• Develop qualitative research and analytical skills 
• Strengthen research writing and synthesis abilities 
• Build knowledge of environmental sustainability initiatives