Institute of Politics

This summer opportunity is part of a new partnership between the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and the Institute of Politics. All University of Chicago students enrolled in the College are eligible to apply for a summer internship as part of the inaugural UChicago Polsky Summer 2026 Policy Fellowship Program. Graduate students are not eligible to apply. The selected student will receive a $6,000 stipend for 320 hours or 8 weeks of full-time work for the fellowship. Applications for this initial batch of opportunities are due at 11:59 PM on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Overview of Organization: At Atlas, we believe data and technology can empower decision-makers across government, industry, and the nonprofit sector to drive meaningful change. For over a decade, we have equipped decision-makers with the tools and insights needed to make strategic, impactful decisions grounded in the public interest. Atlas’s dedicated staff builds analytical tools and dashboards using technology that is both powerful and accessible, conduct cutting edge research, and provides expert advisory services to address a wide range of current and emerging challenges. We work nationwide on critical issues such as vehicle electrification, clean manufacturing and generation, building decarbonization, climate policy, disinformation, and water infrastructure.
Atlas began in 2015 and has grown with increasing demand from our core set of public interest-focused customers. We engage all our staff in internal strategy development, and believe in work-life balance, career development, and cohesive, team-oriented work. We are passionate about making a difference and dedicated to helping our customers navigate the complexities of today’s policy landscape.
Join us in our mission to create a better, more informed world.

Internship Summary: Atlas Public Policy is looking for a highly qualified Summer Fellow to join our exciting policy tech firm for the summer of 2026. A qualified person must be sharp, ambitious, passionate, and adaptable to the evolving demands of the topics Atlas researches. Previous interns at Atlas have published reports, testified to state legislatures, and participated in policy roundtables. This position is based in Washington, D.C., and staff in D.C. follow a hybrid work model with the expectation that at least three days will be spent in the D.C. office.

Responsibilities:

• Support Atlas products, including EV Hub and Buildings Hub, and research through original data collection and validation.
• Publish up to two fact sheets that reflect new learnings from original data collection.
• Follow and report internally on important developments in the electric vehicle, buildings, and climate policy spaces to contribute to ongoing work and enhance staff knowledge.
• Pitch in at all levels to assist staff as needed on multiple projects concurrently.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Actively pursuing an undergraduate degree in public policy, history, STEM, economics, social sciences, or a related field.
• Data fluency and data presentation skills are required.
• Passionate and experienced writers preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and research skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and strong communication skills.
• Excellent skills in quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Comfort with Microsoft 365 products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong interest in realizing Atlas’s mission.
• Ambitious, self-directed, but knows when to pause and seek assistance.
• Motivated to work in cross-functional teams and support projects in various capacities.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States or other U.S. work authorization (please specify details in your application. Atlas does not offer sponsorship for permanent residency).

About the Supervisor: Rachel Reolfi is a Senior Policy Analyst at Atlas Public Policy, where she leads and contributes to policy analysis projects on transportation electrification and clean energy. Rachel came to Atlas from the U.S. Department of Energy, where she led projects on the climate and economic impacts of Federal energy policies. Prior to DOE, Rachel was at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, where she led policy initiatives on energy innovation and advised White House leadership on issues related to clean energy technology, industry, and policy. She holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Location/Modality/Commute: In person at our office in Washington, D.C. (888 17th Street NW, Suite 508, Washington, D.C. 20006)

Start/End Date: May to August 2026 (at least 10 weeks)

Required Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter