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: The Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker supports the Governor’s constitutional role to ensure the faithful execution of the laws of Illinois. This includes oversight of the executive agencies reporting to the Governor, cooperation with the Illinois General Assembly, appointments to state boards and commissions, and other roles.

Internship Summary: This internship will support climate and energy work within the Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. The role will specifically work with the team reporting to the Deputy Governor for Energy, Environment, Infrastructure, and Public Safety, Bria Scudder. The role will research emerging issues in climate and energy; will support the Office’s climate engagement with other states and jurisdictions; and will assist with implementing Illinois’ major climate and energy legislation, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act.

Responsibilities:

• Draft research briefs, memos, and presentations on salient topics, such as electric vehicle charging programs or clean building material policies.
• Provide support for the Officer’s engagement with other states on interregional climate, energy, and grid issues, including those relating to Regional Transmission Organizations.
• Contribute to climate-related events that the Governor or Governor’s Office staff are participating in.
• Develop meeting materials and providing administrative support for meetings with state agencies or external partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree with a focus on political science, government, law, economics, public policy, or climate/environment
• Independently manage and prioritize responsibilities
• Work collaboratively in a team setting
• Effectively communicate in oral and written form
• Proficiency in the Microsoft 365 environment including Word, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint
• Experience with climate, energy, or electric vehicle issues preferred

Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students
• Domestic and international students

About the Supervisor: Bria Scudder currently serves as Deputy Governor for Infrastructure, Public Safety, Environment, and Energy in Illinois, where she manages several state agencies and implements top policy initiatives. In this role, Bria led several successful legislative negotiations, including the SAFE CCS Act, which provides environmental protections for carbon capture while bringing jobs and investment to Illinois; and the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which invested in new, clean energy resources to address rising electricity bills and maintain Illinois status as a climate leader. She is also spearheading efforts with the Illinois Department of Corrections to modernize and rebuild facilities.

Location/Modality/Commute: Our team is in the office four days a week. Ideally our intern would work in the office on at least four days per week as their schedule permits. Our offices are located in West Loop at: 555 W. Monroe Street. From Hyde Park, students can take Metra Electric or the CTA bus downtown and connect to West Loop via Loop Link. From Woodlawn, students can additionally take the Green Line directly to West Loop.

Start/End Date: Summer internships will take place from June 1 to September 25, with specific dates to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process.

Required Materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter