Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization: Conservation X Labs (CXL) seeks to solve the world’s greatest conservation challenges by supporting innovative solutions that address the underlying drivers of extinction. We create solutions to prevent the extinction crisis through leading global innovation competitions, developing new technologies in our labs, and empowering talented innovators across disciplines to create transformative products that serve people and the planet. Our work spans multiple domains within biodiversity protection, including wildfire resilience, alternative protein development, environmental DNA, and helping businesses track their impact on nature. Open Innovation at CXL: CXL’s open innovation model brings together diverse expertise to accelerate breakthroughs in conservation. This includes scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, designers, Indigenous leaders, community organizations, and investors. Over the past decade, CXL has designed and run 19 global prize competitions and accelerator programs, including initiatives focused on wildfire management, invasive species, illegal wildlife trade, aquaculture sustainability, and environmental monitoring technologies. These programs identify promising innovators, pair them with partners and end-users, and support them through structured accelerator programming, mentorship, capacity building, and field-testing. Our goal is to scale solutions that can meaningfully reduce threats to nature and improve outcomes for ecosystems and communities. Through these competitions and our programs, we have supported 165 innovations with $12 million, which have then gone on to raise $570 million in follow-on support. We are seeking an Open Innovation Fellow who can contribute to the impact and success of CXL’s portfolio of prizes and challenges, which currently includes work in fire management, alternative proteins, conservation technology development, and nature-based intelligence for decisionmakers: Fire – Accelerating solutions that bring together technological innovation and place-based knowledge to transform how we manage and live with fire in Western North America. Amazon Bioeconomy – Exploring the challenges and opportunities in accelerating innovation for the Amazon's emerging bioeconomy. Alternative proteins – Launching the Perfect Protein Prize, engaging with ingredient companies to make sure that new sustainable protein ingredient companies find a ready market. Nature Intelligence for Businesses – Identifying global solutions to unlock nature-related assessments for small and medium sized enterprises worldwide. Rodenticide Replacements – Building a coalition with experts in island conservation, rodent fertility control, and open innovation design to create an initiative for creating alternatives to inhumane rodenticides, helping protect native biodiversity from introduced rats and mice with reduced animal suffering.

Internship Summary: The Open Innovation team at Conservation X Labs is seeking a collaborative team player with a passion for conservation, partnership building, technology development, and innovation. This position will work closely with program managers across CXL to support a range of open innovation efforts – including competition design, accelerator programming, partner engagement and communications, and innovator alumni management. This role may include activities such as interfacing with accelerator alumni to track their impact, designing training workshops for challenge participants, liaising with finalist teams and challenge partners, researching innovation trends, drafting external communications, and contributing to program strategy across multiple thematic areas. Each week, the fellow will meet cross-functionally with members of other CXL teams (Labs, Partnerships, Communications, Amazon Strategy, etc.). The team will also help the fellow engage with environmental professionals across Washington, DC to make the most of their time in the city. CXL program managers will serve as mentors, helping the fellow develop career interests and next steps.

Responsibilities: Open Innovation Programmatic Activities (50%)

• Support program managers in developing and implementing a variety of innovation challenges and accelerator processes across CXL’s open innovation portfolio
• Research and reach out to former CXL grantees to evaluate and track the impact of their transformative conservation technologies
• Produce research briefs on emerging technologies, scientific developments, conservation problem spaces, and innovation trends relevant to CXL’s programs
• Identify and catalog relevant scientific literature and resources in reference management systems
• Attend conservation and innovation-related webinars, workshops, and events and share insights with the team
• Identify relevant conferences, workshops, or convenings where CXL teams may present or engage with stakeholders
• Participate in weekly team meetings and contribute to broader organizational strategy discussions
• (Depending on program timelines) Support landscape research for new or upcoming innovation challenges and prize themes Partnership Building (30%)
• Identify potential partners—technical experts, community organizations, funders, accelerators, and field-testing collaborators—who can support innovators participating in CXL challenges
• Research and recommend potential follow-on funders who can help teams continue to scale their innovations after challenge completion
• Contribute to the development of strategic and creative approaches to partnership engagement
• Maintain accurate data within partnership management systems
• Participate in external partnership calls, take notes, track follow-up actions, and assist in relationship management efforts
• Stay up-to-date on partner activities and key developments in the conservation innovation space, giving regular updates to the team Administration & Communications (20%)
• Draft communications materials—including blog posts, newsletter features, external updates, and program highlights—related to CXL’s open innovation initiatives across all thematic areas
• Support the curation of stories from challenge finalists, innovators, and partners for use in communications and fundraising
• Perform administrative tasks as needed, such as note taking, managing program files, scheduling calls, organizing documents, and supporting event logistics

Preferred Qualifications:

• Passion for addressing pressing conservation issues and climate change
• Self-starter with experience working both independently and collaboratively
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; ability to balance multiple deadlines with strong attention to detail
• Strong research, analytical, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to understand and synthesize scientific and technical information
• Ability to translate innovation concepts, technical ideas, and program plans into clear and compelling writing and presentations
• Curious, adaptable, and eager to learn
• Exceptional writing and communication skills in English; fluency or familiarity with Spanish or Portuguese is valued but not required
• Experience or interest in working with Indigenous-led organizations, community-based groups, and diverse stakeholders
• Ability to work across cultures, disciplines, and knowledge systems
• Familiarity with conservation issues, global biodiversity challenges, or environmental innovation landscapes
• Forward-thinking, creative, and innovative mindset

Eligibility:

• Domestic and International Students
• Undergraduate and Graduate students

About the Supervisor: The fellow will be supervised by Liam Torpy, Manager of the Fire Grand Challenge, in addition to members of CXL’s Open Innovation leadership team who lead global innovation challenges and accelerator programs.

Location and Modality: The main office of Conservation X Labs is located in Georgetown in Washington, DC. This position is a hybrid, in-person internship with some flexibility for remote work as needed.

Start and End Date: This is a full-time position (35 hours per week) from June 1st to August 15th, 2026, with the option to extend into September.

Required Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter