By Carlisle Shore
Carlisle Shore (hometown: Greensboro, NC) is currently a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in environmental studies and political science with a minor in Spanish. She is working as an environmental policy intern with the North Carolina Collaboratory during the 2024-25 academic year.
Finding a Rewarding Internship
This past semester I was able to completely upgrade my internship experience by participating in the EcoStudio, which is supported and managed by the UNC Institute for the Environment.
The leaders of EcoStudio understand that finding an internship can seem daunting. That’s why it connects students with environmentally minded organizations on and off campus that are eager to work with students. You can gain course credit for your internship by attending weekly class meetings led by Brian Naess. During these meetings, we listened to the insights of guest lecturers representing the diverse career paths in the environmental world and participated in professional development workshops. Even though I didn’t apply for an internship directly through EcoStudio, I was able to join the cohort – and I’m so glad I did!
I was (and still am!) working as an Environmental Policy Intern for the North Carolina Collaboratory. The Collaboratory is an organization created by the NC General Assembly to promote scientifically informed policy-making and support industry and local communities by funding practical research conducted at universities across our state.
As an intern, I have focused primarily on the Collaboratory’s Next-Generation Energy project, which supports research aimed at preparing a strong clean energy workforce, developing a battery storage supply chain, improving grid resiliency, exploring the future of nuclear power, and positioning NC as a leader in the clean energy transition.
My time is spent staying up to date on energy news, reviewing Scope of Work reports, summarizing proposals, tracking legislation, attending meetings, and drafting language for the final report. I have learned so much as an intern, and I feel like my input is valued and my work is purposeful. The EcoStudio provided a great place to reflect on and leverage this experience.
An Emphasis on Professional and Career Development
One of the biggest takeaways from EcoStudio was the peer connections. Meeting as a group was a great way to learn about all the interesting work and research happening at UNC’s campus, Chapel Hill, and beyond. We shared a passion for environmental protection and sustainability, but the specific challenges we tackled were all over the board. Some students were focused on green finance, others on vermicomposting, some on energy equity, and much more. It was also exciting to learn about the different skills people were learning and sharpening through their projects. From GIS mapping to graphic design, fundraising to project management, and even working with large language models, we saw a diverse set of skills—all critical to protecting our planet.
As someone who is still on the fence about the next steps in her career, it was beyond useful to get the inside scoop on their day-to-day experiences and pathways. After this series, I realized there is no single track to a successful environmental career, and you don’t have to have it all figured out right away.
Beyond discussing our work, we also shared the wins and challenges of our internship experiences. For those working remotely or on solo projects, the biggest challenge by far was isolation. EcoStudio was a great remedy! Even though most of the interns were working for different organizations, the in-person meetings were a way to chit chat, ask questions, and perhaps the most fun of all: collectively complain about balancing internships, jobs, classes, social lives, and finding time to do laundry.
The professional development workshops led by Brian Naess and the TAs were very timely and helpful. Networking can feel painful, but in “Networking 101” we learned some ways to avoid feeling forced or transactional in our conversations. At our resume workshop, UNC Institute for the Environment staff reviewed our resumes. They pointed out what experiences could use more emphasis and provided other wisdom with a second set of eyes.
The most helpful workshop was 100% the practice interviews. We were given a list of interview questions and then held mock interviews with our peers. For me at least, interviews are the most nerve-wracking part of any application process. Even though you are being asked about your lived experiences, it is easy to freeze up. However, using this list of questions to prepare has completely boosted my confidence.
Brian Naess emphasized that the best way to avoid feeling like you are in the hot seat is to practice. He also reminded us that when we are applying for positions (especially internship and entry-level posts) we are not supposed to be experts. Sometimes, a passion for the subject and a willingness to learn are just as important. This advice is comforting in the world of LinkedIn posts and academic competition, where it can sometimes feel as though others have solved world hunger at 19.
Throughout the internship we heard from a series of guest speakers from all walks of environmental work, including non-profits, local/state/federal government agencies, consulting, and private companies. As someone who is still on the fence about the next steps in her career, it was beyond useful to get the inside scoop on their day-to-day experiences and pathways. After this series, I realized there is no single track to a successful environmental career, and you don’t have to have it all figured out right away.
The EcoStudio experience culminated in a final presentation day, allowing us to show off the hard work we had put into our projects. Brian and his TAs had invited all of our mentors to hear our presentations, which was incredibly rewarding. You get the chance to meet others involved in the environmental space, practice some of those networking skills, and enjoy some coffee and pastries, which never hurts.
Overall, the EcoStudio was a great opportunity. If you’re looking for an internship and a supportive community to grow in, definitely check out EcoStudio’s opportunities next fal
For more information about the EcoStudio visit: https://ecostudio.unc.edu/