Research Assistant Intern – Soil Carbon Team, Summer Internships Program 2026

Job Description

Summer Internships Program 2026 – Research Assistant Intern, Soil Carbon Team

About Woodwell Climate Research Center

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Job Summary

Join the Center’s 2026 Summer Internship Program on the Soil Carbon team as a Research Assistant Intern. This role is crucial for transforming raw data into actionable insights for a sustainable future. The Soil Carbon Lab operates at the cutting edge of soil research and machine learning to improve how we measure, map, and model dynamic agricultural systems. This opportunity provides on-site mentoring, training, and group support, allowing interns to apply data science and computational tools to one of Earth’s most complex and vital natural systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Bridge the gap between field science and data-driven insights by compiling and processing spectroscopy and geospatial data within reproducible analysis pipelines.
• Explore diverse datasets to uncover meaningful patterns, documenting scientific workflows, and presenting findings that directly inform our research on soil systems.
• Apply data science and computational tools to one of Earth’s most complex and vital natural systems.
• Conduct data analysis with existing data (Open Soil Spectral Library) and potentially collect new data using our lab instruments.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Foundational understanding of soil systems or carbon cycling.
• Familiarity with R or Python, with the ability to manipulate data and create visualizations.
• Demonstrated experience with Data Analysis (e.g., coursework or projects involving statistics, data cleaning, or visualization).

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled (or will graduate in Spring 2026) in an undergraduate or graduate program in Environmental Science, Agriculture, Soil Science, or a related field.

Internship Details

• Work Environment: The functions of this role are conducted indoors and in lab environments.
• Desired Start/End Dates: June 8, 2026, through August 14, 2026.
• Hours of Work: This role is paid on an hourly basis. Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek.
• Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, temporary, non-exempt position, with an hourly salary (based on Massachusetts minimum wage or equivalent state where the employee is located). The internship will not exceed more than 90 days.
• Location: Falmouth, MA, Onsite or Hybrid options may be available.

Application Instructions

To apply, please complete the application and attach your resume and cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position in a single PDF to our career portal. All resumes without cover letters will not be reviewed.

Please visit Woodwell’s website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

About Woodwell Climate Research Center (Location & Culture)

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Woodwell is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.