Science Fellow, Sustainable Food and Farming

earthjustice

Science Fellow, Sustainable Food and Farming

New York, NY
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Earthjustice’s Sustainable Food & Farming Program is seeking a talented recent graduate for a two-year science fellowship.

    Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization.  We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country.  We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change.  We partner with thousands of groups and supporters to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and bring about positive change.  We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

    Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections.  We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment.  Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, DC.

    Earthjustice is expanding its work on sustainable food and farming, building on its vast experience litigating to protect the environment and public health, and its successes reducing pesticide use, toxic food additives, and water pollution.  We represent environmental organizations and consumer watchdogs as well as farmworkers and sustainable producers, grassroots organizations and environmental justice communities.  We focus on three areas: safer food – protecting people from toxic chemicals in foods and minimizing diet-related disease; sustainable farming – limiting reliance on agricultural chemicals, reducing agricultural pollution, and fostering responsible methods of crop and animal production; and climate-friendly farming –reducing the food system’s contribution to climate change and increasing farms’ resilience to climate shocks.

    The success of our advocacy often turns on the strength of the underlying scientific evidence. The Science Fellow will work directly with our staff scientist and lawyers to conduct critical research in support of litigation and advocacy on a variety of issues. The Science Fellow will play a leading role on scientific and other factual research in support of select matters, and would provide research support for other matters as well. In addition, we would work with the Science Fellow to develop a long-term research project based on the Fellow’s interests and the program’s priorities.

    RESPONSIBILITIES

    • Conduct scientific and technical research to support litigation and advocacy.
    • Summarize research findings relevant to Earthjustice advocacy in memos.
    • Review, analyze, and summarize regulations, environmental planning documents, technical support documents and other scientific and technical information to support litigation and advocacy.
    • Draft and submit formal requests to agencies for public records.
    • Draft and fact-check scientific and technical information in fact sheets, press releases, blogs, news articles, slides, reports, and other materials for internal use or external use with clients, coalitions, the media, and others.
    • Organize scientific information for use by lawyers.
    • Represent Earthjustice at scientific conferences and meetings.
    • Identify and collaborate with individuals and organizations with relevant scientific and technical expertise.
    • Communicate with clients, experts and government agencies.
    • Participate in meetings with coalition partners, clients, government staff, donors, and trustees.

    QUALIFICATIONS

    • A bachelor’s degree in science, preferably in ecology, environmental science, or a similar field.
    • 0-2 years of professional experience, preferably in public interest advocacy.
    • Passion for the environment and commitment to environmental advocacy are essential.
    • Ability to efficiently identify, evaluate, and synthesize scientific and technical information that is both scientifically sound and compelling for non-scientific audiences.
    • Ability to conduct literature reviews using standard tools like Web of Science or PubMed.
    • Ability to cite sources using a major scientific citation style. (The specific style is less important than the use of complete citations in a consistent format.)
    • Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
    • Proficient user of Microsoft Office programs, including Excel and PowerPoint.
    • Awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
    • Interest in contributing to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

    TO APPLY

    Interested applicants should submit a:

    • Resume
    • Cover letter
    • Undergraduate transcript (an unofficial copy is fine)

    Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.__

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    Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.