Sustainability Internships

Ecolab Sustainability Internship Scholarships

Ecolab Scholarships for Sustainability Internships

These Ecolab Scholarships provide financial support for students with demonstrated financial need who are interested in an unpaid internship focused on sustainability studies and/or environmental grand challenges.

Click on the drop-downs below to learn about opportunities for the academic year and the summer.

SUST 4096 – Fall Internships

Fall internships are coordinated through the course, SUST 4096 (Sustainability Internships). Internship start and end dates will align with the academic semester (at least 13 weeks, approximately September 6th to December 14th).

Award: Up to $2,070 (~$15.90/hr)

  • 4 credits + 130 hour internship (10hrs/wk) – $2,070 scholarship award
  • 3 credits + 91 hour internship (7hrs/wk) – $1,450 scholarship award
  • 2 credits + 52 hour internship (4hrs/wk) – $830 scholarship award

Application Opens: July 13, 2023
Application Deadline: August 14, 2023, 6 pm

Eligibility: Please visit the eligibility page for Ecolab Scholarship program requirements

  • Applicants must be undergraduate students on the UMN Twin-Cities campus registered full-time in the Fall.
  • All interns are required to take SUST 4096 (Sustainability Internships) to deepen your experience. 
    • Students need to have enrolled for the class before applying for the scholarship. 

Application Process

  • Scholarship candidates will need to work with the course instructor/assistant to identify and secure an unpaid internship position by the first week of class to be eligible for the scholarship.
  • Scholarships are only available to students selected into unpaid internships. 
    • You are not receiving a salary for your internship work. Small benefits such as occasional lunches, free tickets, and parking privileges, do not count as salary. Modest stipends (less than $100 total) also do not count as salary.
  • Scholars will receive the award at the beginning of the internship.

Apply: Applications for Fall 2023 are not yet open.

* Paid Internships are not eligible for scholarships or stipends funding 

* Scholarship Recipients will also be invited to the Ecolab Scholars Cohort Program for the 2022-23 school year!

SUST 4096 – Spring Internships

Spring internships are coordinated through the course, SUST 4096 (Sustainability Internships). Internship start and end dates will align with the academic semester (at least 13 weeks, approximately January 18th to May 12th).

Award: Up to $2,070 (~$15.90/hr)

  • 4 credits + 130 hour internship (10hrs/wk) – $2,070 scholarship award
  • 3 credits + 91 hour internship (7hrs/wk) – $1,450 scholarship award
  • 2 credits + 52 hour internship (4hrs/wk) – $830 scholarship award

Application Opens: November 15, 2022
Application Deadline: December 15, 2022, 6 pm 

Eligibility: Please visit the eligibility page for Ecolab Scholarship program requirements

  • Applicants must be undergraduate students on the UMN Twin-Cities campus registered full-time in the Spring.
  • All interns are required to take SUST 4096 (Sustainability Internships) to deepen your experience. 
    • Students need to have enrolled for the class before applying for the scholarship. 

Application Process

  • Scholarship candidates will need to have secured an unpaid internship position by January 12th to be eligible for the scholarship.
  • Scholarships are only available to students selected into unpaid internships. 
    • You are not receiving a salary for your internship work. Small benefits such as occasional lunches, free tickets, and parking privileges, do not count as salary. Modest stipends (less than $100 total) also do not count as salary.
  • Scholars will receive the award at the beginning of the internship.

Apply: Applications for Spring 2023 are open. Apply by Thursday, December 15th, 6 pm.

* Paid Internships are not eligible for scholarships or stipends funding 

* Scholarship Recipients will also be invited to the Ecolab Scholars Cohort Program for the 2022-23 school year!

Sustainability Corps – Summer Internships

Summer internships are coordinated through the Sustainability Corps program. Internships in this program are with our community partners and affiliate researchers doing environmental work; with special attention to energy and climate, clean drinking water, and sustainable land use. We match students with paid and unpaid summer internships. Unpaid internship recipients will receive either a stipend or a scholarship. Students receive training prior to and during their internships. 

Award: Up to $2,400 

Application Opens: February 2, 2023
Application Deadline: March 2, 2023

Program Details:

  • Internships take place over a 10 week period (June 6-August 12)
  • Interns will work 14 hours a week (140 hours total)
  • Interns will attend an orientation (June 1st 10am-12pm) and cohort programming (Wednesdays from June 6-August 12)
  • Click here to preview internship position descriptions

Application Process: 

  • Click here to preview the application questions
  • Applications for Summer 2023 are not yet available. Please check back in February 2023.
  • Candidates will be asked to attend an interview as part of the award selection process

* Paid Internships are not eligible for scholarships or stipends funding 

* Scholarship Recipients will also be invited to the Ecolab Scholars Cohort Program for the 2022-23 school year!

Questions about any of these scholarships can be sent to ionescholarship@umn.edu.

See responses to common questions on the FAQ page.

The way improvement comes about is from working together, sharing knowledge, and most importantly caring about each other. The overall effect Frogtown Farm has on the local community, the valuable lessons of teamwork, and long arduous hours on the farm had an everlasting impact on me as a worker, and more importantly, as a human being.

Jack Walsh

Human Resources and Industrial Relations
I want to use my knowledge and excitement about sustainable fashion to get more people informed about the need for change and to develop further knowledge of the fashion industry and how to effect change. I believe my internship will help me learn skills in communicating this issue.

Brook Bestful

Theater Arts