Applications are due by Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 11:59 pm (Pacific)

The Schatz Energy Research Center has partnered with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to support the hiring of 1 undergraduate or graduate student at Cal Poly Humboldt for a Spring 2026 research internship at the CPUC. This is a part-time, paid internship position expected to start on or near January 20, 2026 and continue through the end of the spring semester (week of May 11, 2026). There is potential for the internship to continue into the summer.

This position is supported by CPUC funding.

Eligible applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing and must be currently registered at Cal Poly Humboldt (i.e. during Fall 2025 and for Spring 2026). The applicant must also demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for issues related to energy and environmental policy.

Who we are

Schatz Center

Since 1989, the Schatz Center has been a leader in applied research and project development for clean and renewable energy. Our current portfolio includes microgrid development, sustainable transportation design, carbon life cycle analysis, solar product testing, offshore wind feasibility studies, and planning and policy for clean energy access around the globe.

As residents of a rural coastal community, we are keenly aware of our social and environmental responsibilities. We are committed to increasing energy access and resilience for communities worldwide — and do so through clean and renewable design that reduces climate change and restores environmental and human health.

California Public Utilities Commission

The CPUC’s Energy Division develops and administers energy policy and programs to serve the public interest, advise the Commission, and ensure compliance with the Commission’s decisions and statutory mandates. The Energy Division provides objective and expert analyses that promote reliable, safe, and environmentally sound energy services at the lowest reasonable rates for the people of California.

The Energy Division provides technical support to the Commissioners and their offices, and the Administrative Law Judges. The Energy Division drafts resolutions for formal consideration by the Commission. Resolutions generally result from informal utility requests called Advice Letters, which are submitted by utilities to request rate and tariff adjustments.

The Energy Division through its Federal Policy and Ratemaking Section represents the Commission in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and court proceedings.

The Energy Division assists the Commission in its regulation of four types of Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs): Electric, Natural Gas, Steam and Petroleum Pipeline Companies. Commission-approved tariffs (official rates and terms of service) for these four types of IOUs are maintained by the Energy Division.

Position Summary

The Student Intern will work directly under the supervision of the CPUC’s Demand Response (DR) team, which provides the primary learning experience and project direction. The Intern will support the DR Section with policy analysis, program evaluation, oversight, and enforcement; research issues and policies related to Demand Response/Flexibility; brief CPUC staff and management on requested topics; and create systems and documentation to advance the DR team’s mission.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Eligible applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing and must be currently registered at Cal Poly Humboldt (i.e. during Fall 2025 and for Spring 2026).

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Strong interest in energy, climate change, and policy.
Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Excellent analytical skills, critical judgment, ability to manage time and prioritize work.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable qualifications

(The following are welcome, but they are not required to be eligible for the position.)

General knowledge of the California energy ecosystem and California policies related to decarbonization of the energy sector.
Familiarity with Distributed Energy Resources, Demand Flexibility, Demand Response and CAISO energy markets is a plus.

Important note: This vacancy announcement includes both (a) minimum qualifications as well as (b) desirable qualifications. Research shows that many women and people of color, in particular, feel that they have to have 100% of both required and desired skills and experience before applying for a new job. We want to reiterate that the desirable qualifications listed above are not required to apply for a position on our team. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation

Interns will be paid an hourly rate between $16.50-$25.00, depending on experience. It is anticipated that interns will work up to 20 hours per week during the spring semester with potential continuation into the summer. Interns may also be eligible to receive tuition/fees support up to $4,326. Support for professional development, including conference and related travel, may also be provided.

Note: Tuition/fees support depends on other financial assistance you may receive or be eligible for. We recommend contacting Student Financial Services for guidance.

How to apply

Download the full job announcement

Deadline

All application materials must be received by 11:59pm Pacific Time (US) on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

Materials

Applicants must submit the following via email to schatzenergy@humboldt.edu:

A formal letter of application (cover letter) 1 page maximum, attention CPUC Intern Hiring Committee, that:

Describes your background and what motivates you to apply.
Addresses your experience relative to the qualifications above and provides brief examples.

A resume, 2 page maximum

Note on qualifying experience (applies to both cover letter and resume)

You may demonstrate your qualifications through any combination of the following. Please include brief examples or a short list in your materials as appropriate:

Paid employment and internships
Volunteer service and community engagement
Leadership or participation in clubs, student organizations, or other extracurriculars
Independent or course-based projects, research, or fieldwork
Pertinent college/university coursework successfully completed or in progress

Writing sample

Your cover letter will be used as a writing sample to assess the quality of your writing.

Questions and inquiries

For assistance with the application process, please submit an Accommodation Request Form, or contact the campus ADA Coordinator at (707) 826-3626 or confidential fax at (707) 826-3625. For more information regarding accommodation, you may also visit the Cal Poly Humboldt Campus Disability Resource Center website. Individuals in need of a telecommunications relay service may contact the California Relay Service at (877) 735-2929 TTY.
Learn more about our employment opportunities at schatzcenter.org/jobs.
For additional information, please email schatzenergy@humboldt.edu or call (707) 826-4345.

Job opening: student research internship through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)