Applications are due by Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 5 pm (Pacific)

The Schatz Energy Research Center has partnered with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to support hiring of an undergraduate or graduate student at Cal Poly Humboldt for a Spring 2025 research assistantship at the CPUC. This is a part-time, paid internship position expected to start on or near January 21, 2025 and continue through the end of the semester (week of May 19). 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 2024). Incoming transfer students who have registered for the Spring semester of 2025 may also be considered. 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 will support the Customer Generation team at the CPUC. Work schedules and reporting locations (in office, hybrid, or remote) will be determined by the hiring supervisor in collaboration with the candidate. Position activities may include:

Providing procedural support to the Customer Generation team, including individual analysis and technical review of proceeding materials.
Conducting research independently and as part of a team, on customer generation policies, technologies, and trends.
Generating original and independent findings about low-income, priority communities, environmental justice, and tribal community issues in the realm of distributed energy resources.
Other duties as assigned

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 2024). Incoming transfer students who have registered for the Spring semester of 2025 may also be considered.

Required skills and abilities

Ability to communicate effectively in written and interpersonal contexts, including report writing, presentations, and email.
Demonstrated interest and enthusiasm for issues related to energy and environmental policy.
Ability to self-motivate and follow through on assignments.
Ability and willingness to work with and learn from others effectively in a team setting.
Proficiency with modern office computing, including word processing and spreadsheet analysis.

Desired Qualifications

Desirable experiences or training

Experience related to energy services and environmental protection in disadvantaged communities.

Important note: This vacancy announcement includes both (a) minimum qualifications as well as (b) desirable experience or training. Research shows that many women and people of color, in particular, feel that they have to have 100% of both the required and desired skills and experience before applying for a new job. No individual candidate is expected to have qualifications in all of the listed areas. These items are listed to give you ideas of experiences that would be relevant to this position that you could highlight in your application. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation

Interns will be paid an hourly rate between $16.00 – $21.44, depending on experience. It is anticipated that interns will work between 10 to 20 hours a week during the semester, and up to 40 hours a week during the summer if the opportunity is extended. Interns will also receive support for spring semester tuition and fees up to $4,125.

How to apply

Deadline

All application materials must be received by 5 pm Pacific Time (US) on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

Materials

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

A formal letter of application (cover letter), attention CPUC Intern Hiring Committee, that:
- Describes your background and what motivates you to apply.
- Addresses your experience with the qualifications described above and provides examples of experience, including descriptions of relevant work and/or a listing/description of relevant college/university courses successfully completed.
A resume (2 page maximum preferred)

Note: 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, which can be at https://forms.humboldt.edu/spf-accomodation-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 at https://disability.humboldt.edu/employee-accommodation. 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 assistant through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)