2025-2026 Research Assistant Program
The Illinois Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) is accepting applications for graduate student research assistants for the 2025-2026 academic year. CJI’s Research Assistantship Program provides graduate students an opportunity to conduct research at the intersection of clean energy, policy, labor, and workforce development.
Research Assistants conduct research to inform Illinois’ clean energy transition, with a focus on workers and their communities. Through research rooted in climate and economic justice, our research assistants contribute to a clean energy future where workers and communities prosper. Learn more about the kind of research we do here.
Research Assistants are mentored by experienced staff as they contribute to applied research projects and gain a broad understanding of Illinois clean energy policy and labor standards. They will be expected to attend regular team meetings; complete research tasks in a timely manner; and create memos, reports, and presentations to document their work.
This is a 50% appointment with tuition benefits and a stipend. Research assistants will work 20 hours per week in the Labor and Employment Relations Building.
Who can apply?
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign masters- or PhD-level graduate students from fields including Urban Planning, Economics, Public Policy, Labor and Industrial Relations, and other related fields are encouraged to apply. Qualified candidates will have some related research experience, strong research and writing skills, and an interest in clean energy policy and workforce development. They will be able to work well with others and independently.
How do I apply?
To be considered for a 2025-2026 research assistantship, please apply by March 28, 2025. To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to climate-jobs@illinois.edu. In your cover letter, please explain why you want to work at CJI, what skills and experience you bring, and what you hope to learn.
Summer Scholars Program
The Illinois Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) is accepting applications from upper level undergraduate and graduate students for our 2025 Summer Scholars Program. Summer scholars will gain research and writing experience at the intersection of clean energy policy and workforce development. Summer scholars will assist with research projects to inform the Illinois clean energy transition, with a focus on workers and communities.
Summer scholars are mentored by experienced staff as they contribute to applied research projects and learn about Illinois clean energy policy and labor standards. Learn more about the kind of research we do here.
Positions are full-time for the duration of the summer, and scholars will receive an hourly wage. This position is in person, with office space available in the Labor and Employment Relations Building. Start and end dates are flexible.
Who can apply?
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign undergraduates entering their senior year or current graduate students from fields including Urban Planning, Economics, English, Public Policy, Labor and Industrial Relations, and other related fields are encouraged to apply. Certificate of Environmental Writing students are especially encouraged to apply. Qualified candidates will have some related research experience, strong research and writing skills, and an interest in clean energy policy and workforce development. They will be able to work well with others and independently.
How do I apply?
To be considered, please apply by March 28, 2025. To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to climate-jobs@illinois.edu. In your cover letter, please explain why you want to work at CJI, what skills and experience you bring, and what you hope to learn.
Job Openings
Interested in a full-time position at the Climate Jobs Institute? We currently do not have any openings, but feel free to contact us (climate-jobs@illinois.edu), share your resume, and we can let you know when we have openings.
Collaborate with Us
The Climate Jobs Institute seeks to collaborate with researchers, institutes, and centers at the University of Illinois and elsewhere that do research at the intersection of clean energy, labor, workforce and economic development, and public policy. Please reach out to discuss opportunities for collaboration and funding.
We are also interested in engaging with union labor, state agencies, policy makers, environmental advocacy organizations, community-based organizations and more. We want to hear from you about the research needs that will support an equitable clean energy transition. Your input can help us shape our research agenda! Email climate-jobs@illinois.edu to set up a meeting to discuss ideas for collaboration and research.