Microplastics Institute: Education or Research Internship

Company Description

Seaside Sustainability is a nationally recognized, award-winning 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to environmental conservation, education, and community engagement. The organization’s mission is to protect and restore oceans by raising awareness of environmental issues, promoting sustainable practices, and inspiring advocacy and hands-on action. Collaborating with schools, municipalities, technology companies, and individuals, Seaside Sustainability aims to secure the health of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. The organization is also a leader in environmental and STEM education, offering project-based learning, meaningful internships, and volunteer opportunities for all ages. Students and participants gain practical experience and leadership skills to contribute to the stewardship of our planet.

Department Description: 

The Microplastics Institute, a Seaside Sustainability initiative, is an integrated research, education, and community engagement organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, monitoring, and prevention of microplastic pollution and its implications for ecosystems and human health. Microplastics are increasingly recognized as a widespread environmental contaminant, with particles detected across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. As scientific understanding continues to develop, there is a growing need to better understand where microplastics occur, how they move through the environment, how people and ecosystems may encounter them, and what these exposure pathways may mean for environmental and human health.

The Institute brings together scientific research, environmental monitoring, education, community participation, workforce development, and professional services within a single coordinated framework. Rather than treating these areas as separate efforts, the Institute connects them so that research informs education, education builds scientific capacity, community participation expands environmental monitoring, and professional services help sustain the infrastructure needed to support long-term environmental science. This integrated model is designed to make meaningful participation in environmental science accessible to students, educators, volunteers, researchers, organizations, businesses, and communities. There are three sub-teams: Education (interns), Research (interns), and Development (volunteers).

Education Sub-team (either remote or in-person): 

The Microplastics Institute (Education) team is responsible for curriculum development, educator certification, school partnerships, citizen science implementation, educational resources, and program growth. Interns gain professional experience by supporting the development, implementation, and growth of the Microplastics Institute. Interns complete structured projects under the supervision of the Department Manager while collaborating with other members of the team.

Position Summary:

Program & Curriculum Intern: This position is responsible for building and improving the educational aspects of the Microplastics Institute program.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and refine microplastics curriculum for different grade levels.
• Create lesson plans, student activities, teacher guides, and training materials.
• Help standardize sampling and testing protocols.
• Work with educators to make sure materials are practical in real classrooms.
• Collect teacher and student feedback and improve the program over time.
• Help organize pilot programs, workshops, and classroom implementation.
• Coordinate with scientific advisors to maintain accuracy and consistency.

Sponsorships, Grants & Development Intern: This position is responsible for securing external funding support (including in-kind sponsorships) that is needed to expand the Microplastics Institute program. 

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Research grants related to STEM education, environmental education, plastics, water quality, public health, and youth science.
• Maintain a grant opportunity calendar and funding pipeline.
• Assist with grant proposals, budgets, supporting materials, and reporting.
• Identify corporate sponsors for equipment, student programs, teacher training, or school participation.
• Develop sponsorship packages and outreach materials.
• Research foundations, businesses, philanthropic organizations, and corporate giving programs.
• Help build relationships with companies that may donate equipment, supplies, services, or funding.

Research Sub-team (either remote or in-person):

The Microplastics Institute (Research) team builds and maintains collaborations that advance microplastics research, environmental monitoring, education, and community engagement. The team develops relationships with schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and community partners to expand the reach and impact of the Microplastics Institute. The Microplastics Institute (Research) team supports research initiatives, grant-funded projects, environmental monitoring efforts, public outreach, and strategic partnerships while helping create opportunities for collaborative environmental stewardship. 

Position Summary:

Partnerships, Outreach & School Engagement Intern: This position is responsible for implementing the Microplastics Institute program into schools, and building relationships to help expand the program. 

Job Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Identify schools, districts, universities, libraries, nonprofits, camps, and youth organizations that could use the program.
• Conduct outreach to teachers, administrators, science departments, and community partners.
• Develop partnerships with water organizations, environmental groups, laboratories, municipalities, and universities.
• Help recruit pilot schools and participating educators.
• Maintain a partnership database and track outreach, meetings, and follow-ups.
• Help organize presentations, demonstrations, teacher training, and community events.
• Collect testimonials, success stories, and program outcomes from participating schools.

Program Operations, Procurement & Expansion Intern: This position is responsible for determining the logistics of delivering the program, and at an affordable scale.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Research suppliers and negotiate wholesale or bulk pricing for program equipment and consumables.
• Identify vendors for microscopes, pumps, filters, sampling bottles, lab supplies, protective equipment, and educational materials.
• Develop standardized microplastics kits for schools.
• Calculate cost per kit, classroom, school, and student.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, shipping, and replacement supplies.
• Explore partnerships with filtration companies and environmental-product manufacturers.
• Help design pricing models for schools, districts, camps, nonprofits, and other customers.
• Develop systems for bulk orders and recurring consumable purchases.
• Help evaluate how the program can expand regionally and nationally without costs becoming unmanageable.

Microplastics Institute: General Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience (e.g., business, environmental science, HR, marine science, sustainability, or related fields).
• Exceptional organizational and multitasking abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple projects across various sub-teams.
• Excellent communication, motivational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and project management tools.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote, dynamic environment.
• Proactive communication among team members and managers, with the initiative to introduce new tasks and projects and expand current procedures.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring that team members are consistently on-task and submitting quality work.
• Proven experience in a leadership or supervisory role with a strong track record in team management, project oversight, and impactful contributions.

Work Environment:

• This is a remote/in-person internship position, and all interns work from their individual home offices across the globe.
• Interns must have access to a computer, tablet, or mobile device with an internet connection to perform duties, attend meetings, and communicate effectively.
• Interns are expected to commit at least fifteen hours per week and meet weekly deadlines set by their supervisors.

Duration and Compensation:

• Duration: 5 months (flexible start and end dates).
• This is an unpaid position.

Learning Outcome:

• Develop practical leadership and project management skills.
• Gain experience in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and team management.
• Enhance communication and collaboration skills in a dynamic, remote work environment.

Equal Opportunity Statement for Employment: Seaside Sustainability Inc. offers internship opportunities to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. Seaside Sustainability prohibits workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.