2025 Fall Healthy Food Access Internship

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) offers a paid internship program for students in undergraduate, graduate, law and medical schools, and we also consider postgraduates. These paid internships offer structured work experiences and an opportunity to:

• Gain substantial knowledge of the policy-making process and the role science plays.
• Participate in group meetings and strategy brainstorming sessions.
• Obtain general research and communication skills by working closely with science, policy, legislative and outreach experts.
• Meet with staff at all levels of the organization to discuss career roles and paths.
• Assess your own interests and skills.

About CSPI

CSPI is one of the nation’s leading public health advocacy organizations with a 50-year record of fighting for science in the public interest and working to improve the food environment for all. We’ve led efforts to win passage of many state and local policies to improve school foods, put calories on chain restaurant menus and menu boards, and remove sugary drinks from children’s menus. National policy successes include the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act; Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act; Food Safety Modernization Act; and Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.

About the Internship Opportunity

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal food assistance program and has been proven to help alleviate food insecurity and lift millions out of poverty. The intern will support efforts related to SNAP, with a particular emphasis on Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP), a critical federal program that provides food assistance after natural disasters. The intern will conduct research to develop a landscape analysis to deepen our understanding of D-SNAP; develop advocacy materials; and support our broader work on the Farm Bill, the legislation that sets rules and funding for SNAP.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct a landscape analysis of D-SNAP, including reviewing federal policy, state implementation models, and identifying opportunities for advocacy
• Create policy advocacy materials related to D-SNAP, such as explainer documents and social media posts
• Support Farm Bill advocacy by tracking key policies and developing materials for stakeholders and partners
• Attend relevant webinars and coalition meetings
• Participate in internal meetings related to policy advocacy strategies

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a graduate degree program with a demonstrated interest in food policy, public health, or related fields
• Lived experience with food assistance programs and/or experience working directly with communities impacted by food insecurity is highly valued
• Excellent research and writing skills, with ability to critically analyze complex materials and translate into clear summaries related to our policy advocacy goals
• Interest in nutrition, health, and racial equity, and in advancing more just and inclusive food systems
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage tasks appropriately to achieve project goals
• Exceptional attention to detail

What Else You Should Know

CSPI pays interns $17.95 per hour (this may be adjusted to meet state/local minimum wage laws related to the work location). Our 10-week fall intern program is part-time (10 hours per week). The ideal start date is late August/early September, but we will work with applicants if there’s a schedule conflict. The internship program is remote within the US, with the opportunity to work from our DC office if desired.

CSPI requires all employees, including paid interns, to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are eligible, and the vaccine is available to them, as part of our efforts to maintain a safe workplace for employees and visitors. Proof of vaccination is required during the onboarding process.

CSPI on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

CSPI is committed to including and valuing diverse voices and fostering a culture that ensures all staff feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to be their best selves. In that spirit, each of us is committed to putting in constant work to live up to our organization’s core values:

• We are inclusive. We seek to foster an environment where all staff feel a sense of belonging and are affirmed. We actively welcome and value staff with different experiences, backgrounds, attributes, abilities, and perspectives.
• We are open. We are honest and direct in how we communicate with each other.
• We are kind. We communicate and treat one another in a respectful, generous, considerate, and compassionate way.
• We are collaborative. We work together for the common good, seek input from those impacted by our work, and celebrate our shared successes.
• We are accountable. We acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions, learn from our mistakes with humility, and change course when circumstances warrant.