2025 Summer Nutrition Policy Research Internship

The Center for Science in the Public Interest 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

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, your food and health watchdog, 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. More recently, CSPI has also been involved in broader public health advocacy on issues such as scientific integrity, alcohol policy, agency transparency, and the regulation of selected medical products.

About the Internship Opportunity

The intern will support CSPI’s campaign to increase the proportion of food purchased and served by public institutions that supports healthy diets and a sustainable, just food system. The tentative primary project is developing evidence-based advocacy materials on the efficacy of healthy food service guidelines to improve food environment, diet quality, and health outcomes. Food service guidelines are standards and best practices that can be used to increase healthy and safe food options in settings such as government facilities and programs, worksites, colleges and universities, food pantries/food banks, and healthcare facilities. A systematic literature search was conducted two years ago, so the intern would be tasked with updating the evidence base and then creating written materials that narratively synthesize the evidence for use in CSPI’s advocacy. The intern will likely have opportunities to support our federal, state, local, and corporate food purchasing and service policy campaigns and other projects at CSPI as needed throughout the internship.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a public health or nutrition graduate degree program (master’s or doctoral)
• Excellent research and writing skills with ability to read, analyze, interpret, and translate public health and nutrition research for a policy audience 
• Basic knowledge of evidence-based food and nutrition recommendations for health
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage tasks appropriately to achieve project goals
• Interest in and familiarity with health promotion strategies in institutional food service environments preferred

What Else You Should Know 

CSPI pays interns $17.50 per hour at the start of the internship. Intern pay will increase to $18.00 per hour effective 7/1/2025 (this may be adjusted to meet state/local minimum wage laws related to the work location). Our 10-week summer intern program is full-time (40 hours per week). We provide two paid holidays (Juneteenth and Independence Day), ½ day Fridays, and up to two days of paid sick leave. The ideal start date is late May/early June, but we will work with applicants if there’s a schedule conflict. The internship is remote (must be in the US), with the opportunity to work from our DC office if desired.  

As a public health organization, CSPI makes efforts to maintain a safe workplace for employees and visitors. We require all employees to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are eligible, and the vaccine is available to them. 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 are not looking for everyone to think and look the same. 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 in order to build trust and integrity within our organization. 
• We are accountable. We acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions. 
• 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 and shared success. 

To Apply 

Please utilize CSPI's Paylocity Applicant Tracking System to apply for the Summer 2025, Nutrition Policy Research Internship. You must submit a resume and cover letter. The application deadline is 5:00pm, ET, February 25, 2025.

CSPI is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills and encourages people of diverse ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, work, and life experiences to apply.