Students

Sustainability careers start here

Prepare yourself for a career in sustainability by becoming a McKinney Climate Fellow.

McKinney Climate Fellows is a workforce-development program providing real-world, hands-on experience for undergraduate and graduate students interested in sustainability. Fellows tackle climate, energy, sustainability, and community resilience projects in partnership with Indiana businesses, non-profits, and local governments.

The Resilience Cohort program allows some Fellows to work within local governments on specific climate change-related challenges alongside other cohort communities.

Applications for Summer 2026 are closed. Check back in Fall 2026 to learn more about the 2027 cohort.

 

On this page

Join a network of sustainability professionals

Connect with other sustainability professionals in Indiana on our LinkedIn group.

Join the network

Professional experience in sustainability

Student eligibility

  • Be a current undergraduate or graduate student from any IU campus of good academic standing, including international students, enrolled at IU for the duration of the placement
  • Possess valid US work authorization
  • Available to work full-time (40 hours/week) for 10 to 12 weeks between May and August
  • Able to relocate to the location of the organization
  • Able to attend Climate Camp (scheduled for May 2026)

Student benefits

  • Get paid: $6,400 for undergraduate students; $7,600 for graduate students
  • Gain hands-on work experience and grow as a professional in the field of sustainability in an immersive, real-world setting
  • Access professional development and resources in the environmental field
  • Meet and learn from a network of peers passionate about sustainability across the state through Zoom sessions, weekly Climate Connection groups, and discussions with MCF alumni
  • Highlight your work at the IU Sustainability Symposium, the annual MCF Celebration, or other ERI-hosted events
  • Earn internship credit (optional)

Project spotlights

Indiana communities are just beginning to recognize the many ways climate change is impacting residents' health and livelihoods. By gathering data, conducting local surveys, leading workshops, and presenting evidence-backed findings, McKinney Climate Fellows are providing a local context for Hoosiers to understand their vulnerabilities and to inform a plan of action.

Read about the 2023 cohort

McKinney Climate Fellows are supporting the long-term health of Indiana's forests, wetlands, and other vulnerable habitats. Through partnerships with nonprofits like Save the Dunes, the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, and the Indiana Forest Alliance, Fellows are monitoring the health of native plant and animal species and informing decisions that impact the state's biodiverse ecosystems.

Read Tera Gotschall's story

ERI is in the midst of a multi-year effort to help Indiana communities assess the health of their local tree canopies and develop plans to expand. McKinney Climate Fellows are providing on-site support, leading canopy assessments, engaging community stakeholders, and recommending priority planting areas.

Explore the StoryMap

Many businesses and nonprofits want to be good environmental stewards but lack the expertise to achieve their climate goals. McKinney Climate Fellows are helping organizations across Indiana implement systems to reduce waste, boost energy efficiency, and lower operational emissions.

Read Mary Claire Noble's story

The McKinney Climate Fellows program gave me legitimate experience in doing climate and sustainability work when I was still in school. This fellowship and my sustainability degree really positioned me to apply to jobs and show people I knew what I was talking about.

Katherine Couch, McKinney Climate Fellow alum

Learn more

McKinney Climate Fellows homepage

Read about the McKinney Climate Fellows

MCF alumni Q&A series

Read about the early career experiences of past McKinney Climate Fellows.

Hosts

Dozens of Indiana organizations have hosted a McKinney Climate Fellow. Could your organization be the next one?