The student will help develop a set of environmental justice (EJ)metrics to minimize the impact of green graphite facilities on marginalizedcommunities through a case study in Alabama. Green graphite is an innovativealternative to the mineral graphite, a crucial material for the green energytransition that is considered critical in the US as its supply stems to 100%from imports. Green graphite, in contrast, is produced from waste biomass andplastics, both widely available feedstocks. The internship will consist of acombination of desk and field work, with the desk work ideally beginning rightafter Spring Break through a complementary Research Assistant position to allowfor sufficient field time during the summer internship.
The desk research includes analyzing definitions of EJcommunities in past Executive Orders of the Clinton and Biden administrations toidentify EJ communities at a spatially disaggregated level, learning fromdeveloped frameworks for other topics by previous administrations. Thisinformation will then be analyzed using geospatial tools (e.g., GIS) andoverlayed with siting information on green graphite feedstock generation andend users. The geospatial analysis will focus on a case study in Alabama butwill ideally cover other U.S. regions like the Pacific Northwest and theNortheast. A field trip to Alabama will test the granularity of the modelthrough on-the-ground assessments of the sites of greatest interest, includingsurveys with local communities on their respective priorities regarding theprospect of, for example, new jobs versus new industrial activities.
: Applicantsshould have excellent research skills with at least some experience researchingstatutes and regulations, strong writing skills, strong organizational skills,attention to detail, and interests in data-driven environmental law and policy,spatial analysis (ideally GIS familiarity), the circular economy, sustainableeconomic development, and/or the clean energy transition. Successful applicantswill work well independently and have excellent communication skills.This position is for a first-year YSE student to fulfilltheir summer internship requirement. The advisor for this project will be Dr.Robert Klee, other research team members are Prof. Gerald Torres, Prof. YuanYao, and Dr. Barbara Reck. There is an opportunity to continue working on thisproject as a Research Assistant in academic year 2025/26.
Students who are interested may contact Barbara Reck (barbara.reck@yale.edu) for additional information to submit their application materials.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and as such there is no deadline.
