Climate and Energy

UChicago Climate and Energy Careers is a multi-industry track at Career Advancement, serving students interested in careers focused on energy, climate change, and more!

Climate and energy are critical issues facing all industries and sectors, from for-profit businesses to advocacy organizations to governments at all levels. Students can engage with a variety of Career Advancement programs, Jeff Metcalf Internships, and career treks to maximize their growth and impact!

Resources to Get Started

Get weekly updates on internships focused on climate and energy, professional development events, and more! Sign up for the Energy, Climate, and Green Careers listhost

Climate and Energy

Support and Advising

Students can make an appointment through Handshake to have a strategic conversation with a career adviser.

Our team of expert advisors includes professionals with experience in in many industries related to the environment, energy, and climate.

  • Will Lutterman, Director, STEM Employer Strategy Will works with students newly exploring pathways in climate and energy. He has a background working in social impact consulting, software development strategy, and energy. Will serves as the leader for the Green Data Program.

  • Tara Ford, Senior Program Director for Careers in Physical Sciences Tara advises students interested in applying technology and science to tackling climate and energy, including renewable energy, quantum technology, battery storage, electric vehicles, and more.

  • Sophia Wennstedt, Assistant Director of Climate and Energy Sophia supports students as they explore dynamic roles in the climate and energy sector. She brings experience designing solutions at Exelon, Tesla, and Blip Energy, along with her academic background in Mechanical Engineering from Harvard and an MBA/MSDI from Northwestern. Sophia is available for student appointments via Handshake or direct contact at swennstedt@uchicago.edu.

Programs

Career Advancement offers a number of programs to help develop your professional goals and aspirations in climate and energy.

Climate and Energy Jobs and Internships

Many employers recruit students for jobs and internships in industries pursuing climate and energy careers. To search for these opportunities on Handshake:

  1. Log in to your UChicago Handshake account

  2. Click “Jobs”

  3. Search for your preferred keywords ("climate," "renewable," "green," etc.)

Employers

Top employers who have hired candidates from UChicago include:

  • Alliance for the Great Lakes

  • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Canoo

  • Climate Impacts Research Center

  • Credit Suisse

  • Cruz Foam

  • Delta Institute

  • Earth Law Center

  • Environment America

  • Environmental Law & Policy Center

  • Institute for Applied Ecology

  • Marine Biological Laboratory

  • Macquarie

  • Nanograf

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory

  • NOAA

  • Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Career Treks

Career “treks” are experiences that give students the opportunity to travel to a new city and meet potential employers. These are incredible opportunities to explore your interests, build your network, and stand out in the recruiting process!

Recent treks in climate and energy include:

  • Renewable Energy and Decarbonization Trek (Houston, Texas) Interested in learning about how companies are moving the needle on renewable energy? Join us to learn more about decarbonization, renewable energy production, and the shifts occurring in the traditional energy sphere.

  • Capitol Hill Climate and Energy Policy Trek (Washington, D.C.) Join your peers to learn about opportunities in the policy and social impact sectors. Explore how you can launch a successful career in climate and energy policy in the nation's capital!

  • EPIC Trek (New Delhi, India) Offered in partnership with the Energy Policy Institute at UChicago (EPIC), this trek immerses students in how researchers are working with government and industry to tackle pollution and other environmental challenges in India.

Students on previous climate and energy treks have engaged with nonprofits, government agencies, policy think tanks, material sciences business, food-focused startups, and technology companies from Boston, California, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Treks take place during winter, spring, and summer breaks. Visit the upcoming treks page to stay up to date!

Questions?

For more information about climate and energy career resources, contact Will Lutterman at wplutterman@uchicago.edu.