Are you our new just wind energy transitions intern? (m/f/x)

Are you excited to work on justice and sustainability for the wind energy transition? Do you enjoy writing, organizing, and communicating about important social topics? Are you the kind of person who rolls up your sleeves and makes tasks your own right away? Then apply now for the internship ‘Just Wind Energy Transitions’ at DRIFT. You will play an important role in making our work more engaging and accessible to a wider audience. The internship is flexible in terms of hours and duration, but we hope you can start from July 2025 (project end on November 1st). 

What you will be doing  

We are looking for either a motivated Applied Science student to support communication and engagement activities, or for a master’s (University education) student to help with research activities as well as communication and engagement. You will be part of our team working on the EU-funded project JustWind4All, in which we collaborate with 12 partners across Europe (including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Germany, and Belgium). The project aims to make decision-making around wind energy more just and effective. At DRIFT, we focus on making complex topics understandable and accessible. As our intern, you will help us with two parts of our work: (1) a decision-making compass for policy makers and (2) an online training programme: Leadership in Transitions. 

Your main activities will include: 

• Building an online training programme: You will help bring our Leadership in Transitions programme to life. Tasks include finalizing written content (apply clear and engaging writing for our target audience), helping set up an online course (MOOC), and supporting online promotion. 

• Event planning and organization: You will assist in organizing online events for professionals in the wind energy transition. This includes scheduling, invitations, and coordinating communication. 

• Dissemination of our work: By doing desk research, you will help us map out where and how our leadership training programme and decision-making compass can be embedded in existing educational programmes or organizations. 

• Additional research activities (when you are a master’s student): conducting literature reviews and/or summarizing articles and findings for academic papers. And contribute to the translation of project outcomes into accessible recommendations for key actors in the wind energy transition. 

What DRIFT has to offer 

DRIFT is a leading research institute for sustainability transitions. We combine academic research, advice, education, and public dialogue & debate to make meaningful change happen.  

During your internship, you will work partly at our office in Rotterdam – where we enjoy good coffee, team lunches, and the occasional competitive round at the pinball machine. It is possible to work partly from home too. You will be part of a friendly and passionate team of researchers, advisors, and educators who are eager to share their knowledge and experiences. To support your learning and development, you will have an internship supervisor and regular check-ins. There is also the possibility to combine your internship with your thesis or graduation assignment, depending on your study requirements. For a full-time internship (40 hours per week), we offer an internship allowance of €625 per month, including travel costs. 

What are we looking for? 

If you are still reading, you are probably a good fit! We are looking for someone who: 

• either: is following an Applied Science study in communication, event management, media, sustainability, or a related field;  

• or: is a Master’s student in social sciences, design, sustainability, justice, development, innovation, and/or other related fields – who is enthusiastic about communication, and making research matter; 

• you have affinity and/ or experience with sustainability, justice, transitions, transformation, social innovation, and/or related themes; 

• enjoys writing clearly and appealing (in English – speaking Dutch is a plus);  

• is proactive, organized, and works well independently; 

• likes to plan and organize online events. You have digital skills and are experienced in both the coordination and technical execution of online events);  

• has an interest in the (wind) energy transition and sustainability. 

We are looking for an intern who can ideally start in July for a period of four months, as the project concludes on November 1st of this year. We understand that this timeframe may be challenging due to the summer period and your academic schedule. Therefore, both the duration and intensity of the internship are open to negotiation. 

In addition to the requirements above, it is also important to know that we can only welcome you as an intern if: 

• Either: you are a student with citizenship from the EU/EEA/Switzerland and the internship is part of your educational programme (it will be awarded with ECTS). Note that a permit of residency is not the same as citizenship.  

• Or: you are a student formally enrolled at a Dutch higher education institution, and the internship is part of your educational programme (it will be awarded with ECTS). Note that being enrolled in a joint programme between Dutch and non-Dutch institutes may not be sufficient. 

Please note that you and your educational institution will be required to sign an internship contract and you will be asked to provide proof of enrolment and/or nationality.  

 If you fit these requirements, please get in touch and apply to become our new intern! 

Inclusivity 

DRIFT strives to be an inclusive employer to all, regardless of gender, sexual preference, ethnicity, religion, and mental/physical ability. We specifically encourage applications from those who identify as belonging to a marginalized group. And in the case of two similarly suitable candidates, we will opt for the one that makes our team more diverse. 

How to apply 

To apply, send an email to Stéphanie (vanderraad@drift.eur.nl)  

To apply, send an email to drift@drift.eur.nl. We ask you to put ‘Just wind energy transitions intern’ in the title of your email. Please attach to your email: 

1. A CV 

1. A motivation letter, introducing yourself, outlining why you want to do an internship at DRIFT, and explaining why you are a good match for this role. Please, indicate your availability regarding the period (from July until November) and amount of time (between 0,6-1 FTE).