Are you a graduate from a climate science master’s degree program or have a related science background? Do you enjoy writing about and sharing your knowledge about climate science? If you are up for the challenge of helping grow a dynamic initiative providing judges the foundation in climate science that they need to keep pace with the climate issues emerging in courtrooms and the law? If so, the Environmental Law Institute needs you as our Science Fellow, Climate Judiciary Project.

What Would You Be Doing Exactly?

As the Science Fellow, Climate Judiciary Project (CJP), you will work under the direction of the Senior Manager, CJP, and in consultation with the Director of the Judicial Education Program and the Project Leader to develop curriculum materials and analyses on science, law, and policy issue related to the Climate Judiciary Project.

The Institute is known for its pioneering Judicial Education Program, and in particular, the Climate Judiciary Project, which provides the information and training needed to meet judges’ need for a basic familiarity with current climate science to keep pace with the climate issues emerging in courtrooms and the law.  The project conducts education programs, produces educational materials, and fosters a better understanding of climate science and the law in the judicial community.

As part of the CJP team, your goals will be to:

  • Develop a professional education program for judges made up of a series of stand-alone modules on physical climate dynamics, impacts and their disparity among groups, legal trends, and climate solutions that can fit together to create a comprehensive course, and recruit judges to participate in part or all of it;
  • Produce slides, pre-recorded lectures, and interactive activities focused on key scientific and legal issues and disseminate them through various educational channels;
  • Organize climate talks for select groups of judges in key jurisdictions, and present at judicial conferences and law school events;
  • Identify, recruit, and train legal scholars and scientific experts willing to deliver educational offerings to additional judicial audiences using the curricular modules developed for the program;
  • Expand the network of judges willing to serve as ambassadors and vouch for the value of this professional development opportunity to their colleagues.
  • Your specific responsibilities will include:
    • Curriculum development. Provide content research on climate science for curriculum, in support of authors drafting modules.
    • Contributing to program content. Draft materials for publication, presentation, and other communications materials, on climate science topics, and the intersections of climate science and law and policy.
    • Workshop convening. Contribute to the preparation and development of presentation materials.
    • Support coordination of network of judicial climate science educators. As part of the CJP team, contribute to the development and convening of in-person and virtual events.
    • Web management. Help develop science content for website.
    • Other duties as needed. Conduct any other duties as assigned by project management, meet deadlines, and respect project budgets, and other project requirements.

What do you need to thrive in this role?

ELI is looking for someone with a Master’s or equivalent degree in a discipline relating to climate science, although experience can substitute for a post graduate degree. You need to be familiar with climate science, its impacts, and ideally, their relationship to the law. You must have excellent skills in science research and analytical writing. You need to be an effective communicator in a variety of mediums and with a broad range of people, including representing ELI publically in a manner consistent with our mission and values. The CJP team is collaborative by nature and you must be work directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We employ anti-racist practices and principles while striving to support ELI’s culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Because swift and efficient action is needed to help address climate change, the ability to conduct effective and efficient research on scientific literature with moderate supervision while producing high quality results on deadline and within budget is essential. You need to be proficient with standard office software including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint

Who is ELI?

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is a research and education “think and do” tank that makes law work for people, places, and the planet. We envision a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law.  Our mission is to foster innovative, just, and practical law and policy solutions to enable leaders across borders and sectors to make environmental, economic, and social progress.

What can you expect from ELI?

This two-year fellowship is designed as an entry level science position with an annual salary of $50,000. ELI’s total compensation includes excellent benefits including:

 

  • Health/Dental/Vision insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Employer-paid life insurance & disability insurance
  • Long Term Care insurance
  • Pre-tax transportation benefit
  • Fitness Incentive
  • 403(b) Retirement Savings Account with employer match
  • Paid time off

 

Given the Covid-19 public health emergency and ELI’s commitment to prioritizing the health and wellness of its employees, this position will initially be teleworking only. However, once ELI resumes a normal in-office staff presence, this position will be based in our Washington, DC office.

 

Ready to apply? Here’s how…

Submit an application package via ELI’s online application system. Simply visit https://www.eli.org/employment to get started. Note that your submission must contain the following uploaded documents (Word or PDF format), as follows:

  • Cover letter, addressing your personal goals and interests, as well as your experience and interest in carrying out the duties outlined above.
  • Paper or writing sample that demonstrates your writing ability
  • Current CV or resume.

Candidates passing the initial applicant screening process will be requested to provide references.

ELI will accept applications for this position until 11:59 pm EST Friday, July 16, 2021. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the post may be filled prior to the closing deadline. You must use ELI’s online application system; ELI cannot accept applications submitted by email, USPS or other shipping service, or hand delivery.

 

ELI is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to achieving an inclusive, diverse workforce that values every individual. We firmly believe that hiring individuals with varying perspectives and backgrounds contributes to our success as an organization, and we strive to create an environment that fosters inclusiveness. As such, minority candidates and candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.