The Net Zero Emerging Leaders Internship grants support the design of high-performance net zero buildings. Through these internship grants, we make funds available to select architecture and engineering firms that are working on Oregon projects. The grant funds support these firms to hire and pay student—or recent graduate—interns to help them meet and track progress toward the firm’s American Institute of Architects’ AIA 2030 Commitment, Carbon Leadership Forum’s MEP 2040 Commitment or Structural Engineering Institute’s SE 2050 Commitment. Grant recipients receive up to $8,000 to offer a 12-week paid internship and participate in a cohort with mentors and interns at other firms who are working on activities related to one of these Commitments.
The Net Zero Emerging Leaders Internship goals are to:
- Support firms to gain insights on the energy performance and operational and embodied carbon emissions of their buildings
- Motivate more firms – designing Oregon buildings – to sign AIA 2030, MEP 2040 and SE 2050 Commitments
- Enable firms to establish data collection and reporting infrastructure
- Promote career development for emerging professionals
- Encourage firms to use a Diversity Equity and Inclusion lens when recruiting and screening intern applicants
The Net Zero Emerging Leaders Internship grant application is now open. Recipients will be selected in early fall of 2024, and the internships will occur in the first quarter of 2025. To be eligible for the grant, firms must have Oregon projects in design that are eligible for Commitment reporting and be a signatory to AIA 2030, MEP 2040 or SE 2050 Commitment by the grant application deadline.
Submit your application by June 14, 2024.
View a list of current and past firm recipients of the grant.
Learn more about the 2024 Net Zero Emerging Leaders who are currently working on internships.
Learn more about the 2023 Net Zero Emerging Leaders who completed their internships and view their presentations.