Riverside Internship Program

Background 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with nine Southern California academic institutions from kindergarten to university level, aimed at expanding the knowledge base of air quality and climate change program areas. As part of those MOUs, CARB committed to creating a formal student internship program. The Academic and Public Partnerships (APP) section created a long-term and competitive internship program for the Southern California facility that launched in the Fall of 2023.

Riverside Internship Program 

CARB offers student internships in the Fall and Spring school terms for course credit.

Requirements to intern with CARB 

  1. The student must be attending an accredited Southern California college or university during the internship term. 

  1. This is an unpaid internship so students must provide proof that either: 

    1.   They will receive academic credit for the internship or; 
    2.   The internship will fulfill an academic requirement for graduation.  

 

Fall Recruitment: Middle of July of each year
Winter/Spring Recruitment: December 2025

Summer Recruitment: CARB will not be hosting interns for the Summer of 2025

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Fall Internship Positions

How to apply:

To apply for an internship with CARB, please complete the following steps:
 1) Fill out and submit the Internship Interest Form.  
 2) Send an email to socalinterns@arb.ca.gov with BOTH your resume AND a cover letter attached. Please make the email's subject line "Internship application materials."

Any materials received outside of the application cycle will not be accepted.

Deadline to apply for Fall internships is August 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

To request a duty statement email socalinterns@arb.ca.gov

 

Air Quality Planning & Science Division, Special Assessments Student Intern

Duties: The intern will assist staff with data collection, data entry, quality assurance/quality control review, spreadsheet development, document preparation, literature and internet research, file organization, and tracking project information. The Student Assistant may assist with air quality and emissions-related projects, development of technical and outreach materials, and support activities associated with branch programs and special projects. Responsibilities may also include assisting staff with reports, presentations, databases, graphics, audiovisual materials, and other communication products.

More information

 

Air Quality Planning & Science Division, Air Quality Data Analyst Student Intern

Duties: The intern will assist the Community Air Quality Section with environmental data analysis, view data management, quality assurance, data visualization, and other projects that improve public access to community air quality information. In addition, they will support technical documentation, presentations, and collaborative projects with CARB staff.

Student candidates should be pursuing a degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Data Science, GIS, Statistics, or a related field.

The ideal candidate is a motivated student with an interest in environmental protection, data analysis, and technology. Strong analytical and communication skills are desired, along with experience or coursework in programming, data analysis, or environmental science. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively is preferred.

More information

 

Air Quality Planning & Science Division, Mobile Source Analysis Student Intern

Duties: The intern will assist in data analysis and modeling including analyzing code in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), utilizing data visualization this position will include communication with other staff and management to learn about model structure and construct PowerPoint or Microsoft Word document to overview and communicate model structure to others.  

Area of study: We are looking for candidates with backgrounds in Computer Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Physical Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, or closely related fields.

Ideal candidate: Our ideal intern is a student who has a strong interest in environmental and public-sector work. We are looking for individuals who have experience or demonstrated interest in working with computer models, programming, and data analysis.  Strong communication skills, initiative, and the ability to work collaboratively are also highly valued.

More information

 

Air Quality Planning & Science Division, Emissions Inventory Data Analyst Student Intern

Duties: The intern will assist in the identification, study, and solution of air pollution problems. Examples include but are not limited to analyzing, reviewing, checking, and interpreting air pollution control engineering plans, test data, estimates, and specifications; interpreting and applying laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to air pollution in California; conducting data processing, analysis, and summarization. Specifically, the candidate will be tasked with assessing the emissions inventory data required under the Criteria & Toxics Reporting (CTR) Regulation, coming in different phases, and performing quality checks in addition to dealing with challenges with CTR data collection processes, CTR data providers, CTR data gaps, etc.

More information

 

Emissions Certification and Control Division, On-Board Diagnostics Student Intern

Duties: The intern will assist with data analysis to assess On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems compliance with regulatory requirements. Assist with OBD testing, including collecting and compiling data.

Area of study: Have a strong understanding of data analysis and statistics and are adept at using statistical techniques to extract valuable insights from the vast amount of data generated by OBD systems. Proficiency in data analysis tools, such as R, SAS, or Python, is preferred. 

Ideal candidate: Current students attending an accredited college or university in Southern California for the Spring 2026 term. This is an in-person, unpaid internship and students are required to earn course credit through their school to be eligible for placement. To apply please email your resume to socalinterns@arb.ca.gov with the job title in the subject line.

 

Monitoring & Lab Division, Air Monitoring Student Intern 1

Duties: The intern will assist in installing and operating air monitoring equipment, performing calibrations and quality control checks, and analyzing data. Additional duties will include developing a dashboard for monitoring the health of equipment and status of measurements at air monitoring sites, as well as implementing a dashboard for air quality monitoring at SCHQ.

The ideal candidate for this internship is a junior or senior student majoring in chemistry, chemical engineering, or atmospheric/environmental/climate science with an interest in learning more about air quality, air monitoring, and instrumentation. The student should have experience and intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel for data organization and analysis.

 

Monitoring & Lab Division, Air Monitoring Student Intern 2

Duties: The intern will assist with setting up air monitoring instruments in a laboratory, conducting acceptance testing, performing calibrations and quality-control checks, and documenting results. The intern will also support database, dashboard, and workflow development using Power BI, Power Apps, Python, Microsoft Lists, and Power Automate. Additional duties will include collecting and analyzing PurpleAir sensor data and conducting intercomparisons among different sensors, sampler, or instrument types. At the conclusion of the internship, the student will present project results and conclusions to section staff.

Areas of study: We are looking for candidates with a major in environmental science, chemistry, engineering, computer science, or data science.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and interested in air quality, instrumentation, and data analysis.

 

Mobile Source & Lab Division Student Intern

Duties: The intern will assist in engine testing by utilizing engineering principles and applying scientific methodology to evaluate emissions equipment performance, analyze engine testing data, and contribute valuable insights for optimization and improvement of engine testing activities. The intern will bring their own safety footwear/work boots to work in the lab.

Area of Study: We are looking for candidates with a major in engineering, physics, or chemistry

The ideal candidate is a chemical, electrical/electronics, mechanical, and environmental engineering, physics, or chemistry student with strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a hands-on approach to problem-solving, while adhering to all safety protocols and best practices within the engine testing environment. Adaptability to a fast-paced environment, a willingness to learn, and the ability to work in a team while applying engineering and scientific knowledge to complex systems are highly valued.

 

Transportation & Toxics Division Student Intern

Duties: The intern will assist in online research to support facility registration requirements for applicable facility owners or owner/operators under the 2022 Amendments to the Airborne Toxic Control Measure for In‑Use Diesel‑Fueled Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs), TRU generator sets, and facilities where TRUs operate (TRU ATCM). The student intern will review outdated or missing contact information for suspected applicable facility owners or owner/operators and update this information using publicly available sources. This work will directly support program outreach efforts, strengthen implementation, and help promote compliance with facility registration requirements.

More information

 

Email Updates

Keep up to date on upcoming internship opportunities.