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
Spring Recruitment: November of each year

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

How to Apply

If students are interested in applying for one of the available internships below, email resumes to socalinterns@arb.ca.gov with the position name in the subject line.

Email Updates

Keep up to date on upcoming internship opportunities.

Fall Internships

Deadline to apply for Fall internships is August 10, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

 

AQPSD Emissions Modeler Intern

The intern will assist in development and updating of mobile source emissions inventory models and emissions assessments for planning and regulatory development. The position requires interaction and teamwork with Section and Branch staff. Specific tasks will include assisting staff with development of emissions inventory methods and programming to implement those methods into regulatory inventories and EMFAC; developing documentation and reports; gathering, tabulating, and analyzing a variety of vehicle activity and emission data; developing and performing quality assurance and quality control checks on model inputs and outputs; and reviewing academic studies. In addition, the candidate will assist with comprehensive documentation of the EMFAC model.

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ECCD On-Board Diagnostics Data Analyst Intern

The intern will assist with performing data analysis to assess On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) system’s compliance with regulatory requirements. Assist with OBD testing, including collecting and compiling data. We are looking for candidates with backgrounds in engineering, applied data analysis, or other related areas.

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MSCD CHDIS Student Intern

The intern will assist in supporting a strategic review of the California CORE (Clean Off-Road Equipment) project's incentive structure. Responsibilities will include: Collecting & entering pricing data for eligible equipment; Coordinating with other off-road incentive programs (e.g., Carl Moyer, FARMER) to compare incentive levels and methodologies; analyzing cross-program & market data to identify trends and gaps; assisting in the development of policy recommendations to revise voucher amounts in a way that accelerates market adoption while considering cost-effectiveness & long-term sustainability.

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MSCD ORIS Student Intern

The interns will assist engineers and specialists with developing the California Clean Construction Program. This program intends to promote the use of zero emission off-road equipment. The candidate would be involved in conducting outreach, gathering data, and developing implementation protocols.

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MSCD IOS Student Intern

The intern will assist in the development and support of program wide policy and guidance of the Moyer program. Specific tasks may include gathering, tabulate, and analyzing data; compiling voluntary emissions program guidelines and regulatory requirements to aid in the identification, study, and solution of air pollution problems; assist in preparing summaries of regulations; assist in investigations of complaints concerning air pollution emissions; and prepare segments of reports and correspondence for programmatic input and recommendations.

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MSLD Chemistry Lab Intern

The intern will assist with analytical chemistry project focused on the analysis of various types of samples using multiple techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ion chromatography (IC). Responsibilities may include preparing chemical solutions, performing instrument quality control (QC) checks, assisting with analytical instrument setup and operation, analyzing data, and contributing to the preparation of a final report.

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MSLD EETS Student Intern

The intern will assist in the development of data log system for real time particulate matter and particle number instruments.  Assist in the set up and operation, and maintenance of standalone instruments. Assist with quality control and calibration activities.

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MSLD ETS Student Intern

The student 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.

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MSLD LDTSB Student Intern

The intern will assist in the setup of vehicle on dynamometer. Assist in the exhaust emissions test with particulate matter sampling, aldehyde/alcohol/hydrocarbon speciation sampling. Assist with quality control and calibration activities.

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MSLD MTA Student Intern

The intern will assist with quality control, calibration, and setup of tire-wear emission measurement systems and PM instruments. Support test vehicle preparation, observe emissions testing, and help analyze and interpret data. Conduct literature reviews, identify research needs, and help update lab SOPs.

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MSLD OAS Student Intern

The intern will assist in sample analyses, data interpretation, and results write-ups of gas and/or liquid chromatography experiments typically carried out in the Organic Analysis Section. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 25-50% of their internship on-site in CARB's chemistry laboratories working closely with staff, with the remaining hours spent working independently. Interns will gain an appreciation for the analytical chemistry done in the Organic Analysis Section and have the opportunity to contribute to CARB's success while developing skills in a laboratory setting. 

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MSLD ORPEMS Student Intern

The intern will assist in emissions testing, instrument maintenance, and data management using tools like Microsoft Power Apps, SharePoint, and Excel. They will also develop an understanding of regulatory programs aimed at reducing air pollution and collaborate with technical staff and external agencies. This internship offers valuable technical, regulatory, and professional experience that prepares students for careers in environmental science and public sector work.

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MSLD PEMS Student Intern

The intern will assist in vehicle testing using an advanced Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS). They will apply engineering principles and scientific methodology to evaluate emissions equipment performance, analyze test data, and contribute meaningful insights to optimize and improve vehicle emission testing procedures.

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MSLD LDTSA Student Intern

The intern will assist in the setup of vehicle on dynamometer. Assist in the exhaust emissions test with particulate matter sampling, aldehyde/alcohol/hydrocarbon speciation sampling.  Assist with quality control and calibration activities.

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OIS IT Support Intern

The intern will assist Riverside IT staff in the wide range of daily tasks, this includes, but is not limited to, responding to Service Desk tickets, analyzing and troubleshooting, documenting solutions, performing printer maintenance, assisting with surveying out old equipment tasks, assisting with Audio Visual services on-site.

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STCD Affordable Housing and Climate Mitigation Student Intern

The intern will assist the California Climate Investments team inform a State-funded program advancing affordable housing and climate mitigation by conducting a comparative analysis and impact assessment of estimated greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Based on proposed updates to (1) the program's approach to modeling estimated greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and (2) the program's scoring criteria, summarize and present a "before and after" analysis of the changes internally. Support development of communications materials and participate in internal and external meetings with other State agencies summarizing and contextualizing the findings of the analysis and potential policy impacts to related California Climate Investments program(s).

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STCD Resilience Metrics Student Intern

The intern will assist with literature review of climate resilience metrics used to calculate a community’s ability to respond to and recover from climate hazards. The literature review will support the development of the California Climate Risk and Adaptation Index methodology, which aims to map climate risks across the state and assess the risks faced by California Climate Investments projects. The resulting analysis will also inform a publicly available tool to support broader climate risk planning and adaptation efforts. The intern will summarize and present findings internally and support development of communications materials, briefings, and meetings summarizing potential policy impacts of the findings.

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STCD ISAS Student Intern

The student intern will assist in the development of a new zero-emission space and water heater regulation through market assessments that may include analyzing consumer adoption trends, product offerings, and workforce development needs.

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