Apply to be a fellow!

Become a sustainability change agent at Swarthmore in this year-long course and internship.

The President's Sustainability Research Fellowship is designed for Swarthmore students who want to become key players in the work towards a more sustainable campus and community. Students from all academic backgrounds and years (who are not current seniors) are invited to apply. 

This one-year, high-impact learning program is a collaboration between the President’s Office, the Office of Sustainability, the Environmental Studies Program, and the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility.

The application process consists of a written application (JobX) and interviews with selected candidates. 

Applications may be submitted on JobX, here. Look for the Sustainability Research Fellowship. Applications open on December 10th and close February 13th.

If you have any questions about the application process, please reach out to Juna Saito '25 (jsaito1@swarthmore.edu ).

Eligibility and Expectations:

To apply for the President's Sustainability Research Fellowship for the '26-'27 AY, you must be:

  • A rising sophomore, junior or senior
  • In good standing with the College
  • Be a fully enrolled student at the time of applying, with no plans to take a leave of absence or study abroad during the following academic year.

A total time commitment of 10 - 20 hours per week is expected from the Fellows. This work includes:

  • Course: a one-credit fall-semester course, ENVS 089, taught by the Director of Sustainability with support from Environmental Studies faculty
  • Internship: Project Manager status for a project developed in close collaboration with a Swarthmore faculty or staff member
  • Weekly meetings with a staff mentor, plus additional meetings as required by the project
  • Advising from either an alumni or a consultant in the field of work of the project
Application Timeline and Information Sessions

Application Timeline​​​​​​

  • Application goes live: December 10th, 2025
  • Applications due: February 13th, 2026
  • Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis: February 23rd 2026 - March 6th 2026
  • Offers are sent: March 23rd, 2026
  • Acceptances are due by 11:59 pm: April 15th, 2026
Research Project Topics

Project topics for the ’26-’27 PSRF have not been finalized. The following list captures some of the project topics from previous iterations of the program, and the current list of project topics, found here. These lists are intended to give potential applicants an idea of the nature/topic areas of PSRF projects:

  • Athletics: Engaging athletics in sustainability practice and community
  • Building Energy Efficiency: Projects and policies related to conserving energy and reducing demand
  • Campus Community Connections: Building relationships and sustainability in Chester
  • Climate Community:   Growing shared understanding of climate crisis and its intersections
  • Carbon Charge: Pricing carbon, carbon offset research, and protecting our climate
  • Crum Woods: Restoration and revitalization of the Crum Woods
  • Curriculum: Infusing sustainability in teaching and learning across departments
  • Food & Dining: Increasing the health and sustainability of our campus food systems
  • Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment and Rating System: Measuring sustainability using AASHE's STARS framework
  • Renewable Energy: Developing renewable energy on- and off-campus
  • Transportation: Developing sustainable transportation systems on campus
  • Zero Waste: Developing a circular economy and transforming our relationship with stuff