Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation

Fellowship Opportunity with the Clean Energy/Climate Change Program: The fellowship will help to ascertain and connect the public health and economic costs of our use of coal-fired power plants to advance policies designed to increase deployment of cleaner and renewable methods for generating electricity.  The fellow will work with CLF’s CFNE team and our community partners, consisting of local organizations in municipalities where coal-fired power plants are located, to create meaningful data on the adverse impacts to community health and welfare resulting from long term exposure to air pollutants emitted by these facilities.  The work would combine risk assessment, energy economics, and life cycle assessment to quantify the environmental and public health costs of these facilities and the benefits of alternative energy measures.  The fellow would work under the direction of CLF’s Director of the CECC Program and also extensively with regional advocacy partners (e.g., Sierra Club) community organizations and local leaders.  The project will involve analysis/reports, articles and outreach materials. 

 Qualifications and Contact Information: A background in public health, and experience with environmental science (especially atmospheric / air pollution) and risk assessment is required.  The fellow must have the skills to apply that technical knowledge and “translate” it successfully into layperson’s terms. Experience in project and meeting management, writing and speaking skills and the ability to work well with a broad range of people are also important. This person must be willing to work both independently and collaboratively.  Our goal is to identify a candidate as soon as possible and work together to submit a concept letter by the February 1, 2012, deadline. Please contact: Priscilla Brooks, VP: pbrooks@clf.org, or 617-850-1737.