About the Position
- Number of openings: Up to two for Summer/Fall 2026
- Position Type: Paid, part-time internship (up to 20 hours/week)
- Reports To: Director of State Partnerships and Strategy and Research Analysts
- Location: Atlanta, GA (hybrid/remote options available)
- Schedule: Flexible; hours/days to be discussed upon hire
- Start Date: Flexible (generally mid-May 2026 to mid-August 2026; may be extended upon mutual agreement)
The Ray is pursuing partnership opportunities with transportation agencies across the US to scale the innovative technologies and methodologies successfully demonstrated on The Ray Highway. To better understand potential partner organizations, The Ray seeks to gain insight into the environmental, energy, innovation, climate, and intelligent transportation system programs of transportation agencies nationwide.
This internship will report to the Director of the State Partnerships and Strategy team, but may report to other team members, Geospatial Solutions staff, or communications staff on specific tasks.
Examples of previous intern projects: Right-of-Way Solar Business Case Report, research on policy and legislation relevant to right-of-way project implementation, and technical memos that support transportation innovation and projects in states and communities.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Research state Department of Transportation (DOT) innovation, electrification, climate, sustainability, and intelligent transportation system programs, including related goals and performance metrics.
- Research federal, state, and local policies pertaining to DOTs and the deployment of emerging technology and renewable energy infrastructure.
- Research transportation-specific technologies and other innovative technologies that can be applied to transportation use cases.
- Prepare analyses of ROI (financial, climate, etc.) and other project outcomes (quantitative and non-quantitative) for projects.
- Compile user-friendly executive summaries of research that will be used to inform partnership strategies.
- Attend team and partnership meetings as requested by The Ray staff.
Qualifications:
- Undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in a related field
- Strong written communication skills
- Strong analytical skills and experience
- Basic understanding of policy, technology, and government
- Self-motivated, flexible team player with a positive attitude
- Interest in innovative transportation and community development
- Commitment and passion for the environment, sustainability, and circularity
Advanced Qualifications:
- Proficiency with Tableau, statistical analysis, and GIS tools
How to Apply:
This may be a hybrid internship, with some hours completed in-office and remotely. Regular video conferences will be required. This is a paid position at $10/hour for undergraduate students and $15/hour for graduate students. It will require up to 20 hours of work per week during the internship.
Please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Ella Pruchniewski at ella@theray.org
