The Sustainable Stanford Fellowship

Lead a real sustainability transformation right here on campus.

As a Sustainable Stanford Living Lab Fellow, you step into the role of a systems-change practitioner working where ideas, innovation, and real operations meet. This is more than a student position; it is your opportunity to help shape how Stanford evolves into a more sustainable and resilient campus. The Fellowship empowers undergraduate and graduate students to lead cross-disciplinary projects that deliver measurable impact, influence policy and culture, and strengthen the systems that carry Stanford’s sustainability goals forward. Through hands-on learning and real-world collaboration, you develop the mindset, skills, and experience to design transformative solutions and grow as a leader in sustainability.

More about the program’s origins can be found in its launch article in the Stanford Report.

Key Details

Eligibility: Enrolled Stanford undergraduate and graduate students
Commitment: approx. 10 hours per week, September 2026 through June 2027 (possible summer ‘26 start, and summer ‘27 continuation with mentor approval)
Compensation: $25 per hour
Structure: Project-based, high-autonomy, supported by expert staff mentor and advisory board
Required Academic Course: SUSTAIN 120 – Leading Organizational Change for Sustainability (Fall 2026, 1 Unit)
Cohort: 20+ Fellows across disciplines working in community throughout the year

Responsibilities

Lead high-impact projects by planning, coordinating, and managing sustainability initiatives that matter to Stanford operations.
Collaborate with stakeholders including staff, faculty, students, and advisory boards to shape your project’s direction and impact.
Conduct research and analysis to inform strategies, guide decision-making, and measure progress.
Engage the campus community by creating educational materials, facilitating outreach, and sharing your work with diverse audiences.
Communicate your insights through reports, presentations, and a capstone symposium that showcases your contributions to Stanford leadership and partners.

Benefits and Opportunities

As part of the Sustainable Stanford Fellowship program, you will have the chance to develop essential leadership skills, including systems thinking, problem solving, project management, and effective communication. You will receive dedicated mentorship from sustainability experts and will join a connected community with access to campus sustainability professionals and exclusive events. Lastly, the program will help you build your career and portfolio by showcasing your impactful work that shapes Stanford’s sustainable future.

Learn more

Develop Key Leadership Skills: Strengthen your systems thinking, applied problem solving, project management, and change management skills while learning to collaborate, communicate, and facilitate across diverse teams. Along the way, you will engage with key stakeholders, practice analyzing data and reporting impacts, and learn to navigate real operational constraints.

Receive Mentorship and Support: Receive one-on-one mentorship from experienced sustainability practitioners, along with guidance from an advisory board of subject matter experts who help you refine your approach and expand your perspective.

Join a Connected Community: Become part of a vibrant community of campus sustainability professionals and partners, with opportunities to engage through exclusive Living Lab events such as orientation, the Next-Gen Forum, and the annual Symposium.

Build Your Career and Portfolio: You will have multiple opportunities to showcase your work, develop portfolio-ready deliverables, and gain visibility across campus, contributing directly to programs and strategies that shape sustainability at Stanford.

Leave a Lasting Impact: Contribute to meaningful, tangible improvements that advance Stanford’s sustainable future, leaving a clear and lasting impact on the campus community.

Testimonials

“Project management for systems change intervention is incredibly complex and not something I would have been able to learn without this hands-on experience.”

-Emily Blackwell, BS and MS Human Biology ’24

“The Living Lab Fellowship was more than an internship, extracurricular, or class to me. Instead, it helped showcase that the goals and values that I strive to achieve are present here at Stanford while giving me pathways to continue my journey.”

–Justin West, BS Computer Science ’25

“This fellowship was an awesome experience! It provides an incredible opportunity to help make meaningful change on- and off-campus! I would recommend it to anyone. I learned a ton and feel like I gained such impactful work and life experience. I don’t think I’d have gotten my post-grad job if not for the skills I learned from the fellowship.”

-Jeremy Rubin, BA Human Biology and MA Public Policy ’24