PPI Interns

Are you a student looking to gain hands-on experience in environmental sustainability and pollution prevention?
The PPI Intern Program offers engineering and science students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world industrial settings, helping Kansas businesses reduce their environmental footprint.

Who Can Apply?

The program is open to engineering and science students enrolled at accredited Kansas colleges or universities who will have at least junior standing by the start of the summer internship. Graduate students are also welcome!
Note: Students finishing their undergraduate studies in the spring semester are only eligible if they will continue their education (e.g., enrolling in graduate school or another academic program) in the fall semester.

About the Program

This non-regulatory, technical program connects Kansas businesses with students to tackle pollution prevention (P2) projects. The internship is full-time, and interns get paid $23/h. As an intern, you will:

• Participate in a one-week training at K-State, where you’ll learn the basics of sustainability through hands-on exercises.
  Note: Training can be taken for credit as part of the CE-690 – Industrial Sustainability Practices course. Credit costs and associated fees are the student's responsibility.
• Work under the guidance of a PPI technical mentor and a host company supervisor.
• Spend 10 weeks on-site, applying pollution prevention strategies to overcome environmental challenges.
• Gain experience in areas such as energy and water conservation, toxic chemical reduction, air emissions management, hazardous waste management, and more.
• Work on projects from start to finish, including collecting and analyzing data, creating a baseline scenario, evaluating potential alternatives, and making final recommendations.
• Produce a final case summary and present your results to a diverse audience - click here to check examples of past intern's projects

Internship Benefits

• Practical Experience: Navigate different industrial environments and understand company structures.
• Skill Development: Enhance your portfolio by working on at least three projects over the summer, developing both project management and technical skills.
• Networking Opportunities: Build meaningful connections with industry professionals.
• Sustainability Impact: Contribute to Kansas’s sustainability efforts while helping your host company save money.

Training and Support

Interns receive a week of intensive training at K-State on P2 strategies before starting their on-site work. Training topics include:

• Introduction to pollution prevention and sustainability
• Energy conservation and efficiency, including lighting, motors, pumps and HVAC systems
• Reading and analyzing energy bills
• Water conservation
• Toxics reduction and replacement
• Estimating project costs and savings using engineering economics
• Calculating GHG emissions from environmental projects
• Writing technical reports

Throughout the internship, you will receive continuous support from PPI advisors. You’ll also attend a mid-term retreat to present your progress and a final symposium attended by industry professionals, EPA, and KDHE representatives to showcase your findings.

How to Apply

Interested students should complete the intern application and submit it along with their resume and academic transcripts.

Applications for the 2025 PPI Internship Program are due February 15th, 2025. Interviews will be scheduled for early March.