Student Fellows

2025-26 STUDENT SUSTAINABILITY FELLOWSHIPS

Spend your year as a Student Fellow with The Shi Institute! We are now accepting applications for student sustainability fellowships for the 2025-26 academic year. All current Furman students – any year, any major – are eligible to apply.

These fellowships pay $12 an hour require 10 hours of work a week during the school year. They focus on sustainability research and service on campus. Student Fellows will gain leadership and collaborative skills through their work with campus stakeholders, as well as common learning and activities. Student fellows will meet as a group every other Friday at 12:30 pm at the Shi Institute.

TO APPLY:

Fill out our online application.
Upload a resume and a short statement of interest (no more than 500 words).
Provide the names of two references (faculty or staff on campus are preferred).

You may apply up to three fellowships with a single application. For questions, please email Associate Director of Sustainability Programs Joy Baker at joy.baker@furman.edu

Applications are due no later than Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 11:59 pm. We will follow up with successful applicants to schedule an interview so keep an eye out for emails with the title “Shi Institute Student Fellowship.”

Please click below to learn more about our current Fellowship opportunities. To see full job descriptions, visit the Furman Internship Database and search “Shi Institute.”

This fellowship will focus on amplifying the work of The Shi Institute and increasing the culture of sustainability across campus. Responsibilities include sustainability campaign implementation, event planning, liaising with student organizations, and coordinating content creation from all Shi student fellows. This fellow will work closely with the Shi Institute’s Communications Coordinator to maintain The Shi Institute’s social media outlets, student fellows blog, website, newsletter, and other communications and advertising. Enthusiasm about sustainability, basic graphic design skills, writing skills, and an interest in generating collaboration on campus are required for this position. The position will require 10 hours/week.

This fellow will support the Farm Manager with all operations on the Furman Farm. The fellow should have a strong interest in sustainable agriculture, an enthusiastic personality, and the ability to communicate to a variety of audiences, including students, faculty, staff, and community members. This student will learn about organic gardening practices through hands-on experiences. This student will also gain valuable professional development by helping to manage other student farm workers, volunteers and groups. This student is also responsible for data tracking and management to quantify the impact of the Furman Farm on the wider Furman campus. This position requires you to work outdoors, rain or shine, and to get dirty and work as part of a team. No previous experience or knowledge is required, just a willingness to learn and an optimistic perspective.

This position in housed jointly in Facilities Services and at the Shi Institute. This fellow will be responsible for weekly campus-wide recycling pick-ups, weekly residential compost pickups for our residential composting program, conducting research associated with our on-campus recycling and residential composting efforts, and working to minimize waste across campus. This position will require 5 hours of work picking up recycling and 5 hours of outreach work conducted from the Shi Institute for a total of 10 hours/week.

This fellow will assess campus sustainability metrics through three focus areas: 1. Green Office Program, 2. Annual Greenhouse Gas Report, and 3. Climate Action Plan 2.0. In the fall, the focus will be coordinating the employee Green Office Program, aimed at educating and encouraging sustainable office practices. In the spring, focus will shift to completing Furman’s annual greenhouse gas report using the web-based SIMAP platform. Throughout the year, the fellow will participate in early stages of Climate Action Plan 2.0 implementation which may include scheduling, attending, and participating in committee meetings, researching energy/climate topics and writing short summaries, and developing student engagement. This position will require up to 10 hours/week.

The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University seeks a Campus Map Fellow to contribute to vital geospatial initiatives. This role involves close collaboration with our applied research team to identify, integrate, and maintain campus asset data within Furman’s GIS system, including crucial fieldwork to ensure accuracy and completeness. A key focus will be on enhancing accessibility by mapping features like curb cuts and accessible pathways, and developing inclusive routes for individuals with limited mobility or other disabilities. The Fellow will also contribute to creating visually appealing and usable web-based and print maps, integrating with OpenStreetMap, and exploring indoor routing solutions. We are looking for an organized, detail-oriented, and forward-thinking individual who enjoys some outdoor work and thrives in a team environment. GIS experience is preferred but not required.

The Alternative Transportation Fellow will contribute to Furman’s goal of carbon neutrality by promoting alternative transportation and working to reduce driving on campus. This includes promoting biking on campus, advocating for increased trolley and bus riding, and working with stakeholders to shift driving patterns. This student will be responsible for coordinating the Paladins on Bikes rental program and will also undertake a year long, independent project to impact the transportation culture on campus. An interest in biking and alternative transportation is a must. Interest or experience in bike repair and maintenance preferred but not required.