Environmental Protection Bureau—Buffalo: Student Assistant for Science/Policy
Spring Paid, Part-Time Placement for Graduate/Undergraduate Students
Application Deadline is January 30, 2026. Applications are accepted online until January 30, 2026, and paid placement offers are made on a rolling
Reference No. EPB/SCI_BUF_PUGS_SPRING_2026
ID 241673
The Office of the New York State Attorney General’s (OAG) Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) in Buffalo is seeking applications from graduate and undergraduate students for a paid science/policy placement during the 2026 Spring Program. EPB is responsible for enforcing state and federal environmental laws and has the power to file lawsuits on behalf of the state of New York to protect the public health and environment. The bureau enforces environmental standards and defends state agencies when their regulatory efforts are challenged in court. In addition, the bureau's attorneys and technical staff investigate and respond to citizen complaints, file lawsuits for public nuisance conditions, prosecute environmental crimes, enforce solid waste laws, and prepare reports and brochures on environmental issues.
Students will assist the scientific and policy staff in exploring difficult and groundbreaking environmental and legal issues. Responsibilities include researching issues using the internet; briefing staff on technical issues and keeping them updated on the most recent developments; drafting reports and fact sheets; procuring technical information and undertaking scientific and evidentiary review and analyses; preparing presentations using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; and assisting staff in preparing for negotiations with violators of environmental laws. Candidates with Relativity or GIS skills are especially encouraged to apply.
Applications for spring placements must be submitted online at www.ag.ny.gov/job-postings/undergraduate-graduate-students
The student hired for this placement will be hired as a student assistant and work part-time for the spring semester (15 hours/week for 12 weeks for a total of 180 paid hours). Graduate students are paid the hourly rate of $19.38 and undergraduate students are paid the hourly rate of $16.39.
Students who are hired for the spring program may begin their placements on January 21, 2026, or after.
United States (U.S.) citizenship and New York state residency are not required, but applicants must be eligible to be employed in the U.S.
The format of this placement is hybrid or remote.
Hybrid Placements: Students report to their designated workstation two or three (2-3) days per On the days students work remotely, they need a reliable computer, a secure internet connection, a phone, and a sufficiently quiet and private workspace to telework.
Remote Placements: Students telecommute for the duration of their placements. On the days students work remotely, they need a reliable computer, a secure internet connection, a phone, and a sufficiently quiet and private workspace to telework. Please be advised, students hired for remote, paid placements must be available to complete their payroll onboarding paperwork in-person at OAG’s offices in Albany or New York City or at one of the 13 regional office locations.
At the time students receive and accept a paid placement offer, they must provide written documentation demonstrating they are full-time students in good academic standing as defined by their schools. Applications from students who are starting college/university during the 2025-26 academic year will not be considered.
