California Air Resources Board
Executive Office

Fellowship:

Fellowship opportunities in various technical and policy areas of the mobile source program exist for a highly qualified, self-driven, strong communicator, and ambitious undergraduate Stanford student with a desire to be part of the change that California is driving.

Agency:

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), established in 1967 by action of the California Legislature, is a state agency whose mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air and climate pollutants, while recognizing and considering the effects on the state's economy.  Since its formation, CARB has worked with the public, the business sector and local governments to find solutions to California's air pollution problem.  More recently, CARB is also focusing on climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.  The resulting state air quality and climate actions led by CARB continue to outpace the rest of the nation and lead the world in promoting clean and low-carbon policies.

The Major Goals of the Board:

  • Provide Safe, Clean Air to All Californians
  • Protect the Public from Exposure to Toxic Air Contaminants
  • Reduce California's Emission of Greenhouse Gases
  • Provide Leadership in Implementing and Enforcing Air Pollution Control Rules and Regulations
  • Provide Innovative Approaches for Complying with Air Pollution Rules and Regulations
  • Base Decisions on Best Possible Scientific and Economic Information
  • Provide Quality Customer Service to All CARB Clients

Mobile Source Strategy:

Over the next 15 years, California will need to build upon its successful efforts to meet critical air quality and climate goals. These include:

  • Attaining federal health‑based air quality standards for ozone in 2023 and 2031 in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standards in the next decade,
  • Achieving GHG emission reduction targets of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030,
  • Reducing our petroleum use by up to 50 percent by 2030,
  • Minimizing health risk from exposure to toxic air contaminants, and
  • Increasing energy efficiency and deriving 50 percent of our electricity in 2030 from renewable sources.

Achieving these complementary goals will provide much needed public health protection for the millions of Californians that still breathe unhealthy air, and reduce exposure in disadvantaged communities, especially in light of new information regarding the sensitivity of children to toxic emissions early in life.  Meeting California’s GHG emission reduction targets is an essential part of the global action needed to slow global warming and achieve climate stabilization.  Finally, actions to meet California’s public health and climate goals will reduce our dependence on petroleum and establish a more secure energy future.

Mobile sources—cars, trucks, and a myriad of off-road equipment—and the fossil fuels that power them are the largest contributor to the formation of ozone, PM2.5, diesel particulate matter, and GHG emissions in California.  They are responsible for approximately 80 percent of smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, 95 percent of diesel particulate matter emissions, and 50 percent of GHG emissions.  Given this contribution, significant cuts in pollution from these sources are needed. 

Potential Areas for Fellowship Project:

The incumbent, depending on qualifications, will have the opportunity to help CARB program staff, most of them scientists and engineers, research, develop, design, analyze, interpret, and report various policies aimed at supporting the transition of transportation source in California to clean, low-carbon technologies and fuels including the electrification of vehicles and promotion electricity and hydrogen.  In all cases, the intern will have the opportunity to emphasize either the technical or policy aspects of the work based on interest and direction from the CARB mentor.  She/he may also contribute to the preparation of official documents for public release. 

Potential areas of internship focus on heavy-duty mobile sources include:

  • Develop an understanding of the heavy-duty on-road vehicle (HDV) sector and contribute to the development of ideas for a new California policy for achieving GHG emission reductions from future HDVs meeting California’s emission standards.  The work will involve researching technology-based options for emission reductions as well as innovative strategies for effective implementation of new requirements.
  • Explore other programs for HDV GHG emission control existing or under development around the world and compare those approaches to the strategy design of the new California standards under development.  Leading jurisdictions with policies in this area and of high relevance to California include China and Europe.
  • Consider the current state of zero-emission technologies for the HDV sector and provide creative ideas for implementation the development and deployment of such technologies in the context of the California program under development.
  • Upon completion of the internship, prepare a final report and conduct an exit seminar for CARB staff.  In this seminar, the intern will present an overview of the work and the accomplishments and recommendations.

Potential areas of internship focus on light-duty mobile sources include:

  • California is the leading jurisdiction in the world for deployment and market-adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEV).  This progress is due, in part, to California’s ZEV Mandate, a regulation requiring car makers with sales in California to produce ZEVs in the State.  The intern will study the ZEV Mandate and develop recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the program in the future.
  • For this assignment, the intern will consider developments to get to ZEV market readiness in other jurisdictions in the U.S. and abroad.
  • The intern will research methods of analysis of ZEV benefits and propose suggestions for improvement based on a thorough assessment of technology today and the dominant trends in technology development in the near future (10 year time frame).
  • Upon completion of the internship, prepare a final report and conduct an exit seminar for CARB staff.  In this seminar, the intern will present an overview of the work and the accomplishments and recommendations.

Desired Experience and Attributes:

  • Basic understanding of California’s efforts for clean air and climate change protection and the role of public policy
  • General knowledge of environmental management and of CARB and its function in the context of setting emission standards for vehicles, engines, and equipment
  • Strong communication skills (both written and oral)
  • A demonstrated desire to work in a team environment and to learn from seasoned, expert practitioners and creators of internationally-recognized environmental policies for mobile sources
  • A major in engineering, the physical sciences, and/or policy is applicable background for this internship

Supervisor Information:

Alberto Ayala, Ph.D., M.S.E.
Deputy Executive Officer
1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, Ph: 916.322.2892

Office Assistant
Shannon White
Administrative Assistant to Deputy Executive Office Alberto Ayala
1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, Ph: 916.323.9631