About Metabolic
The Metabolic Institute is a non-profit think tank, working at the intersection of academic research and real-world experimentation. The Metabolic Institute advances knowledge on how human activities influence Earth systems. Our work is driven by open-source knowledge generation to provide actionable insights for collective systems change. We identify critical knowledge gaps and foster collaborative partnerships at the interface of academia, industry, and society. Leveraging these networks of expertise, we co-develop methodologies, models, and frameworks for the assessment and implementation of systemic solutions. The Institute advances this knowledge in an applied and experimental way, using deep demonstrations to prototype, test, and fast-track the application of environmental, technological, financial, and governance interventions and empower local communities to take ownership of their transition pathways through capacity building and knowledge sharing.
The Institute’s multidisciplinary team works across a range of topics, including: circular cities and regions, industrial ecology, sustainable value chains (e.g. built environment, textiles, agrifood, energy, plastics), environmental monitoring and evaluation, circular entrepreneurship, and impact finance. To gain a deeper understanding of the Institute's project portfolio, explore CENTRINNO, REFLOW, the Global Metabolism Initiative, DLT4EU, Circular Finance, and FOODE.
About the Role
The internship is an opportunity to get real-world experience in research projects focused on a bio-based built environment and nature-based solutions for land use management. The projects, LandShift and TIMBERHAUS, seek to bring together circular metabolism, environmental impact assessment, supply chain analysis, strategy development, and stakeholder co-design processes into a holistic regenerative approach. We are looking to hire someone who will closely work together within the Bioeconomy team.
In this role, you will work closely with our Metabolic ecosystem on the following activities:
Desk research on nature based solutions and the timber supply chain
Support the data collection process and organize key insights to support the research team
Support the data analysis of the timber supply chain
Support team in the interactions with local stakeholders (e.g., interview, outreach, etc…)
Contribute to the development of methodologies to build circular & regenerative bioeconomies by applying systemic approaches and tools
Contribute to data analysis and its visualization
Support the development of workshops, presentations, and other stakeholder engagement activities
Supporting the writing of reports, scientific articles, and website content to share lessons learned and outputs
The position is based in our office in Amsterdam, will last for 5 to 6 months and start in March 2025. The internship requires 4 to 5 days of work per week. It provides a stipend amounting to €877.59/ month pro-rata (based on 40 hours per week).
Your profile
We are looking for someone whose profile aligns with the following:
Enrolled in a relevant Bachelor's or Master's Degree, such as Industrial Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Sustainable Food Systems, Sustainable Forestry, Sustainable Policies, Data Science or equivalent
Knowledge in sustainability, preferably with a focus on forestry systems, the built environment, and nature-based solutions
Strong interdisciplinary research skills, with good capacity in conducting research, synthesizing information, and communicating conclusions
Experience with data analysis or data science, Python programming experience a plus
Have fun working on challenging projects, as part of an enthusiastic and diverse team
Demonstrated passion for sustainability and social issues
Great communication and teamwork skills (experience with multi-stakeholder work is a plus)
Fluency in written and spoken English
The ability to work independently
Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organization
Self-awareness of personal career development goals
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for an internship with Metabolic, the following criteria must be met (non-negotiable):
Enrolled for the entire duration of the internship (at least until September 2025 – please mention your expected graduation date in your CV)
Have a residence permit in the Netherlands (valid for working purposes and for the entire duration of the internship)
Have a BSN (burgerservicenummer/citizen service number)
About us
Metabolic’s mission is to transition the global economy to a fundamentally sustainable state. We advise governments, businesses, and NGOs on how to adapt to a fast-changing global context. Combining systems thinking and data science, we map and understand local and global systems to assess where to intervene and develop solutions that can dramatically shift how the economy functions.
