The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, starches, advanced bioproducts, corn oil and feed products from dent corn.

CRA also administers the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC), an organization launched in 2019 that represents companies manufacturing or using non-food products and materials made from renewable, plant-based inputs.

What You Will Learn

CRA values its interns and endeavors to provide a learning experience that advances your career development, broadens your knowledge of our industry, and expands your professional network.

  • Interns assist with various projects throughout their time at CRA. Successful interns are enthusiastic about working on a wide variety of tasks in a fast-paced, team environment.
  • Interns are assigned to work on active issues faced by CRA including, but not limited to:
    • Assist the Environmental Affairs Committee with analysis of Federal environmental regulations at all stages of development, from initial proposal to implementation, to determine impacts to CRA members and recommend course of action in consultation with industry partners. CRA member companies face a multitude of Federal regulatory and policy concerns related to national ambient air quality standards, cooling water intake structures, biogenic CO2 emissions, chemical safety, and much more.
    • Assist the Sustainability Committee in its review of upstream sustainability programs that seek to make continuous improvements at the farm-level to reduce environmental impact of the corn purchased for use in CRA member refining facilities. Additional work on sustainability focuses on continuously improving sustainability at the production facilities CRA members operate.
    • Assist the Advanced Bioproducts Committee and the Plant Based Products Council with research and policy analysis to help support advancement of plant-based products and their role in the circular economy.
    • Assist the Health & Wellness Committee, which is focused on CRA’s food regulatory policy issues, on tracking relevant government proposals and Federal legislation, drafting regulatory comments, and assisting on outreach to stakeholder partners. The Health & Wellness Committee issue agenda includes food labeling, biotechnology, dietary guidance, and others.
    • Assist the Workplace Safety Committee with processing facility-level data for monthly workplace safety reports, as well as assisting on policy analysis where necessary.
    • Interns may also be asked to support additional CRA committees including Communications, Government Relations, Product Safety & Quality, and Trade based on the current needs of the Association.
  • The Internship Program at CRA is designed for recent university graduates and graduate students. Rising seniors and juniors performing at an exceptional level will also be considered. Qualified candidates should have or be working towards a degree in Environmental Science or Policy, Agribusiness, Environmental Engineering, Nutrition or Public Health, Public Policy, or related area of study.

Qualifications

  • A minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
  • Organized, with an ability to prioritize multiple time-sensitive assignments.
  • A genuine interest in policy development.

Additional Details

  • CRA has a hybrid work environment. Staff work remotely Monday and Friday and work in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Certain weeks throughout the fall will offer the flexibility to be conducted fully remotely. You will need to have a personal computer, secure internet connection and a landline or cell phone.
  • The Internship Program at CRA is a paid position. If you would like to receive credit in addition to or in lieu of wages, please consult with your department head or academic advisor.
  • Internships are available on a year-round basis. The next opening is for the fall term; August 2024 – December 2024.
  • In general, we anticipate that interns will work full-time during their term of employment at CRA. However, CRA is open to accepting candidates who would work less than full-time so they may take classes at a local university. This flexibility is intended to attract candidates from outside the DC area who may want to take advantage of the many local learning opportunities available while interning at CRA. This arrangement also offers a flexible internship opportunity for students enrolled fulltime at a DC-based institution.
  • No benefits are provided.

To Apply

  • Interested applicants should email their cover letter, resume, cumulative GPA, and contact information for 3 references to [email protected] using the subject line “RE: Environmental and Food Policy Intern”.
  • At least one reference should be a current Professor or Academic Advisor familiar with your academic record. We will contact references directly only for top candidates and only after notifying the intern candidate.
  • No phone calls will be accepted.

Corn Refiners Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Read what past interns have to say about CRA’s Internship Program:

“With an elevated emphasis on teaching, CRA exposed me to a plethora of invaluable knowledge and experience regarding both environmental law and policy as well as agricultural markets and sustainability. Educational and practical experience aside, however, CRA provided me with countless other invaluable life lessons and friendships of which I will not soon forget. In sum, working with CRA was truly a pleasure and an experience I believe will continue to have a profoundly positive impact on my life.”