Ed Whitelaw Memorial Summer Internship

About ECOnorthwest

ECOnorthwest is a public policy consulting firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in Seattle, Bend, Eugene, and Los Angeles. For 50 years, policymakers and business leaders have trusted ECOnorthwest to inform the complex issues that shape communities. ECOnorthwest has worked with a diverse range of over 2,000 public, private, non‑profit, and foundation clients in the United States and around the world to craft effective and feasible solutions.

To answer the complex questions of our time, we integrate economic analysis with complementary disciplines to provide a more complete understanding of how policy choices affect peoples’ lives.

ECOnorthwest is pleased to announce a paid summer internship in honor of its founder, and longtime University of Oregon professor, Ed Whitelaw. This internship continues a long tradition of economics students in Oregon gaining early‑career experience  position is designed for rising seniors or recent graduates of an undergraduate economics degree program at an Oregon university. The ideal candidate will have a balance of strong analytical and communication skills.

The intern will assemble and analyze sizable datasets and convey findings to project teams. ECOnorthwest is a premier policy consultancy, and is active in housing, transportation, economic development, natural resources, education, and social policy.

Under the guidance of ECO’s project teams:

• Conduct research in accordance with standard methods and research best practices
• Identify and organize data and sources of information appropriately assigned
• Summarize information into clear and understandable tables and charts.
• Proactively report concerns and progress to the project team on a weekly basis, unless more or less frequent reporting is requested.
• Complete work within project timeline as provided by the project team.
• Discuss findings with other staff to evaluate validity of findings and explore implications; raise any concerns about how a research process addresses issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, or any other concerns or issues with research alignment with ECOnorthwest’s mission and statement of research integrity.
• Manage their time based on the deadlines of each project they are working on, coordinating with project teams when there are competing deadlines.
• Prepare sections of reports or memoranda under direction from the project team, including inserting tables and charts and writing narrative.
• Assist in developing presentations, as needed.
• Related duties, as assigned

• Student currently enrolled in an undergraduate economics degree program at an Oregon university and expected to graduate by July 2027,
  OR a recent graduate of an undergraduate economics degree program at an Oregon university who graduated with their Bachelor's degree on or after Spring of 2025.
• Coursework in any of the following subjects: econometrics, macro and microeconomic theory, land use planning, transportation planning, real estate development, or public policy

• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Experience with: R, Python, GIS, Stata, IMPLAN, and/or SQL

Project Management and Collaboration Competencies

• Ability to meet deadlines and produce quality analysis in the form of tables, charts, and narrative.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to adapt appropriately to business culture.
• Ability to clearly communicate with staff, both verbally and in writing.

• Interest in developing a network within ECOnorthwest.
• Proactively contribute to a collegial and inclusive work environment.
• Ability to self‑assess and course correct.
• Ability to clearly communicate with staff, both verbally and in writing.
• Intellectual curiosity and the desire to seek out new ideas and solutions.
• Open‑minded approach, flexible when needed.
• Adjust effectively to new information, shifting timelines, or revised project scope.
• Reliability, timeliness, and efficient management of time and workload.
• Motivated to produce high…