Roos internship
Student internship offers insights into sustainable businesses
Charlotte Roos is a senior in Loyola University Chicago's School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) majoring in environmental studies with a minor in urban studies and sustainability. She shared thoughts about her Loyola experience and her internship with a local composting company.
Chalotte Roos interned with WasteNot Compost, a company started by a Loyola School of Environmental Sustainability alum.
Why did you decide to come to Loyola and SES?
I chose to attend Loyola because I wanted to experience college in a new city and was drawn to Chicago's mix of urban life, green spaces, and lakefront access. When applying, I was impressed that Loyola was one of the top schools in Chicago for environmental science and had an entire school dedicated to environmental sustainablity.Now, in my senior year, I can't imagine having chosen any other path!
How did you get involved with your student internship?
This past fall, while exploring internship opportunities on the SES page, I came across the WasteNot internship. I have a strong interest in sustainable food systems, soil ecology, and waste management, and interning at a compost company was an exciting way to engage with various sustainable food systems.
Growing up in Minneapolis, I witnessed the impact of city-wide composting services firsthand. Seeing how my family's waste decreased and how we downsized our trash cans made me realize just how much organic waste we produced and the significant impact composting had on waste management. Whenever I visited places without composting programs, I became very aware of the excess waste bound for landfills, which could have easily been diverted by being composted.
Here at Loyola, I have been involved in various food waste-related initiatives. I participated in the university's compost bucket program and joined student groups focused on waste reduction. Within the Student Environmental Alliance, I contributed to a campaign group dedicated to reducing waste across campus, including food waste initiatives. Currently, as a member of the E-Board for the Food Recovery Network, I help recover surplus food from campus to reduce waste while supporting individuals in Rogers Park experiencing food insecurity.
Waste management is a critical component of sustainability, and that's why I chose to intern with WasteNot—to gain hands-on experience in a field that directly aligns with my passion for waste reduction and environmental responsibility.
What was your role as an intern?
As an intern at WasteNot, much of my work involves conducting research and data analysis to enhance and expand composting and sustainability services. One of the things I love about this role is the variety. I've contributed to blog posts that educate the public on composting practices and new services, attended state-wide webinars on sustainable waste management, and researched other waste management companies to evaluate their services. Additionally, I've helped improve website functionality and supported WasteNot's bid and engagement efforts through community and neighborhood research.
Beyond that, I've worked on larger data analysis projects to gain insights into consumer behavior and service expansion. Most recently, I completed a project analyzing service cancellations to identify ways to improve compost and recycling offerings. This hands-on experience has deepened my understanding of sustainability initiatives and their real-world applications.
What did you learn during your internship process?
My internship has given me valuable insight into the inner workings of a sustainable business, particularly in waste management. Whether researching community groups for potential partnerships, enhancing online environmental education and user experience, or analyzing ways to improve and expand services, I am constantly learning and applying my skills within a sustainability-driven framework. Before this experience, my understanding of composting was limited to a much smaller scale. However, through my work at WasteNot, I've gained a deeper appreciation for the significant impact that composting and sustainable waste management can have. From individuals to businesses to entire communities, I've seen firsthand how people in Chicago are working toward a more sustainable future.
How did your internship impact your career plans or advancement?
My internship has allowed me to develop and apply a wide range of research skills, particularly within a business framework, including market competition analysis and community research. Additionally, I've strengthened my data analysis skills through a sustainability-focused lens.
Through my work at WasteNot, I've realized how much I genuinely enjoy data analysis. Some of my favorite projects have been those involving data-driven insights. This experience has broadened my perspective, and as I navigate my job search, I'm now more open to positions that incorporate environmental data analysis.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
After graduation, I don't have a set plan yet, but I hope to either stay in Chicago or return home to Minneapolis. I have a wide range of interests within environmental science and am exploring career opportunities in restoration ecology, sustainable waste management, urban sustainability, and sustainable food systems.
What advice would you give to other students considering an internship during their time at Loyola?
I highly recommend getting an internship during undergrad! It's a great way to gain new experiences and knowledge that complement your coursework while exposing you to real-world applications beyond the classroom. A paid internship is also a great way to gain financial support during the semester. I understand that balancing work, internships, and being a full-time student can feel overwhelming at times, but it's absolutely worth it. Especially with SES internships and their external partnerships, there's an understanding that you're a student first.
- Interview with Charlotte Roos by Danielle Hurt
Why did you decide to come to Loyola and SES?
I chose to attend Loyola because I wanted to experience college in a new city and was drawn to Chicago's mix of urban life, green spaces, and lakefront access. When applying, I was impressed that Loyola was one of the top schools in Chicago for environmental science and had an entire school dedicated to environmental sustainablity.Now, in my senior year, I can't imagine having chosen any other path!
How did you get involved with your student internship?
This past fall, while exploring internship opportunities on the SES page, I came across the WasteNot internship. I have a strong interest in sustainable food systems, soil ecology, and waste management, and interning at a compost company was an exciting way to engage with various sustainable food systems.
Growing up in Minneapolis, I witnessed the impact of city-wide composting services firsthand. Seeing how my family's waste decreased and how we downsized our trash cans made me realize just how much organic waste we produced and the significant impact composting had on waste management. Whenever I visited places without composting programs, I became very aware of the excess waste bound for landfills, which could have easily been diverted by being composted.
Here at Loyola, I have been involved in various food waste-related initiatives. I participated in the university's compost bucket program and joined student groups focused on waste reduction. Within the Student Environmental Alliance, I contributed to a campaign group dedicated to reducing waste across campus, including food waste initiatives. Currently, as a member of the E-Board for the Food Recovery Network, I help recover surplus food from campus to reduce waste while supporting individuals in Rogers Park experiencing food insecurity.
Waste management is a critical component of sustainability, and that's why I chose to intern with WasteNot—to gain hands-on experience in a field that directly aligns with my passion for waste reduction and environmental responsibility.
What was your role as an intern?
As an intern at WasteNot, much of my work involves conducting research and data analysis to enhance and expand composting and sustainability services. One of the things I love about this role is the variety. I've contributed to blog posts that educate the public on composting practices and new services, attended state-wide webinars on sustainable waste management, and researched other waste management companies to evaluate their services. Additionally, I've helped improve website functionality and supported WasteNot's bid and engagement efforts through community and neighborhood research.
Beyond that, I've worked on larger data analysis projects to gain insights into consumer behavior and service expansion. Most recently, I completed a project analyzing service cancellations to identify ways to improve compost and recycling offerings. This hands-on experience has deepened my understanding of sustainability initiatives and their real-world applications.
What did you learn during your internship process?
My internship has given me valuable insight into the inner workings of a sustainable business, particularly in waste management. Whether researching community groups for potential partnerships, enhancing online environmental education and user experience, or analyzing ways to improve and expand services, I am constantly learning and applying my skills within a sustainability-driven framework. Before this experience, my understanding of composting was limited to a much smaller scale. However, through my work at WasteNot, I've gained a deeper appreciation for the significant impact that composting and sustainable waste management can have. From individuals to businesses to entire communities, I've seen firsthand how people in Chicago are working toward a more sustainable future.
How did your internship impact your career plans or advancement?
My internship has allowed me to develop and apply a wide range of research skills, particularly within a business framework, including market competition analysis and community research. Additionally, I've strengthened my data analysis skills through a sustainability-focused lens.
Through my work at WasteNot, I've realized how much I genuinely enjoy data analysis. Some of my favorite projects have been those involving data-driven insights. This experience has broadened my perspective, and as I navigate my job search, I'm now more open to positions that incorporate environmental data analysis.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
After graduation, I don't have a set plan yet, but I hope to either stay in Chicago or return home to Minneapolis. I have a wide range of interests within environmental science and am exploring career opportunities in restoration ecology, sustainable waste management, urban sustainability, and sustainable food systems.
What advice would you give to other students considering an internship during their time at Loyola?
I highly recommend getting an internship during undergrad! It's a great way to gain new experiences and knowledge that complement your coursework while exposing you to real-world applications beyond the classroom. A paid internship is also a great way to gain financial support during the semester. I understand that balancing work, internships, and being a full-time student can feel overwhelming at times, but it's absolutely worth it. Especially with SES internships and their external partnerships, there's an understanding that you're a student first.
- Interview with Charlotte Roos by Danielle Hurt