Hi! My name is Taylor Oliver, and I spent the summer of 2026 as the first-ever Sustainability Intern at PURIS.
As a rising senior at the University of Michigan studying Environmental Science with a concentration in Business and Economics, I came into this internship hoping to learn what sustainability looked like outside of the classroom. What I gained was so much more than that.
This summer gave me the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, learn from incredible mentors, build lasting friendships, and gain a much clearer vision of the kind of professional and leader I hope to become.
For anyone considering an internship at PURIS, I wanted to share what the experience was really like through the questions I know I would have wanted answered before applying.
Q: What made you interested in applying for an internship at PURIS?
I actually have a pretty unique connection to PURIS.
Back in high school, I participated in a senior internship program where I completed a micro-internship project with PURIS. That experience introduced me to the intersection of environmental issues and business, and it directly influenced what I decided to study in college. Instead of pursuing environmental science alone, I chose to focus on Environmental Science with a concentration in Business and Economics because I realized how important the business side is when it comes to creating meaningful environmental impact.
That connection introduced me to PURIS, but it wasn't the main reason I applied.
What really stood out to me was the job description itself. A lot of sustainability internships outside of PURIS seemed focused primarily on testing, data collection, or administrative support. The PURIS internship felt different. From the beginning, it was clear that I would be trusted with meaningful work and real responsibility.
One of the major responsibilities was helping build the PURIS Impact Report, which immediately caught my attention. As a student, I had spent time reviewing sustainability reports from other companies as part of my coursework. The opportunity to help create one from the ground up felt incredibly exciting.
I didn't feel like this was going to be an internship where I was just checking boxes or completing routine tasks. Looking back, that instinct was right.
Q: Did you actually do meaningful work, or was it mostly typical intern tasks?
I can honestly say I did meaningful work from day one.
One of the things that stood out most about my experience at PURIS was the level of trust and responsibility I was given. Rather than supporting projects from the sidelines, I was trusted to take ownership of work that supported real business needs and created lasting value.
The biggest example was the 2025 PURIS Impact Report. What started as a project quickly became one of the most rewarding experiences of the summer. I had the opportunity to gather information from across the organization, collaborate with internal teams and external partners, and help transform complex sustainability information into something meaningful and useful.
The project challenged me in ways no classroom assignment ever could. It required communication, problem-solving, organization, creativity, and the ability to connect sustainability information to business value.
Most importantly, the work mattered. I never felt like I was completing tasks simply because I was an intern. Compared to what many people associate with a traditional internship, I was given opportunities to lead projects, make recommendations, present my work, and contribute in ways that had a lasting impact on the business.
Q: What does sustainability work actually look like at PURIS?
Before starting, I thought sustainability work would mostly involve emissions calculations, spreadsheets, and reporting.
While there was certainly some of that, I quickly learned that sustainability at PURIS touches almost every part of the business.
No two days looked exactly the same. One day I might be gathering information for the Impact Report, another day I might be reviewing life cycle assessment data, supporting carbon sequestration work, responding to customer sustainability requests, or creating resources that helped make sustainability information more accessible.
One of the most interesting parts of the role was seeing how many different groups sustainability interacts with. I worked with people involved in agriculture, operations, sales, marketing, procurement, innovation, leadership, and external partnerships.
That completely changed my perspective on sustainability. I realized it isn't just about environmental metrics. It's about people, partnerships, communication, long-term thinking, and creating value across an entire organization.
Q: Who did you work with, and what was the mentorship like?
One of the things that surprised me most was how many people I had the opportunity to work with throughout the summer.
As a Sustainability Intern, I wasn't working within just one team or department. Because sustainability touches so many areas of the business, I had the chance to collaborate with people across PURIS as well as customers, partners, and other industry professionals. By the end of the summer, I had worked with more than 30 people across a wide variety of functions.
The mentorship I received was incredible. My manager, Nicole Atchison, was especially intentional about creating opportunities for me to learn and grow beyond my day-to-day responsibilities. Through her support, I had the chance to connect with customers, network with industry professionals, and gain exposure to experiences that many interns don't typically have access to.
What I appreciated most was that people didn't just help me complete projects. They genuinely invested in my growth. Whether it was advice, career guidance, introductions, or simply taking the time to answer questions, people across PURIS were incredibly generous with their knowledge and support.
I left this internship knowing I have an entire company of people rooting for me, and that's something I will always be grateful for.
Q: What opportunities did you have outside of your day-to-day work?
One of the things that made this internship so special was that the experience extended far beyond the projects I was working on.
Throughout the summer, PURIS created opportunities for interns to learn about the business, connect with leadership, and experience the industry firsthand. I had the chance to visit the Dawson facility, attend Minnesota Farmfest, participate in the Annual General Meeting, and be part of an incredible 16-person intern cohort.
I also had opportunities to continue developing my communication and presentation skills. Between the AGM Intern Showcase and my final internship presentation, I was able to share my work with a variety of audiences and build confidence presenting complex topics in a way that was clear and meaningful.
Beyond the professional development, some of my favorite memories came from spending time with the intern cohort. Whether it was the Twins game, traveling to Dawson, company events, or simply spending time together after work, the friendships we built became one of the most meaningful parts of the summer.
Those experiences were a huge part of what made the internship feel different. I wasn't just gaining technical skills. I was building relationships, expanding my network, and learning from people with completely different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Q: What would you say to a student who is considering applying for an internship at PURIS?
As my summer at PURIS comes to an end, I find myself feeling surprisingly emotional about leaving.
Of course, I'm excited to head back to the University of Michigan for my senior year. There are all the normal bittersweet emotions that come with entering your final year of college.
But if I'm being completely honest, a big part of me wishes I could stay a little longer.
I loved this summer.
I loved the people, the culture, the work I was doing, and the feeling that I was contributing to something meaningful. This internship gave me so much more than professional experience. It gave me leadership skills, new knowledge, friendships, mentors, confidence, experiences I'll never forget, and a much clearer vision of who I want to become as a person, professional, and leader.
Something the interns have talked about a lot, as the summer has ended, is just how valuable and special this experience was. While we all had different roles and experiences throughout the summer, many of us walked away feeling the same thing: this was more than just an internship.
It was an opportunity to learn, contribute, build relationships, develop professionally, and gain experiences that will stay with us for years to come.
Looking back, I'm leaving with new skills, meaningful connections, incredible mentors, unforgettable experiences, and a much clearer vision of both the career I hope to pursue and the leader I hope to become.
So if you're considering applying, my advice is simple:
Do it.
Be curious. Ask questions. Say yes to opportunities. Get to know people across the company. Take advantage of everything the experience has to offer.
You may come to PURIS hoping to gain professional experience.
But if your experience is anything like mine, you'll leave with much more than that.