Students | Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development

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Undergraduate + Graduate Students

NSF NCAR undergraduate and graduate programs help connect the next generation of scientists with opportunities to advance their careers, their skills and their understanding of dynamic Earth system science research. These programs are made possible through the utilization of NSF NCAR’s prestigious researchers, facilities and equipment.

All programs listed here are open to students accepted to, or currently attending, an institution of higher education in the United States. Participants must be at least 18 years of age by the first day of their appointment or the date otherwise indicated.

We accept students with strong backgrounds in atmospheric sciences, chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, and engineering. However, as part of our goal to make atmospheric research broad in national scope, we also provide our opportunities to students in related fields such as biology, geology, science education, economics, and geography.

Being an Intern at NSF NCAR and UCAR

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Graduate Visitor Program

The Graduate Visitor Program (GVP), part of the Advanced Study Program, is designed to provide NCAR staff opportunities to bring graduate students to NSF NCAR for 3 to 12-month collaborative visits with the endorsement of their thesis advisors and in pursuit of their thesis research.

Aren't ready for a full GVP Fellowship? The Bridge to GVP Program will match your interests with NSF NCAR scientists and engineers in a one-month internship at NSF NCAR.

Explore the GVP

Our Student Opportunities

Two GVP Participants in front of NCAR sign

Graduate Visitor Program

The ASP Graduate Visitor Program is designed to provide NSF NCAR staff opportunities to bring graduate students to NSF NCAR for 3 to 12-month collaborative visits with the endorsement of their thesis advisors and in pursuit of their thesis research.

GVP Bridge students working on an assignment together

Bridge to GVP Program

The Bridge to GVP Program will match your interests with NSF NCAR scientists and engineers in a one-month internship at NSF NCAR.

Group of undergraduates pose in front of a research aircraft

Undergraduate Leadership Workshop

The ULW brings undergrads to NSF NCAR to learn about potential career paths, build a network with their peers, and learn leadership and professional skills.

A large group of students and mentors stand in an open field, with weather instrumentation and mountains in the background

HERS at NSF NCAR

The Haskell-NSF NCAR Environmental Assessment Training is a one-week summer program created through a partnership among Haskell Indian Nations University, the University of Kansas, and NSF NCAR, and is dedicated to engaging Native American students in Earth system science.

NSF NCAR Earth System Science Internship

The NSF NCAR Earth System Science Internship (NESSI) offers undergraduate students interested in the Earth system sciences an opportunity to conduct research with NSF NCAR scientists from across all labs on a wide range of topics.

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Ocean and Coastal Sciences Careers

This NSF-funded project offered a series of virtual events intended to benefit and to engage students of color and those from minoritized communities in the ocean and coastal sciences.

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CISL Summer Internships in Parallel Computational Science

Our SIParCS program, run by the Computational & Information Systems Laboratory (CISL), offers students the opportunity to gain significant hands-on experience in high-performance computing and related fields that use HPC for scientific discovery and modeling.

Pods used on the HIAPER research aircraft

EOL Summer Undergraduate Program for Engineering Research

SUPER, based in our Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL), provides unique experiences that help prepare engineering students for successful careers. Interns help develop new instrumentation and improve our existing suite of lower atmosphere observing facilities.

Research Experience for Undergraduates in Solar and Space Physics

This program gives highly motivated students interested in solar and space physics the opportunity to work with a number of Boulder institutions, including NSF NCAR's High Altitude Observatory.

Newkirk Fellowship

This fellowships allows students to work with guidance from scientists and engineers at NSF NCAR's High Altitude Observatory (HAO) on projects related to their thesis, qualifying exams, or other research projects.

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Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship

This fellowship, offered by NSF NCAR's Research Applications Laboratory (RAL), allows a student to spend three months in residence with RAL's Aviation Weather Research Program and is designed to help shape the next generation of researchers in this important field.

Graduate Visitor Program

The ASP Graduate Visitor Program is designed to provide NSF NCAR staff opportunities to bring graduate students to NSF NCAR for 3 to 12-month collaborative visits with the endorsement of their thesis advisors and in pursuit of their thesis research.

A visualization of the hole in the ozone layer

ACOM Cicerone Fellowship

This fellowship is intended for graduate students from underrepresented communities. These students will come for four months over two years to work with scientists in the Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling (ACOM) lab on a self-defined research project.

Student Employment

Check our active job postings for paid student positions and internships at both NSF NCAR and UCAR.