2025 NSF SOARS Returning Protege

Visa Sponsored Job:

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Job Location:

Position Type & Term:

Returning Undergraduate Students - $25.07/hr (up to $1,002.80/week), untaxed

Returning Graduate Students - $27.58/hr (up to $2,206.40/week), untaxed

*Please note that NSF SOARS Proteges stipends are not taxed, and as such will need to file a 1099 for personal tax reporting/filing purposes.

Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 11:59:59pm MT, Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Applicants will receive a status update by Friday, March 14, 2025.

Required application materials (preferably in PDF Format):

• Unofficial Transcripts for the Fall semester of your current institution (uploaded at the time of application)

  • If you are not currently enrolled but will be for the upcoming academic year, please upload evidence of that fact.

  • Please remove/blackout your social security number and/or birth date if it is shown on your unofficial/official transcript(s).

• NSF SOARS Returning Protege Questionnaire - (to be entered at the time of application)

  • Do you have mentors identified for this summer?

  • What are your research interests this summer?

  • Would you like to participate in a special project?

  • Are you deferring your participation for this summer, or do you intend to come back?

  • What is your anticipated graduation date?

  • Short Answer Essay: Describe how you will use your continued participation in NSF SOARS to support your interests and goals. If you have ideas for this summer's research, please describe those ideas and any steps you have already taken.

Background checks are conducted for candidates who are offered the internship opportunity. Learn more.

Work Location: This position is open to candidates seeking in-person and hybrid (combination of in-person and remote) opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

Duration of Internship: Monday, May 19, 2025 - Friday, August 1, 2025 (11 weeks).

Travel & Accommodation: NSF SOARS Proteges will receive housing accommodations and round-trip travel to Boulder, CO for this internship. Please note that the benefits listed below in the Benefits Overview section do not apply to summer interns.

Work Authorization: US Residency is a Requirement. If offered this position, you must reside in and/or relocate to the US. UCAR/NCAR will not sponsor a work visa (e.g. J-1, H-1B, etc.) for this position. U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or another protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) is required for this position.

Here is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Key Responsibilities

NSF SOARS Proteges will have access to the following opportunities and experiences through their internship:

Research

• Engage in scientific research at UCAR|NCAR and/or partnering laboratories in Boulder, Colorado.

  • Returning Proteges design their research projects, and choose research mentor(s). The NSF SOARS Leadership can assist in identifying projects.

Reports and Presentations

• Participate in all NSF SOARS training, including the Scientific Communication and Writing Workshop, the Computation and Data Science Workshop, skills, leadership, and professional development.

• Submit weekly writing assignments by assigned deadlines.

• Prepare and present two (2) scientific talks, a poster, an academic paper, and submit an abstract by the conclusion of the summer program.

• Option to attend at least one (1) national scientific conference to present summer research through oral and/or poster presentations. May also support NSF SOARS outreach efforts at conferences. (Conference attendance is funded by NSF SOARS and may occur during the academic year.)

Seminars

• Participate in technical and career seminars with peers and scientists.

Peer Mentoring

• Returning Proteges may be asked to serve as peer mentors for incoming Proteges and will receive training in mentoring.

Community and Professional Behavior

• As part of a community of peers working and living together, Proteges are expected to contribute positively to the community and conduct themselves appropriately in a professional environment.

• Participate during normal office hours, at NSF SOARS functions, and while on NSF SOARS-funded travel.

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

• Must have previously participated as an NSF SOARS Protege;

• Currently enrolled at minimum part-time registration in an undergraduate, or graduate program if previously served as a NSF SOARS Protege as an undergraduate student;

• Working toward an academic graduation in atmospheric science or a related field, such as geosciences, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography, physics, or social and behavioral sciences, and an interest in pursuing a career in atmospheric or related STEM disciplines. This includes maintaining satisfactory academic progress e.g., 2.0 or higher.

• Must have at least one (1) semester of coursework remaining after this summer program.

Not required but will be reviewed with other materials:

• Completed two (2) years of college or the equivalent. Community College students and Associates degree holders are welcome and encouraged to apply

• Possess some college science and math coursework;

• If your GPA is less than 3.0, please address the circumstances in your Academic Statement of Purpose essay.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Willingness to contribute to the NSF SOARS mission (please see soars.ucar.edu for more details)

• Interest and desire to expand knowledge in earth system science or related fields.

• Ability/potential to lead and collaborate with a group of peers and mentors.

• Desire/potential to excel in a STEM career.

STEP 1. Prepare, collect, and organize unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended into one (1) PDF.

• Here are two resources for combining multiple documents into a single PDF: How To Combine Files into One PDF; How To Combine PDFs into One File.

STEP 2. Prepare and submit your application through Workday, including attaching/uploading your unofficial transcripts from Step 1, and your official NSF SOARS Application from Step 2.

• Application Questionnaire

  • A brief questionnaire will be embedded within the Workday application. You will not be able to submit your application without answering the required questions.

QUESTIONS?

• For help with the Workday application process, please reach out to Meghan Myron-Karels (myronkarels@ucar.edu).

• For general questions regarding the NSF SOARS Protege Internship, please contact Marissa Vara (marissav@ucar.edu).

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

At UCAR|NCAR|UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun's core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid, fully-remote and/or flexible work schedules.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy.Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.