FAQ Section - The William M. Lapenta - NOAA Student Internship Program

FAQ Questions and Answers

Questions	Answers
Who should I contact for further info?	Dr. Pete Roohr, peter.roohr@noaa.gov
What should I include in my personal statement?	The personal statement is a critical component of your application and should address the following components. It should tell a personal story regarding challenges you have overcome and how your connection with NOAA has evolved and how you can help with NOAA's mission in the future. You are welcome to add other details as you wish. The length should be 2-3 pages preferably duble-spaced (we strongly recommend that it be at least 2 pages). Please do not hesitate to contact me as the essay makes up 35% of the entire review. Describe your educational path and how you got there. What are your career goals and how do they relate to NOAA's mission? This is the most critical component of your statement but there are many ways to answer this question. You do not need to aspire to work at NOAA nor do you need to have your career path fully planned at this point, but the linkage between what NOAA does and where you want to go professionally should be clear. What do you expect to get out of the internship? What strengths, experiences, and/or characteristics make you uniqely suited for this internship? Describe any academic challenges you faced (or overcame), if applicable.
Do I need to know any computer programming languages?	It depends on the project. You may be expected to know how to do some coding; however, not all projects require this. Computer languages typically used for student project include Python, Fortran, C++, Java, etc. Please be honest on your level of expertise with each one. Overall, lack of coding experience is not a show stopper as Dr. Lapenta emphasized internship as a learning, "get your fingers dirty" experience.
Can I apply if am deciding on a graduate school?	No. The internship is only for enrolled graduate students. Many interns in the past have applied as graduate students as they transition from undergraduate program.
Can I apply if I am a senior in a 5 year program?	The internship is mainly for enrolled sophomores, juniors and graduate students; applicants are considered on case by case basis.
My major may not be considered to be a STEM degree. Can I still apply?	The Lapenta internship program is expanding and trying to help NOAA address challenges. These challenges will need help from engineers, GIS experts, computer scientists, social science majors, etc. You should carefully address how your field matches NOAA's missions/goals. If your career interests, educational background, and experience are in sync with NOAA's mission and activities, then you may be very much eligible.
When will applicants be notified of the status of their application?	All students will be notified by early part of January (first round of reviews), after mentor reviews (first week of February), and will be contacted for interviews before selection (middle of February). Any verbal acceptances will be considered the same as written ones; if you have any doubts please do not commit. It is very much like a written contract for a job and must be taken seriously.
Do I need to propose a project or will one be assigned to me?	All line offices in NOAA (as well as OMAO) will have most of the projects identified on SmartSheets (accessed via TBD). Students can propose a project in their statement, and the Lapenta team and mentors will ensure a good fit of project for mentor and intern.
How can I or my institution find out more about Lapenta Progam?	Email the program manager, Dr. Roohr, to help set up a one-on-one hour long session involving your college or university and the Lapenta staff. We highly encourage requests from underrepresented communities (HBCUs, MSIs, TCUs and those universities/colleges that have large populations of underrepresented students). This can take place after hours to accommodate student class schedules. There will be Q&A sessions lasting 1-1.5 hours that will be advertised on the Lapenta home page.
What kinds of student projects will be offered?	Projects will vary from year to year, and will tend to address challenges that can be addressed over a short 10 week period, ensure interns gain the most learning experience with coding and technology transition, and provide operational benefits for NOAA. Projects have included: Verification of Weather Prediction Center Freezing Rain Guidance using ASOS Ice Accretion Observations The Influence of the Appalachian Mountains on the Precipitation Transition Zone Examining the Prediction of Heavy Rainfall Events during Winter in the Western U.S. and Effects from Meteorological Environments Atlantic Hurricane Force Storms: Identifying Stratospheric Air Intrusions and the Effects of Hurricane Force Wind Events on the Iceberg Limit Diagnosing Geospatial Uncertainty Visualization Challenges in Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Forecasts NMME Upgrades Re (scripting-processing-visualizing) Climate Communication: Providing Scientific Information for Decision Makers Parameterizing Subsurface Karst Geology within the Noah Land Surface Model (LSM) Objective Tropical Cyclone Characterization for Model Development Incorporation of Social Science to Communicate Forecast Uncertainty Using Tracers of Opportunity to Evaluate and Improve HYSPLIT Model Assessment of COVID-19 Related Mission Changes on Crop Yields Multipurpose Integrated Diagnostic Acquisition System (MIDAS)