The Lapenta Manual  spells out the program from application through actual internship.

Prospective Mentors:  Call for Mentors for 2027 has closed.  You will be notified about status in next 2-3 weeks (primary/alternate/not considered).  If your project is not selected, please consider submitting to Hollings program.

Applicants:  Q&A Sessions Addressed in Item #4 Below.

Reminder:  Only U.S. Citizens can apply.

Important Note for Applications:

Before you begin the application, make sure you have all the required information and attachments ready. The form must be filled out and submitted in one session by clicking “Submit.” If you do not submit the form, your information will not be saved in the database.

When submitting different forms, please make sure the applicant's email is unique and consistent, so we can reach out to you as needed.

1. Application process is conducted via SmartSheets (link available Oct 5 2026)
2. Prepare the following to be uploaded to the site.
   • A personal statement
   • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume
   • A transcript (unofficial is sufficient) from your institution
3. Two letters of recommendation are required to be submitted on your behalf. At least one reference must be from a professor or academic advisor.  The second reference may also be an academic reference or a character reference (e.g., employer, coach) who can speak to your capabilities and interests as they relate to the internship.
4. If you have any questions about the application process please contact Lapenta team at lapenta.internships@noaa.gov or the contacts on this page.
   • Applicant Q&A Sessions!   

     Session GM Link	Date	Time
     meet.google.com/esi-vsyy-heb	October 7, 2026	3:00-4:00 pm EDT
     meet.google.com/ycj-ddew-avb	October 19, 2026	2:00-3:00 pm EDT
     meet.google.com/pdq-hdsk-mie	November 4, 2026	8:30-9:30 pm EST
     meet.google.com/yvt-iots-tpn	November 19, 2026	3:00-4:00 pm EST
     meet.google.com/epa-nxnv-wcp	November 26, 2026	3:00-4:00 pm EST
     meet.google.com/zsd-fyog-nmn	December 6, 2026	7:00-8:00 pm EST
     meet.google.com/aex-cjfc-hjk	December 17, 2026	1:00-2:00 pm EST

     . Please copy GM link into new tab and open; for some reason the link here is attached to VLAB page.

2026 Lapenta internship ended on August 7, 2026 with presentations from interns (July 31, August 5-7, August 21).  Many of the interns will present their work at either the AGU Annual Meeting in San Francisco CA in Dec 2026, the AMS Annual Meeting in Denver CO in Jan 2027, and other intern-selected conferences.  Congrats to all 60 interns from 6 line offices across 20 different locations!

The 2025 Lapenta internship ended on August 8, 2025 with presentations from interns (Presentations on Aug 1, 6-8 and 22).  Many of the interns will present their work at either the AGU Annual Meeting in New Orleans LA in Dec 2025, the AMS Annual Meeting in Houston TX in Jan 2026, and the AGU-sponsored Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow Scotland in Feb 2026.  Congrats to all 68 interns from 5 line offices across 17 different locations!   

Pictures from 2025 Internship:

Jaden Lau (working in OAR ARL) at College Park MD

Quinn Adamy (working in OAR ARL) at Oak Ridge TN

Zion Powell (working at Louisville KY WFO)

Caroline Terry (working in OAR AOML) at Miami FL

Ellie Rafalski (working at NWS NCEP Aviation Weather Center) in Kansas City MO

Here are some pictures of 2024 Lapenta interns in action!

Hailey Zangara, Luke Wichrowski (not shown), and Paige Bartels (NESDIS GOES-R) in Florida.

Lillian Zhou at AOML in Miami FL

Mike Schram was virtual with NMFS but had venture off Pacific Coast

Brianna Salazar with OAR ESRL Global Monitoring Lab in Boulder

Justice Saxby was with OAR Air Resources Lab doing field work in Colorado and Utah!

• The 2023 Lapenta Internship ended on August 11, 2023 with presentations from the interns in a hybrid fashion.  Many of the interns presented their work at AGU meeting in San Francisco CA in Dec 2023 as well as AMS Annual Meeting in Baltimore MD in Jan 2024 and Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans in Feb 2024.  Congrats to everyone!!

  2023 Lapenta Interns in action! 

  Kaitlin Escobar in the field with OAR Air Resources Lab scientists and instrumentation.

        

  Brianna Hauke working with her mentor Changyong Cao of NESDIS STAR.

     

  Benjamin Moose in the NWS NCEP Aviation Weather Center

  

   

            

      Carina                        Laura

  Carina Rodriguez '21 and Laura Cabrera '21 present their work at AGU Fall Meeting

  Lapenta Alumni Carina Rodriguez and Laura Cabrera (both Summer 2021) present their work at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, held 13-17 December 2021 in New Orleans, LA.