Program Overview

In recognition of the many contributions of Dr. William (Bill) Lapenta to advance NOAA science and services and his dedication to training the next generation of scientists, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established the William M. Lapenta Student Internship Program in 2019. The program builds on the highly successful National Weather Service (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Internship which Bill created in 2017.

NOAA is offering paid summer internships targeted towards current 2nd and 3rd-year undergraduate and enrolled graduate students to work in areas that will provide robust research and/or operational experience that will prepare the student for further study in NOAA fields, for application to fellowships or for the NOAA-mission workforce. This internship program enables the National Weather Service, (NWS), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Ocean Service (NOS) and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO to target the skills needed to fulfill their specific mission needs. Projects may be focused on research areas or the development of operational products such as decision support tools, climate and weather forecast models, population dynamics of fish populations, ecosystem modeling, hydrology, ocean circulation models, unmanned systems (both in air and under water), data analysis methodologies, social science, and strategies to communicate climate and weather information pertaining to NOAA's mission to the public and to stakeholders. Overall, students will focus on areas that will meet the future needs of NOAA’s ever-broadening user community and address immediate challenges across a diverse spectrum from the sun to the bottom of our oceans.

Overview of Projects and Expectations

The William M. Lapenta Internship Program is a full time, 10 week summer internship running from early June through early August.  In person attendees typically arrive 2 days before first day which will consist of an icebreaker and orientation conducted by Lapenta staff.  Interns are expected to present their work at a Final Presentation Workshop (hybrid) (20 min sessions using PPT or PDF slides, including 3-5 minutes for Q&A).

Participants may be involved in projects such as:

• Activities that improve the understanding of forecasting problems
• Activities that address some critical aspect of operational model development
• Activities that will create new data analysis techniques with wide application and usefulness in operational forecasting
• Development of improved forecast tools (including those that use GIS)
• Coding and testing of data visualization systems (using Python and other coding mechanisms)
• Improving air quality and dispersion models and analysis tools
• Incorporation of social science to communicate forecast uncertainty and enhance IDSS
• Improving understanding of ocean-atmosphere interactions via modeling or analysis
• Developing and fostering decision support and communications on urban heat and air quality
• Establishing new science and technology to convert raw satellite data into critical information for strategic decision-makers
• Supporting evaluation and testing of ocean models

Program Benefits & Support

The Lapenta program has a dedicated staff and contractor (JRD & Associates) who guide interns through background check, security paperwork as well as travel and housing.

• Generous Stipend:  $6000 allowance divided into five biweekly increments of $1200
• Housing:  Furnished housing at over 20 locations in CONUS, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico.  JRD does all the work in                finding college apartments, extended stay hotels and leased housing emphasizing safety, ease of commute and access to groceries.  Each intern will have a room of their own.
• Travel:  The program will enable travel for each intern to/from project location (car or plane in most cases).  Travel during project is not funded by program.
• Transit & Access:  Security credentials allowing entry into government facilities.  Subsidies for public transportation, parking (housing area only).
• Participation at Professional Conferences:  Payment of abstract fee for AMS or AGU conference.  No funding for registration, travel, housing, meals and other expenditures at AGU, AMS or other conferences that interns present at.
• Direct Hire Authority:  Interns will receive a certificate for Corp Conservation Act Direct Hiring Authority (CCA DHA) upon completion of program.  In order to obtain Direct Hire, each intern will need to be enrolled in school at time of internship.

Beyond the Research Project Work

Alongside their primary project, interns participate in a comprehensive professional development curriculum that will make them aware of diverse missions of NOAA.

• Professional Training:  Each intern will participate in specialized information sessions emphasizing leadership development and skill building (Strengthsfinders, MBTI)
• Networking:  Direct exposure to leaders, managers and researchers across NOAA through project milestones and one hour seminars whereby NOAA scientists and managers talk about their missions and challenges.
• Presentation Experience:  Final oral and written project presentations (reports and slides) with enough time to answer questions from fellow interns and NOAA employees.