Job Description Summary: UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the 2026 NSF Unidata Student Intern.
The 2026 NSF Unidata Summer Internship will offer graduate students and upper-level undergraduates the opportunity to work closely with Unidata's professional staff on software development projects that interest them and benefit the wider Unidata community. Interns interact with software developers, instructional designers, technical writers, and other mentors within the program, building skill with modern software development processes, learning about data-enabled Earth Systems Science, and generally getting to know what it's like to work in a community-focused organization supporting Earth Science research and education. Participants contribute to Unidata's innovative data access, analysis, and visualization tools by writing code, creating learning materials, or participating in other aspects of the software development lifecycle.
Position Details:
Visa Sponsored Job:
No
Relocation Assistance Eligible:
No
Job Location:
Boulder, Colorado
Position Type & Term:
Full time, Term - Casual (Fixed Term)
Compensation Min - Mid Range:
Undergraduate Interns: $23.41/hr; Graduate Interns: $28.32/hr
Application Notes
As an intern, you will choose a summer focus from a wide range of areas where NSF Unidata has active projects. Some examples include:
Contributing to existing data management, analysis, and visualization software packages written in languages like Python, Java, and C.
Creating learning materials that help students and educators take advantage of NSF Unidata software and services.
Investigating ways that leading-edge technologies such as machine learning, software containerization, and cloud computing can benefit the Earth system science community.
While we encourage you to think about focus areas you might be interested in, and to take a look at some of the things previous interns have worked on (https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/community/internship/) , you'll work together with NSF Unidata staff mentors to choose projects once the internship begins.
The 2026 program is an 11-week summer position (40 hours / week) running from May 18, 2026 to July 31, 2026. As circumstances permit, interns will have the opportunity to work full-time in person and/or hybrid at the NSF Unidata Program Center (UPC) in Boulder, Colorado.
Interns receive an hourly stipend and will be provided with housing (shared with other UCAR interns) and transportation costs to and from Boulder. Additionally, NSF Unidata will arrange for 2026 interns to attend the 2027 AMS annual meeting to present their work.
Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59pm MT, Friday, February 6, 2026. Applications will not be accepted past this date, and candidates will receive a status update no later than Monday, March 16, 2026.
Required application materials:
Resume/CV (preferably in PDF Format)
Questionnaire ( to be completed when submitting your application) In lieu of a traditional cover letter, the hiring team wants to learn more about your skills/experiences regarding very specific questions related to your skills, education, and academic/career goals to be successful in this position. As part of your application, you will be asked to submit answers to two essays (up to 3,000 character limit per essay). Your essays will be read and weighed equally to your resume, so please ensure you're providing detailed, yet informative, responses based on your experiences.
What drew you to apply for this internship? How do you hope the experience will benefit you?
How could your skills, education, and experience be used during the Unidata internship? If possible, provide specific examples of relevant projects you have worked on previously.
Note: Candidates who advance in our selection process may be asked to submit a sample project (e.g. past class assignment, research project, previous work project, etc.) that highlights relevant skills.
Background checks are conducted for candidates who are offered the internship opportunity. Learn more. (https://www.ucar.edu/opportunities/careers/faqs)
Work Authorization/Visa Sponsorship: Not available. You must be (a) a current U.S. Citizen; (b) lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or (c) a protected individual as defined by 8 USC1324b(a)(3).
Work Location: This position is open to students seeking in-person and hybrid (combination of in-person and remote) opportunities. Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.
Duration of Internship: Monday, May 18, 2026 - Friday, July 31, 2026 (11 weeks)
Travel & Accommodation: NSF Unidata Interns 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.
What You Will Do
Here is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.
Key Responsibilities
Research / Scientific Software Development
Engage in research that builds on NSF Unidata technologies and involves using, designing, and/or modifying existing NSF Unidata software.
Reporting / Seminars
In addition to working closely with individual developers, you will attend technical staff meetings to report on the status of your project. You'll also have opportunities to update the UPC staff on the progress of your project through informal "brown bag" talks. And you'll also be encouraged to share your progress and experiences at UCAR and Unidata with a larger community by posting to the Unidata developer's blog.
In the last week of your internship, you will have the opportunity to give a NSF Unidata Community Seminar describing your experience and the outcomes of your summer work.
Unidata will also arrange for your attendance at the 2027 AMS Annual Meeting Student Conference, allowing you to present your internship work to a wide audience of working scientists and other students. We'll help you get started on your presentation and abstract submission during the summer.
Writing
The intern will be expected to document their work (for projects that involve writing code, this includes in-code documentation as well as user level documentation). The student will be encouraged to participate in the Unidata Developer's Blog throughout their summer experience.
Who We'd Love To Join Our Team
Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:
Education & Experience
Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program as a sophomore, junior, or senior, or enrolled in a graduate level program with a focus on earth science or, if in a related field (e.g., computing or engineering), some earth science coursework preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Demonstrated knowledge and skill in the areas of data access, distribution, analysis, and/or visualization.
Basic knowledge, through coursework, of earth and/or computer science.
Ability and willingness to learn and use new scientific computing tools and programs.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work with a diverse group of peers.
Ability to work full-time virtually or in Boulder, Colorado during the summer program.
Ability to interact with mentors and peers in a manner that supports collaboration and inquiry.
Basic problem-solving skills: exercises judgment when to ask for help. Consults with supervisor on larger job or community related issues.
Desired, but not required:
For software development projects, working knowledge of at least one Version Control tool, preferably Git.
Experience with Earth system science data formats (e.g., netCDF, GRIB, BUFR).
QUESTIONS?
For help with the Workday application process, please reach out to Meghan Myron-Karels ( meghanmk@ucar.edu ).
For general questions regarding the NSF Unidata program, please contact Ryan May ( rmay@ucar.edu ).
Commitment to Job Application Fairness
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.
Some Final Considerations
At NSF NCAR| UCAR | 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 (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.
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 and work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.
Work Location
UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.
AI Software
ChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing the way society receives, processes, and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications, we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.
