INTERNSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES at NASA GSFC CCMC/SWRC:
Summer:10 weeks (full-time: 40 h/wk)
Academic year: (part-time, 8-16 h/wk)
Here is the information on SWRC's forecaster structure and on how to achieve different forecaster levels.
Summer (10 weeks) internship:
This is an opportunity for highly-motivated and qualified college and high school students to learn the fundamentals of space weather and to gain first-hand experience of how scientists/forecasters at NASA/GSFC Space Weather Center carry out analyses needed to predict space weather events and safeguard NASA's assets as well as society's interests at large.
After the intense training during the first two week of the summer internship (SW REDI training CAMP) in space weather science and operational procedures, along with mock-up space weather event analysis, students will be encouraged to work as a group to carry out the functions/duties of a space weather forecaster.
Expected opportunity outcome: knowledge about the solar system and impact of the solar storms on the earth's environment and society; system science perspective for students interested in further pursuing space weather related scientific research; entry level space weather analyst & forecaster skills; the decision-making skills and knowledge acquired during the program will be beneficial to any future career pursuit.
Successful completion of summer internship will certify students to serve as entry level space weather analysts/forecasters.
Prerequisite: High school level math and physics is required. Love for science. For college students 200-level university physics is recommended but not required.
Academic year (September - May) part-time internship:
Students certified as entry level (or higher) space weather forecasters are eligible for follow-on academic-year part-time employment (8-16 hours/week). Evening and weekend shifts are possible/expected. After successful completion of 8 months of forecaster duties students may be promoted by SWRC management to advanced levels with opportunities to combine space weather operations and research and participate in training of new students. College students are compensated for their work.
Prerequisite: SW REDI semester-long 3 credit course or SW REDI 2-weeks intense training camp. Certification by the SWRC management as an entry-level space weather analyst/forecaster that requires at least 20 full 8 hours shifts of shadowing advanced forecasters. Summer internship is recommended.
A variety of space weather related research topics are available. Prospective interns and/or their supervisors are recommended to contact Antti Pulkkinen and Yihua Zheng for a possible internship opportunity and for selecting a research area.
Comments: The internship can be used as course credit, a course project and/or to satisfy graduation requirements (with permission from the applicant's university). However, exceptions are possible pending on the intern's performance.
Prerequisite: Strong background in math and physics. Knowledge of fundamentals of space weather, preferably after a 2-week SWx REDI training camp and/or SW REDI semester long course.
Space Weather Software Development
A variety of software development projects are available in supporting CCMC/SWRC activities. Please contact Justin Boblitt for details.
Selected interns will be compensated for their summer internship. Follow-on part-time internship during the academic year is possible. The part-time internship can be used as course credit, a course project and/or to satisfy graduation requirement (with permission from the applicant's university).
Prerequisite: Strong programming skill in the required areas and willingness to participate in the introductory part of space weather REDI training.
The selected intern will support NASA Goddard Space Weather Research Center social media activities. The social media program is intended to communicate the science of space weather and heliophysics, as well as STEM related information to the general public and education professionals in a fun and informal way. Another goal is to improve science literacy and knowledge, especially among under-served and under-represented communities. The activities include generating website content, YouTube space weather update videos, Facebook, Twitter updates, etc.
Competitive applicants will demonstrate: - Experience in social media with regularly updated content; - Creativity in turning science ideas into appealing general public-level stories; - Excellent written communication skills; - Proven ability to work in both a team environment and independently; - Experience with video editing software (e.g. iMovie, Final Cut Pro) is a plus;
Comments: This is an unpaid internship (e.g, can be used as course credit with permission from the applicant's university). However, exceptions are possible pending on the applicant's performance.
Prerequisite: Basic understanding of space weather, preferably after an introductory part of the 2-week SWx REDI training in addition to basic skills in social media
>> Summer 2013 Space Weather Media Interns
>> Summer 2012 Space Weather Media Interns
Opportunities for Advanced Interns
As a part of CUA Space Weather Course's (taught at GSFC) in Fall 2012 final project two undergraduate students designed a Space Weather Forecaster Training (SWFT) Program for the SWRC. As part of an additional independent research credit through CUA, students are implementing this program during the spring semester of 2013. Students are traveling to GSFC once a week and teach high school students as well as other participating NASA personnel about analyzing space weather phenomena and following SWRC forecasting procedures.
- Mentoring new interns and high-school students
- Combining Space Weather Operations and Space Weather Research
