2027 SIParCS Graduate Student Internships

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research • Boulder, CO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Summer Internships in Parallel Computational Science (SIParCS) program at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) offers graduate students hands-on research and development experience in high-performance computing and related fields that use HPC for scientific discovery and modeling. Interns join the Computational and Information Systems Laboratory (CISL), which provides supercomputing and data systems to the geosciences research community and conducts research and development in computational science, data analysis, scientific visualization, and numerical modeling.

The 2027 internship lasts 11 weeks. Interns must be available to work 40 hours per week during the summer program; the posting specifies May 17 through July 30, 2027, and also lists May 10 through July 30 as the anticipated availability period, with dates to be confirmed and the end date potentially flexible. Interns have three unpaid holidays during the summer: Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Independence Day. The program includes project work, technical seminars, skills-enhancing workshops, preparation of a poster, and an oral presentation of results.

The program is planned to be in person at NCAR campuses in Boulder, Colorado. Meetings may take place in person or through Zoom or Google Meet. Interns conduct original research under the guidance of a science mentor, communicate and coordinate with their mentoring team, and participate professionally in SIParCS activities. Projects are available in areas including quantum applications in Earth system modeling, data assimilation, federated learning, ecological mapping, AI-assisted scientific software, and weather and climate modeling.

Applicants must have attained a bachelor's degree by the time of application, be currently enrolled at a U.S. university as a graduate or doctoral student, and be authorized to work in the United States. The application requires a personal statement, a CV or résumé, and unofficial transcripts. Applicants may apply to no more than two projects. Selected candidates undergo background checks and/or federal screenings.

Requirements

• Must have attained a bachelor's degree at the time of application.
• Must currently be enrolled at a U.S. university as a graduate or doctoral student.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; eligible F visa students need CPT or OPT work authorization as described in the posting.
• Must be able to participate on site in Boulder, Colorado.
• Ability to work 40 hours per week during the summer program; the posting lists May 17–July 30, 2027, and also May 10–July 30, 2027, with dates to be confirmed.
• Ability to work with a broad group of peers and interact with mentors and peers in a way that supports collaboration and inquiry.
• Skill using software for communication, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email.
• Ability and willingness to learn and use scientific computing tools and programs.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Basic problem-solving skills and ability to analyze data and draw conclusions.
• Basic knowledge of mathematics, computer science, or engineering through coursework.
• Ability and willingness to follow organizational and work-group guidelines and policies.
• Submit a personal statement, questionnaire when required, résumé or CV, and unofficial transcripts by the deadline.
• Complete background checks and/or federal screenings if selected.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research under the guidance of a science mentor.
• Give a presentation based on research results and prepare a poster.
• Participate professionally in SIParCS activities, including appropriate technical seminars and skills-enhancing workshops.
• Communicate and coordinate with the mentoring team, including organizing meetings and asking for help when needed.
• Work collaboratively with peers and assigned work groups.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern