NWS Mount Holly, NJ

Student and Career Development Opportunities

Are you a student from the southeastern PA, New Jersey, or Delmarva area interested in

learning about operational weather forecasting at a National Weather Service forecast office?

If so, then one of the student opportunities listed below may be for you!

Note: These opportunities only apply for our local office.

There may be different opportunities available at other NWS offices across the country.

For more information on student opportunities at other NWS offices nation-wide, visit this link.

1. ​Summer Student Volunteer

Available for: College Students

Paid: No

Time of Year: Summer

Length of Opportunity: Approximately 2-3 Months

Each summer we bring in a few student volunteers to work part time at our office. The application period is typically in March. We look for a diverse pool of applicants from which to choose, i.e., different schools, different ethnic backgrounds, male/female, etc. Students typically work approximately two days or evenings per week, for a total of about 16 hours. The times are flexible; we try to work out a schedule that is convenient for all the volunteers. Students start in mid to late May and continue through the end of July or early August. We prefer that students work on weekdays, but weekends are also possible.

As a student volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work at an NWS forecast office and see how the forecasts are prepared. You can learn about AWIPS, NOAA Weather Radio, and various other NWS computer systems. We will set up training shifts for specific forecast tasks, including public, aviation/marine, hydrology, and severe weather. As opportunities arise, you may be able to visit remote equipment sites, go on storm surveys, or attend meetings with our customers. 

Basically, you will perform most of the duties of a entry-level meteorologist in the NWS. Also, we try to find a concise research project, such as a weather-event case study or local climate study, which can be completed during the summer, and that will have lasting benefit for your professional career and for our office.

Some students receive academic credit for their work here, but many do not. That is up to you and your academic advisor.

We typically accept applications from prospective student interns during March, and make selections in April. We will select a panel of applicants to conduct an interview via Google Meet as part of the selection process. We look for students who have completed at least some basic courses of a major in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a related field such as GIS, emergency management, or climatology. Computer programming skills are also definitely a plus.

*Note* This opportunity may have virtual components, however regular travel to our office near Mount Holly, NJ will be necessary.

If you would like more information about our student volunteer program, feel free to contact robert.deal@noaa.gov.

2. Meteorologist Pathways Internship

Available for: Upperclassmen Undergraduate and Graduate College Students

Paid: Yes

Time of Year: (typically) Summer

Length of Opportunity: Approximately 3 Months (longer in some cases)

On some occasions, a Meteorologist Pathways Internship is offered at our office. The Pathways Internship is a national opportunity that is available for application by qualified students currently in their (typically) Junior or Senior year of undergraduate school or in graduate school. You must have proof of enrollment for the following semester to be eligible for this opportunity. Pathways Student Interns work full time in this position (approximately 40 hours per week). This opportunity is typically offered during the summer and generally covers the period from mid-May through mid-August.

As a Pathways Student Intern, you will have the opportunity to work at an NWS forecast office and see how the forecasts are prepared in addition to the other routine tasks of an operational meteorologist. You will learn about AWIPS, NOAA Weather Radio, and various other NWS computer systems. We will set up training shifts for specific forecast tasks, including public, aviation/marine, hydrology, and severe weather. As opportunities arise, you may be able to visit remote equipment sites, go on storm surveys, or attend meetings with our customers.

Basically, you will perform the duties of a entry-level meteorologist in the NWS. Additionally, you will work on a concise research project, such as a weather-event case study or local climate study, which can be completed during the summer, and that will have lasting benefit for your professional career and for our office.

Meteorologist Pathways Internships are announced via the USAJobs website. If you have any questions about this opportunity, feel free to contact robert.deal@noaa.gov for additional information.

3. Hollings Scholarship and Internship

Application Available for: Sophomore (rising Junior) Undergraduate College Students

Paid: Yes (Scholarship and Summer Stipend)

Time of Year: Summer

Length of Opportunity (Internship): Approximately 2 Years (Approximately 2-3 Months)

On some occasions, a Hollings Internship is available at our office. The Hollings Scholarship and Internship is a national annual opportunity that is available for application by well-qualified students currently in their Sophomore year of undergraduate studies (or comparable credit hours). Hollings Scholar Student Interns work full time in this position (approximately 40 hours per week). The internship portion of this opportunity is completed during the summer and generally covers the period from May through August, including travel to the mandatory NOAA scholarship orientation session and presentation of your project at the annual Science & Education Symposium, both in Silver Spring, MD.

As a Hollings Scholar Student Intern, you will have the opportunity to work at an NWS forecast office and see how the forecasts are prepared in addition to the other routine tasks of an operational meteorologist. You will learn about AWIPS, NOAA Weather Radio, and various other NWS computer systems. We will set up training shifts for specific forecast tasks, including public, aviation/marine, hydrology, and severe weather. As opportunities arise, you may be able to visit remote equipment sites, go on storm surveys, or attend meetings with our customers.

Basically, you will perform most of the duties of a entry-level meteorologist in the NWS. Additionally, you will work on a scientific research project, such as a weather-event case study or local climate study, which will be completed during the summer, and that will have lasting benefit for your professional career and for our office.

The application period of this opportunity is from September through January annually. More information about the Hollings Scholarship and Internship program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply can be found here. If you have any additional questions about this opportunity at our local office level, feel free to contact robert.deal@noaa.gov for further information.

4. Meteorologist Job Shadow

Available for: High School and College Students

Time of Year: Year Round

Length of Opportunity: Approximately 4-6 Hours

Throughout the course of the year, we offer a limited number of students to come into the office and shadow one of our meteorologist on shift for an allotted period of time. Students will start with a brief tour of the office and operational overview about who we are and what we do at the NWS. Students will then sit with a meteorologist as they perform their routine forecast duties. Forecast duties and tasks covered will depend on the current and forecast weather as well as student interest, but we will do our best to give you exposure to as many tasks of the shift as we can, including public forecasting, aviation forecasting, radar operations, observational analysis, hydrology, climate, etc.

To request a meteorologist job shadow, please fill out our online shadow request form and someone from our office staff will get in contact with you.

5. Office Tour

Available for: Middle School and Up

Time of Year: Year Round

Length of Opportunity: Approximately 1 Hour

Throughout the course of the year, we offer a limited number of students and/or groups of students to tour our office. Tours include a presentation about our office, who we are, and what we do plus a tour of our operations area. For more information about our office tour policy, click here then chose the "Tours" tab.

To request an office tour, please fill out our online tour request form and someone from our office staff will get in contact with you.

If you're interested in a virtual office tour, see the Youtube video below: