Some Recommendations for Scientific Computing Internships in Government, Climate, and Renewable Energy (Winter 2023 Edition)

As we are now in the thick of application season for next summer’s software internships, I thought I’d briefly plug some paid programs that are somewhat off the beaten track. These might appeal to people who want to focus on developing software skills while also exploring an interest in climate science, other physical sciences, or renewable energy; or are interested in working for the government.

1. US Department of Energy (DOE)’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI): a large program spanning all sorts of subject areas across DOE’s 17 national labs. Express your interests and strategically rank your top lab choices in your application to end up with the best project for you. I did a SULI internship in full-stack development at the National Renewable Energy Lab in the summer after my sophomore year and it was a great experience. Deadline: January 9, 2024, requires recommendation letters and US citizenship or permanent residence.
2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: apply now as a sophomore for a lucrative two-year merit scholarship and a NOAA internship in the summer after your junior year. NOAA is best known for the National Weather Service, but a broad array of climate, ocean, and other science also happens here, and there are plenty of computational opportunities. My Hollings internship was in machine learning to help autonomous data collection sailboats navigate the Arctic. Deadline: January 31, 2024 as a sophomore for an internship after your junior year, requires references and US citizenship.

3. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)’s Summer Internships in Parallel Computational Science (SIParCS): a small internship program focused exclusively on scientific computing. I have not completed a SIParCS internship myself, but I do know that they are open to first-years, especially if you have a prior background in atmospheric research. Deadline: January 19, 2024, requires references and US work authorization.

4. Esri Internships: a private company, but one focused on geography and I’ve heard good things about their internships. Deadline: early December 2023, varies by specific position (e.g., this one is December 8), requires US work authorization.

Some of these options, while they provide computational placements, are not exclusively geared towards that. If you go that route and do want to prioritize developing software, I’d highly recommend trying to get placed with a mentor who knows something about developing software. I’m happy to answer questions! Also, if you are graduating soon and interested in working for the National Renewable Energy Lab full time, let’s talk about that too.