Learning Through Experience
Enhance your education, gain experience and get credits toward graduation by participating in an internship or studying abroad. Active opportunities are always changing, so look out for announcements, use the resources below to start your search, or talk to your advisor about potential internships.
Atmospheric Science Internships
Undergraduate students can register for AATM 490 to participate in atmospheric science internships for up to 3 credits. Ross Lazear is the internship coordinator for atmospheric science majors. Contact Ross at [email protected].
Common Atmospheric Science Internships
Weather Forecast Office, Albany
Learn about various roles at the NWS, including:
- Weather forecasting
- Aviation meteorology
- Decision support and emergency preparedness
- Hydrology
- Social media
- Research and case studies
- Balloon launches (RAOB)
Location: 4th floor ETEC (suite 460)
Options:
- Academic year (fall and spring semester, 3 credits each semester, 6 total)
- Summer (1–3 credits)
Apply
Ross Lazear, [email protected], will email application for both academic year and summer internships in late January/early February. Application includes resume and short essay questions.
Gain the following knowledge, skills, and experience:
- Familiarity with surface and profiling instrumentation
- Familiarity with station observing networks and infrastructure
- Experience with software, such as Loggernet
- Experience using quality control tools and trouble-shooting sensor issues
- Skills in working in a team environment, communication and time management
- Working on research projects using Mesonet data
Location: 3rd floor ETEC (suite 360)
Options
- Academic year (fall and spring semesters, 3 credits)
Apply
June Wang, [email protected], will email application announcement for Spring or Fall internships in late March or late October. Application includes resume and short essay questions. Students need to maintain a 3.0 GPA overall, and be enrolled in, or have taken ATM 210.
Several options are available:
Shadowing
Reach out to Ross Lazear at [email protected] for information on how you can shadow Capital Region broadcast meteorologists for a day, to learn more about careers in broadcast meteorology
Internships
Most TV stations require that interns are paid, and often there aren’t more than one or two internships allocated to a station per summer/semester. Students should apply directly to the station, but reach out to Ross Lazear at [email protected] so that the station can be notified that a UAlbany atmospheric science major is applying.
Freelance
After some experience with an internship, there may be opportunities for freelance broadcast meteorology work at a local TV station, depending on the station’s needs.
Other experiential learning opportunities within the atmospheric science field include:
- UAlbany Center of Excellence in Weather and Climate Analytics
- Forensic meteorology
- STM Weather
- Forensic Weather Consultants
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
- NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (Emergency Management)
- State Weather Risk Communication Center
Environmental Science Internships
Undergraduate students can register for AENV 496 to participate in environmental science internships for up to 3 credits. Mathias Vuille is the internship coordinator for environmental science majors. Contact Professor Vuille at [email protected].
Students can apply for a number of environmental science internships:
- NYS Agencies, including the Department of Environmental Conservation
- Citizens’ Climate Lobby
- Mount Washington Observatory
- Air Force Research Lab
- Student Conservation Association
- Conservation Job Board
- Natural Resources Job Board
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- NYSERDA
- Hyuck Preserve
- Adirondack Loon Center
- US Geological Survey
- Common Energy (Community Solar)
- Adirondack Watershed Institute
Project: Soil and water sample processing
Partner: US Geological Survey
Project: The Produce Project
Partner: Capital District Community Gardens
Project: Water systems inspections
Partner: Ulster County Department of Health
Project: Greenhouse intern
Partner: The Radix Ecological Sustainability Center
Project: Energy Star program
Partner: NYSERDA
Project: Environmental education, pre-K to adult
Partner: Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Project: Environmental Education
Partner: Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park
Project: NYS wildlife rehabilitation
Partner: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Project: Environmental remediation
Partner: Fleming-Lee Shue Inc.
Project: Solar panel installations
Partner: National Photovoltaics Inc.
Project: Fishery in the Mohawk River
Partner: US Geological Survey
Project: Mohawk River basin program
Partner: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Project: Wetland inventory update
Partner: Town of Berne Conservation Board
Project: Sustainability monitoring service
Partner: i3 Corp
Project: Watercraft Inspection Steward
Partner: NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Project: Bird DNA analysis
Partner: NYS Museum
Project: Air quality research
Partner: NYSERDA
Project: GIS and cartography work
Partner: NYS Department of Transportation
Project: Meteorological analysis
Partner: NYS Mesonet
Project: Institute for Health & Environment
Partner: UAlbany
Project: Bird communities research
Partner: Audubon International
Project: EmPower New York
Partner: NYSERDA
Project: Aerosol particles and human health
Partner: ASRC
Project: Environmental Science Program
Partner: US Military Academy West Point
Project: Stormwater management
Partner: NYC Department of Environmental Conservation
Project: Department of Environmental Protection
Partner: Town of Brookhaven
Project: Freshwater Ecology
Partner: New York State Museum
Project: Capital-Mohawk PRISM
Partner: Cornell Cooperative Extension
Project: PIRE-tree ring research
Partner: IANIGLA (Mendoza-Argentina)
Project: UAlbany carbon offsetting program
Partner: UAlbany Sustainability Office
Project: Solar arrays installation
Partner: Seed Solar Engineering
Project: GIS mapping of Long Island Sound
Partner: DEC Division of Water, Bureau of Water Resource Management
Project: Environmental education
Partner: Maria Mitchell Association
Project: Wastewater treatment
Partner: City of Schenectady
Project: Verification use of recycling material
Partner: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Project: Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP)
Partner: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Learning Abroad
UAlbany offers several Study Abroad Programs that allow atmospheric or environmental science undergraduate students to study abroad for a semester without losing time toward graduation and without additional tuition costs. These programs include options to study in Korea, Ireland, Australia, Germany, or Denmark. Interested students are encouraged to learn more about these Study Abroad Programs, applicable to the Atmospheric Science or Environmental Science program. Students interested in studying abroad can also obtain more information via the Center for International Education and Global Strategy or email Professor Vuille.
There are occasionally opportunities to participate in weekend and summer learning experiences. For example, the PIRE CREATE program gave students the opportunity to participate in cave and tree ring research in Brazil during the summer. Watch the PIRE CREATE: Summer School 2019 video to learn more. Be on the lookout for future opportunities.
Conference Funding
Undergraduate majors seeking department monetary support to attend a professional conference should fill out the application for DAES funding. Applications are reviewed by the department undergraduate program chair and committee.
Examples of past conferences students have attended to present their research, network, and develop professional skills include:
- American Meteorological Society Student Conference and Annual Meeting
- American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
- Northeastern Storm Conference