Current Internship Opportunities

NCICS is currently seeking students interested in Winter/Spring remote internships.

Please review the project needs below and, if interested, apply through the NCSU Jobs site links at the end of each description (do not email applications). In your cover letter, please be sure to note any relevant training.

Winter/Spring Internship #1: Economic Impacts of Drought on Agriculture

Deficits in moisture caused by drought can have profound societal and economic impacts that, over time, elevate an area’s risks for fires, landslides, adverse health outcomes, and other problems. The agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable to drought, with more than $249 billion dollars in losses since the 1980s. Despite clear linkages between drought and agriculture, the role of drought intensity versus timing on economic outcomes is not fully understood. This project will use geographic information systems (GIS) technologies to combine economic data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture with drought information from the U.S. Drought Monitor to explore the relationship between drought and agricultural losses. In addition, the billion-dollar drought event database will be analyzed to provide historical context on the timing and severity of significant drought events. It is expected that both drought severity and timing have some impact on economic losses; however, this relationship may vary regionally, by crop type, and by access to irrigation.

Individuals with a background in programming and experience working with large datasets are encouraged to apply for this internship. A key task will be processing big datasets to distinguish costly droughts from others.

This will be a paid, part-time internship position, working remotely. For details and to apply, please go to: https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/137199

Winter/Spring Internship #2: Evaluation of Vegetation Status in Earth system models Using Satellite Climate Data Records

Changes in the Earth system are assessed using a suite of models developed by international agencies to understand climate trends and plan for mitigation actions. There is a need to assess the quality of vegetation status simulated by these Earth system models. This project will involve making comparisons of the simulated vegetation status provided by the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) to satellite-based observations such as Leaf Area Index (LAI). Planned outcomes are: 1) understanding of what vegetation variables are captured in Earth system models, 2) identification of available remotely sensed data sets for comparison with model simulations, and 3) statistical metrics describing the comparisons of model simulations to satellite observations in both spatial and temporal terms.

This will be a paid, part-time internship position, working remotely. For details and to apply, please go to: https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/137199

Other Applications

To apply for an unpaid internship position, please submit the following materials to internships@ncics.org:

  1. Cover letter, including:
    • Proposed project plan based on an NCICS program area (visit our Expertise< and Portfolio pages for additional information) or a statement of general interest
    • Brief description of prior experience and interest
    • Proposed dates for the internship
  2. Official information regarding approved enrollment or participation in an internship program with a school/home institution, if applicable
  3. Recommendation letter
  4. Most recent transcripts
  5. Resume

For questions, email: internships@ncics.org