Job shadowing is the most basic opportunity offered by NWS Miami. It is primarily intended for high school and college students who are interested in a career in meteorology, hydrology, climatology, or atmospheric sciences. Students who partake in a job shadow will have the opportunity to work alongside a forecaster for one or two shifts, depending on staffing availability and when the weather permits it.

A typical job shadow experience may include:                      

• A tour of the NWS Miami office and facilities
• Spending spending up to 3-4 hours with NWS Miami meteorologists
• Learning about the forecast process and other day to day operations, including the balloon launches
• Discussions about careers within the National Weather Service
• Resume guidance

The NWS Miami Student Volunteer Program is a much more structured opportunity designed specifically for students in their junior or senior year of college who are enrolled in meteorology or a related program. Preference will be given to students interested in pursuing a career in operational forecasting.

NWS Miami typically recruits fall and spring student volunteers from the University of Miami and Florida International University each year due to daily commuting requirements. Throughout their volunteer term, students must be able to commute to the office on their scheduled days. While local school enrollment is highly preferred, we welcome applications from students attending other universities, provided they can fulfill this commuting responsibility. This often applies to students who return home to South Florida for the summer after attending school in a different region. However, it is worth noting that with increased workloads during summer months, we can't always support having a student at the office in the summer. Therefore, these opportunities are not guaranteed to be offered every summer. Once a student is selected, they may choose between two primary paths or areas of focus during their volunteer period:

• Student project: Students may work on a project of their choosing. These projects are typically ones that help enhance operations at the NWS Miami office. Projects should be completed by the end of the volunteer period and will be presented to the NWS Miami staff upon completion. Project work is highly beneficial for those who are interested in attending graduate school.

• Operational Meteorology and Forecasting: Rather than working on a project, students may instead focus their entire volunteer experience on operational meteorology and weather forecasting. This path is geared towards those who are not planning to attend graduate school and are instead attempting to join the workforce immediately upon graduation.

Regardless of which option a student chooses, all student volunteers will have opportunities to work with NWS Miami meteorologists throughout the semester. 

Application Process

Students interested in the Student Volunteer Program should review the following steps and requirements:

1. Application announcement: NWS Miami will provide an announcement to the Department Chairs at the University of Miami and Florida International University well ahead of the fall and spring semesters each year. At that time, interested students will need come to this page and click the 'Apply Now' button below. Applicants will be required to submit both a resume and transcript. Submission of a cover letter is optional, but recommended. 
2. Application Review: The NWS Miami student team will collect and carefully review all submitted application materials. Following the initial review and rankings, the top candidates will be interviewed.
3. Final Selection: After all interviews have been completed, a final selection will be made. This entire process takes about 3-4 weeks from the collection of applications to the final selection. 

Applications for the Student Volunteer Program are open! 

Requirements and Considerations:

• Students must submit a 1-2 page resume and a transcript to be considered for this volunteer position. Cover letters are optional, but are recommended.
• Must have completed or be currently enrolled in synoptic, dynamic, or mesoscale meteorology courses.
• Must be able to come into the office an average of once per week during the semester.
• Be able to provide fingerprints and successfully pass a background security investigation. 

Students may also be able to earn college credit for their participation in the program. However, this will ultimately depend on university and advisor approval.

Additional Experiences: During their volunteer period, students may have the opportunity to participate in a variety of office activities. This can include participating in outreach events, visiting the NWS Miami radar, Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) site visits, participation in storm surveys, etc.

We strive to provide our volunteers with the best possible experience. We will try to accommodate as many of their interests as possible while they volunteer for us.

SCOuT Application Form

The Student Career On-Site Training Program (SCOuT) is another unpaid volunteer program that offers selected students an opportunity to experience a wide variety of careers and opportunities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). 

SCOuT is only offered during the spring school semesters each year. NWS Miami has offered to partake in this program beginning Spring 2027, with a student from the University of Miami and Florida International University eligible to be selected. Unlike our regular student volunteer position, students who participate in this program will not have a required number of visits to our office. Additionally, because SCOuT is an unofficial opportunity, students participating will not be required to submit fingerprints and additional paperwork.

Below are some of the opportunities students participating in this program can receive:

• Opportunity for job shadows of multiple operational meteorologists, hydrologists, and other environmental science professionals
• Gain knowledge and insight about working for the National Weather Service 
• Virtual sessions with other NWS offices or national centers. 
• Networking opportunities
• Resume guidance

For additional information on the application process for SCOuT and what all is included in the program, please visit www.weather.gov/education/scout

Student Pathways Program: Pathways positions are paid internship positions for current students, recent graduates, and those with an advanced degree. These positions are not consistently available due to budget limitations or other factors, but are a great opportunity to gain early career experience. The program offers students an opportunity to work directly for the NWS while finishing school. Often times, these positions have potential to be converted to a permanent position once students successfully complete the remainder of their schooling and the Pathways Program.

Anyone interested in these opportunities are encouraged to monitor the USAJOBS site for available positions and application announcements.

Local Contact Information

If you have any remaining questions regarding any of this information, feel free to call or email our office at the contacts below. 

You may also email the Student Program Lead, Will Redman, directly at william.redman@noaa.gov.

Office Email: nws.miami@noaa.gov

Office Phone: 305-229-4522