NWS Melbourne - Student Volunteer Page

NWS Melbourne Student Volunteer Program

Overview of the Program

The Student Volunteer Program involves volunteering with the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Melbourne, FL. The selected student volunteer will have the opportunity to shadow NWS forecasters during the volunteer experience, learn about NWS operations and may complete a project of interest. The students will also have a mix of other in-person experiences (i.e. participating in an outreach event and/or Cooperative Observer Program trip, meeting NWS partners, etc.). Additionally, the students will be able to learn more about NWS forecast and warning operations, partner support and have the opportunity to explore career options with the National Weather Service.

Student Volunteer Announcement:

Available for: Undergraduate College students entering their Junior or Senior year or enrolled in a Graduate Level program.

Paid: No

Time of Year: Summer Session 2026, Fall 2026 or Spring 2027

Length of Opportunity: 3 months for Summer 2026 & 4 months for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.

Volunteer Opportunities Available: 3

1 student volunteer Summer Session 2026, mid May 2026 to early Aug 2026

1 student volunteer Fall Semester 2026, late Aug 2026 – early Dec 2026

1 student volunteer Spring Semester 2027, Jan 2027 – early May 2027

Application Process and Deadlines

Interested students should submit an application by e-mailing a letter of interest and copy of their resume to sr-mlb.webmaster@noaa.gov by Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The resume should include at least one reference from a professor, academic advisor or school official. A reference letter is not required, the resume should have at least one academic reference listed.

The letter of interest should identify which volunteer opportunities (Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Spring 2027), you are available and would like to be considered. You may list one, two or all three of the available opportunities.

Since many students wish to volunteer these positions are competitive. Some factors for selection include:

Year In school and amount of coursework completed
Academic record
Activities outside of class (clubs, teams, volunteer work, etc.)
Favorable reference
Whether the student has previously volunteered for the NWS
United States citizenship (required)
Status as a current student (required)

Most students who volunteer at NWS Melbourne are completing coursework in atmospheric, environmental, marine or hydrologic science.

What to Expect

The student volunteer will volunteer in-person at the NWS Melbourne office between 6 and 12 hours a week. This is an unpaid volunteer experience.

Other Related Opportunities

NOAA offers several student opportunities, including paid student internships through the Pathways Program and undergraduate scholarships through the Hollings Scholarship Program.

Selection Process

A competitive selection for the volunteer position will be made by April 17th. The selected student will be notified regarding the required forms to be accepted for the volunteer opportunity.

Points of Contact

For additional information on the Student Volunteer Program, email: sr-mlb.webmaster@noaa.gov or call 321-255-0212.