We are now accepting applications for the ECONet Summer Undergraduate Student Intern position at the State Climate Office of North Carolina.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please complete and submit the following Google form
(https://forms.gle/X729txkijqRYT6Hi6) by 11:59 pm ET on Friday, March 3, 2023. For
questions about this application or the position please contact Sheila Saia (ssaia@ncsu.edu).
The ECONet team is looking to hire an enthusiastic NC State University undergraduate student
to support ECONet field maintenance and research in the summer of 2023. Those interested in
fieldwork, research, and learning more about weather and climate instrumentation, monitoring,
and data-driven weather and climate applications are encouraged to apply. Fieldwork will be
conducted in-person at ECONet weather stations located across North Carolina. Additional
maintenance and other independent research tasks will be conducted in the office or can be
done remotely. As an ECONet summer undergraduate intern, you will learn how to maintain and
troubleshoot research-grade weather stations and how to conduct standard data quality control
checks on weather sensors and associated data. You will also conduct an independent
ECONet-relevant research project, present your findings to SCO staff and/or at the NC State
University Undergraduate Research Symposium, and write a report of your findings by the end
of the summer. As an ECONet summer undergraduate intern, you will have the opportunity to
help us improve data quality control routines, increase public engagement and accessibility of
ECONet data, and improve the accessibility of data products for all North Carolinians. You will
also share your independent research findings with us at the end of the summer so SCO staff,
the scientific community, and public may benefit from your work.
Required Education & Experience
● Currently enrolled as a full-time, undergraduate student at NC State University (Rising
sophomores, juniors, and seniors are encouraged to apply.)
● Major of study at NC State University is relevant to this position. Students in the following
majors are encouraged to apply: atmospheric science; marine science; earth science;
forest management; natural resources management; environmental science;
environmental technology and management; parks, recreation, and tourism
management; fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology; environmental engineering,
civil engineering; biological engineering; biological and agricultural engineering
technology; biological sciences; geology; chemistry; physics; statistics; zoology; applied
mathematics; agronomy; agricultural science; crop and soil sciences; horticultural
science; plant biology; agroecology and sustainable food systems; applied ecology;
mechanical engineering; electrical engineering; computer engineering; computer science
● Must be available to work from May 2023 through August 2023
● Attentive to detail
● Excellent interpersonal and (oral/written) communication skills
● Ability to manage time and complete tasks individually
● Have a valid driver’s license. A state vehicle will be provided for fieldwork purposes; a
personal vehicle is not required.
Other *Non-Required* Responsibilities and Experience (*Please consider applying even if
you don’t meet these.*)
● Familiarity conducting data analysis (in Excel, R, Python, and GIS, as examples)
Key Responsibilities
● Support SCO staff as they conduct fieldwork to maintain and troubleshoot ECONet
weather stations across the state
● Perform weekly data quality control procedures on weather station sensor data
● Conduct an independent research project
● Share independent research findings to SCO staff and/or at the NC State University
Undergraduate Research Symposium at the end of the summer in oral presentation and
in a written summary formats
Physical Demands of this Position
● Communicating in vocal and written forms to individuals and groups.
● Move across uneven and sloping ground and unpaved surfaces at field sites.
● We rely on strict national health standards to limit fieldwork when it is not safe (e.g., hot
conditions and heavy rainfall). Fieldwork will take place outdoors and may occur at
temperatures and conditions outside the range of an office environment.
● Transport weather station maintenance equipment to and from the fieldwork vehicle and
to and from the vehicle and office.
● Move weather station equipment up to 50 pounds.
● Must be able to position themselves comfortably for computer-related work.
● Visual and auditory inspection of field sites to detect and troubleshoot ECONet station
issues.
● Operate a state vehicle to and from field sites.