The Unified Forecast System (UFS) community and Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) seek to build a strong group of modelers and researchers who can utilize and improve operational modeling systems. As the next generation of Earth systems scientists, students play a vital role in this effort, and EPIC and the UFS community must leverage the diverse talents of students across the Nation to accelerate research to operations.
Be sure to visit this page regularly for new student highlights and opportunities!
There are many ways for students to get involved in the UFS community.
The William M. Lapenta Internship is a full-time 10-week program that runs from late May to early August. Participants in this internship are involved in projects addressing forecasting problems, earth system modeling, and the communication of forecast uncertainty.
Previous Lapenta interns working with EPIC and the UFS focused on student outreach and engagement strategies to improve representation in the UFS community and the network of Earth System Modelers more broadly.
You can view all previous Lapenta Intern projects here: Lapenta Intern projects.
If you’re interested in applying, click here: Lapenta Intern Application.
The Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship includes academic assistance for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer.
Learn more about the Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship.
The WINGS Ph.D. Dissertation Fellowship, supported by NOAA’s Weather Program Office (WPO) and administered by UCAR’s Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS), will develop the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) scholars, with the goal of bolstering the future workforce of America’s Weather Enterprise.
Learn more about the Next Generation Scientists (WINGS) Dissertation Fellowship.
Rowin Smith – The UFS Student Experience: Accomplishments, Challenges, and Recommendations (PDF) | (PPTX)
Michael Kwadwo Benneh – Aerosol Data Assimilation Using Global Chemistry And Aerosol Forecast System (Gcafs)/Jedi (PDF) | (PPTX)
McKenzie Larson – Evaluation of initial condition blending within MPAS to inform RRFSv2 (PDF) | (PPTX)
Shreyas Dhavale – Case studies of the Monsoon Onset Vortex and early season Monsoon features using the UFS coupled model (PDF) | (PPTX)
Anna Glodzik – Evaluating UFS Heat and Moisture Fluxes Using Eddy Covariance Observations from the New York State Mesonet (PPTX)
In 2025, the EPIC program office, in partnership with UCAR | CPAESS, offered ten travel grants to enable students to attend the Unifying Innovations in Forecasting Capabilities Workshop 2025 (UIFCW25) in Boulder, Colorado. These grants gave students with limited funding the opportunity to attend the annual workshop in person. The ten students selected to come to Boulder, Colorado represented ten universities from across the US and Canada.
At UIFCW 2025, attendees had the opportunity to visit the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Mesa Lab that sits against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado. This was a unique opportunity to look at cutting-edge weather and climate science through engaging exhibits and behind-the-scenes research insights
For UIFCW to continue to be successful, we need continued input and participation from students! Past students have enjoyed being able to share their perspective on workshop activities prior to attending to ensure that the workshop addresses student needs.
Are you interested in participating in future planning for UIFCW? Send an email to ufs.community@noaa.gov.
Find additional information about the 2nd WINGS cohort
Implementing Machine Learning to Resolve Troposphere-Stratosphere Coupling and Teleconnections in S2S Forecast
Improved Utilization of Dense Observations in Data Assimilation Systems Using Machine Learning
Improvement of Lake Representation in Operational Weather Forecasting
As an ambassador for the Unified Forecast System (UFS), your primary role is to serve as a liaison between the UFS community and academia. Past ambassadors have presented their work at the Unifying Innovations in Forecasting Capabilities Workshop (UIFCW), the AMS Annual Meeting, and more! UFS Ambassadors also contribute to ongoing UFS community engagement and outreach activities.
For more detailed information, please visit UFS Ambassador Program. You may also send an email to ufs.community@noaa.gov.
Learn more about EPIC and the UFS on our infographics page.
If you need help running UFS code or need support on your research project, email support.epic@noaa.gov. If you have ideas about how to engage with students or feedback about UFS student engagement, please email ufs.community@noaa.gov.
View the EPIC Events page to find out more about upcoming events.
Accelerating
innovation
through
community
modeling
Accelerating
innovation
through
community
modeling
The Earth Prediction Innovation Center will enable the most accurate and reliable operational numerical weather prediction system in the world.
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