NOAA CoastWatch
PolarWatch Node
Satellite Data Scientist Internship
Host: The NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's living ocean resources in order to maintain productive and sustainable fisheries and to facilitate the recovery and conservation of protected and endangered marine species. SWFSC's IT & Data Services (ITDS) is a group supporting NOAA’s mission and research with the IT and satellite-based data management and analytical services. The PolarWatch node of CoastWatch and the ITDS maintain a partnership to study and monitor Arctic and Antarctic resources to meet the nation’s needs for fisheries research and management.
Location and Format: PolarWatch is based in Santa Cruz, but this internship will be completely remote and can be done from anywhere in CA.
Internship Dates: June 3 - August 16, 2024
Stipend: $8,000
Time Commitment: The internship is a full time, 11-week commitment. Over the 11 weeks, the intern may take up to five days off for personal reasons, vacation or illness. If participation is less than 100%, the stipend will be prorated.
Position Description and Responsibilities: PolarWatch, in partnership with the ITDS, collaborates with data partners, distributes satellite data, and develops tools and training to help users incorporate satellite data into research and management projects. One (1) internship is offered to work with PolarWatch and ITDS staff to study changes in the polar regions, develop tools to make satellite data easily accessible to the data users, and improve instructional materials for training efforts. Depending on the background of the intern, possible projects include:
- Use PolarWatch and other data to conduct spatial-temporal data analysis and modeling;
- Develop and improve a Python-based workflow for data quality assurance and processing;
- Develop a visualization tool of satellite data in R, Python, or Java Script.
The duties may include:
- Development and documentation of code using R or Python;
- Development of basic metadata following community standards;
- Check-in calls for interns to get guidance from supervisors and for supervisors to monitor progress of the internship (anticipated to be ~3 times per week).
The intern will be encouraged to attend online science talks given by NOAA fisheries scientists. At the end of the internship, the intern will be expected to give an informal presentation to the ITDS/PolarWatch team summarizing the results of their activities.
Preferred Experience and Capabilities: - An educational background in data science, computer science, geographical information systems (GIS) OR in cryospheric science or oceanography
- Python or R coding skills
- Software development skills
- Familiarity with basic Unix command line tools and file structures
Skills Gained: The intern will learn how to work with large satellite datasets in different projections using online data services and how to use Python or R programs to extract and visualize data. They will learn about basic satellite metadata standards and about the structure and use of satellite files. In addition, the intern will be exposed to current research and monitoring efforts underway at SWFSC and CoastWatch. Results from the intern's successfully completed activities will be incorporated into the ITDS/PolarWatch operations with attribution suitable for inclusion in the intern's CV or portfolio.
Eligibility/Requirements: In order to be accepted for the internship, the candidate may be required to undergo and pass a Federal background check. If required, the process for the background check needs to be initiated at least one month in advance of the intern's start date. The intern will work remotely and will need to have access to a computer with the necessary open-source software installed. Applicants are also subject to general eligibility requirements.
Return to Announcement for Application and Additional Requirements