{"id":3293832,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege","title":"2027 NSF SOARS First-Year Protege","company":{"id":43167,"name":"NCAR","domain":"ucar.edu","url":"https://alion.io/company/ncar","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":null},"role":"Finance","role_family":"Finance","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Boulder, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":42000,"max_usd":81000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":2171},"experience_years_min":1,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T21:02:04Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-26","last_verified_at":"2026-10-30T01:40:57Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"Position Type:\nTerm - less than 6 months (Fixed Term)Visa Sponsored Job:\nNoRelocation Assistance Eligible:\nNoHiring Range:\n$23.41/hour (up to $936.40/week), untaxed\n*Please note that NSF SOARS Proteges stipends are not taxed, and as such will need to file a 1099 for personal tax reporting/filing purposes.\n*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.\nApplication Closes at 11:59pm Mountain Time on:\n2027-01-19About the Role\nUCAR is excited to announce the application opening of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program. NSF SOARS is an undergraduate-to-graduate bridge and career pathways program designed to promote and support research, mentoring, and community in the atmospheric and Earth system sciences (ESS).The summer research experience includes opportunities to engage in original scientific research, written reports and presentations, seminars, as well as peer and community mentoring. NSF SOARS Proteges can participate for up to four summers conducting research in atmospheric and ESS. NSF SOARS offers comprehensive financial support for summer research, and conference travel.\nNSF SOARS invites students from multiple STEM disciplines -- including but not limited to: chemistry, ecology, engineering, geography, mathematics, meteorology, physics, and the social sciences -- to deepen their expertise in understanding the Earth’s Atmosphere. The NSF SOARS program offers support for all students to achieve success in higher education and in the ESS workforce to actively contribute to finding solutions to our most pressing scientific and societal challenges and supporting economic growth in this country.\nJob Description\nResponsibilities\nThe NSF SOARS program is built on the three pillars of Research, Mentoring, and Community. As a Protege, you will gain hands-on research experience, dedicated mentorship, and a supportive community to help launch your career in the atmospheric and related sciences. NSF SOARS empowers you to take ownership of your summer experience, strengthen your scientific and professional skills, and prepare for the next steps in your academic and career journey.\nAs an NSF SOARS Protege, you will engage in the following opportunities and responsibilities as well as uphold the UCAR Participant Code of Conduct during your internship:\nResearch\nConduct scientific research at NSF NCAR, UCAR, UCP, or partnering organizations in Boulder, CO.\nCollaborate closely with research and writing mentors to advance your project.\nParticipate in training workshops on scientific writing, data science, communication, leadership, and professional skills.\nComplete weekly writing assignments and meet project deadlines.\nDevelop and deliver two scientific presentations, a research poster, a research paper, and an abstract by the end of the program.(Optional) Present your research at a national scientific conference and contribute to NSF SOARS outreach. Conference travel is funded and may occur during the academic year.\n\nMentoring\nCo-create and maintain a summer work plan with your mentor team.\nTake initiative in organizing and leading mentor team meetings.\nCommunicate regularly with mentors and actively seek and provide constructive feedback.\nContribute to your mentor team and cohort by offering insights, ideas, and collaboration.\nCommunity\nActively contribute to a positive, welcoming, and professional community with peers.\nParticipate fully in NSF SOARS events and/or activities with occasional social events occurring outside of standard work hours, as well as funded travel opportunities.\nEngage in technical and career development seminars with peers and scientists.(Optional) Participate in future networking and mentoring events as a program alum.\n\nRequired Qualifications\nEducation & Experience\nCurrently enrolled in an undergraduate program; or associate’s degree program;\nMust have completed at least one (1) year of undergrad;Community College students and Associates degree holders are welcome and encouraged to apply.\n\nMust have at least one (1) semester of undergraduate coursework remaining after the initial summer program; Bachelor’s degree holders are ineligible to apply.\n\nWorking toward an academic major in atmospheric science or a related field, (e.g. geosciences, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography, physics, or social and behavioral sciences) and an interest in pursuing a career in atmospheric or related STEM disciplines;Possess some college science and math coursework.\n\nA cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.If your GPA is less than 3.0, please address the circumstances in your Research essay.\n\nKnowledge, Skills & Abilities\nWillingness to contribute to the NSF SOARS mission (please see soars.ucar.edu for more details).\nInterest and desire to expand knowledge in the Earth system sciences or related fields.\nAbility/potential to lead and collaborate with a group of peers and mentors.\nDesire/potential to excel in a STEM career.\nApplication Instructions\nRegister for our How to Apply to NSF SOARS Webinaron Thursday, November 5 at 10:00 am MT.\nRequired application materials - Uploaded/submitted within the application.\nUnofficial Transcripts from all institutions attended (preferably in PDF Format)Please REMOVE/BLACKOUT your social security number and/or birth date if it is shown on your unofficial transcript.\nTranscripts with security encryptions/password restrictions WILL NOT be accepted.\nDO NOT include High School transcripts.\n\n 2027 NSF SOARS Essays (view our AI guidelines) NSF SOARS is designed to promote and support Research, Mentoring, and Community. As part of your application, you will be asked to submit three separate essays (up to 3,000 character limit per essay), each focused on one of these components. Leadership development is also an important attribute in the NSF SOARS program. Please describe your leadership aspirations in each of your essays.Research - NSF SOARS Proteges spend eleven weeks conducting original research at NSF NCAR, UCP, or other NSF SOARS sponsors with world-renowned scientists. NSF SOARS values creativity in problem solving as a researcher.Describe one or two problem-solving experiences you've had in prior coursework, research projects, work experiences, or other activities. What approaches and skills did you use?\nHow might these experiences and approaches apply to a NSF SOARS research project?\nWhat are your career goals, and how could participating in NSF SOARS help you achieve them?If undecided, what scientific questions or topics are you most passionate about, and how do you hope to explore them through this program?\n\nMentoring - NSF SOARS is a unique program that offers multi-dimensional and bidirectional mentoring to Proteges. Proteges work with their mentors on a research plan and are responsible for communicating with their mentoring team, organizing meetings, etc.We understand that you want to gain research experience and improve your research skills through mentoring with other scientists. Describe these and other areas you desire to grow in (professionally and personally) and why?\nHow will the mentoring you receive in NSF SOARS help you grow in those areas?\nHow will you contribute to the multi-dimensional mentorship model of NSF SOARS?\n\nCommunity - NSF SOARS is deeply invested in cultivating a supportive community where Proteges and mentors learn together, forming meaningful relationships while developing leadership and communication skills. Proteges are encouraged to build and sustain collegial and supportive relationships with other Protege's, mentors, program coordinators, and alumni.Describe an experience in which you helped create or contribute to a supportive community. How did you help others feel supported, navigate challenges, or celebrate successes? The situation does not have to be related to science, research, or education. If you haven’t had this experience, explain what you believe makes a positive and supportive community and how you would contribute to one in the future, including any strategies you'd use to collaborate, lead, and problem-solve.\n\nDiscuss how you imagine a supportive community might influence your experience in NSF SOARS, and how do you expect to contribute and benefit from this community.\n\n Contact Information of Two (2) RecommendersAt least one (1) reference must be for a faculty member/professor, the other can be from a mentor, supervisor, or other professional.Consider asking references who can speak to how you embody the three pillars of the NSF SOARS Program (research, mentoring, community).\n\nWe only require contact information for recommenders. Letters are not required, and we will only reach out with targeted questions if additional information is needed.\n\nWork Authorization/Visa Sponsorship:Not available. You must be (a) a current U.S. Citizen; (b) lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or (c) a protected individual as defined by 8 USC1324b(a)(3).\nDuration of Internship: Monday, May 17, 2027 - Friday, July 30, 2027 (11 weeks)\nTravel & Accommodation: NSF SOARS Proteges will receive housing accommodations and round-trip travel to Boulder, CO for this internship.\nDeadline: Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm MT on Tuesday, January 19, 2027. Applications will not be accepted past this date, and candidates will receive a status update no later than Monday, March 15, 2027.\nQUESTIONS?\nExplore our Application FAQs page for full details on eligibility, deadlines, requirements, and program logistics.\nFor help with the Workday application process, please reach out to Meghan Myron-Karels ().\nFor questions not addressed on our FAQs page regarding the NSF SOARS program, please contact Marissa Vara (). \nApplication Requirements\nQuestionnaire, Unofficial TranscriptsSubmit all required application materials by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline. Only candidates with complete applications (including questionnaires, when required) will be considered.\nWe recognize that no candidate will meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If you believe your background has prepared you for success in this role, we encourage you to apply.\nCandidates selected for hire will complete background checks and/or federal screenings.\nAdditional Information\nUCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes all applicants. We do not discriminate based on race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. You don’t need to include age-related information, such as birth or graduation dates, in your initial application.\nApplicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on an employee. Please inform your Recruiter if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.\nVisa Sponsorship: UCAR can sponsor H-1B status only for candidates already in the U.S. who hold H-1B status or another status that allows a change to H-1B within the country. We cannot sponsor new H-1B visas that require consular processing abroad.\nCompliance and Location: All roles must comply with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements. Hybrid staff work on-site 3 days per week or equivalent, based on their flexible work arrangement. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.\nArtificial Intelligence (AI) Use: AI tools are permitted, but we strongly encourage candidates to submit primarily original work.","description_format":"text","description_chars":11933,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":1,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"associate","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Environmental Science","Research Institutes"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-26T21:02:04Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.898,"p_room":1,"age_days":3,"expected_fill_days":14,"reasons":["conf:4","velocity","win:early","comp:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-30T13:43:24Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":873,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-31T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":43167},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=43167"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fncar-2027-nsf-soars-first-year-protege"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3293832}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"ucar.edu","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3293832},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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