How to Apply to The NOAA Weather Program Office (WPO) Innovation for Next Generation Scientists (WINGS) Dissertation Fellowship Program
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A program designed to train the next generation of climate research leaders
The WINGS PhD 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 and foster the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) scholars, with the goal of bolstering the future workforce of America’s Weather Enterprise.
The WINGS Fellowship is designed for PhD candidates who have completed their required coursework and are in the beginning stages of writing a dissertation. Fellows will work with their academic advisor and a mentor recommended by WPO and CPAESS, to provide guidance during the dissertation process. The focus of this Fellowship is on research relevant to the NOAA WPO's Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) and Joint Transfer Technology Initiative (JTTI) programs. This focus will serve as a catalyst for community research and modeling system advances that continually inform and accelerate improvements in the Unified Forecast System (UFS), spanning local to global domains and predictive timescales from sub-hourly analyses to seasonal predictions.
Check out the NOAA EPIC Webinar for more information about the EPIC program.
Students who are accepted to this program will be placed with a NOAA mentor during their fellowship.
Qualifications
Applicants must have completed their doctoral coursework and have passed their qualifying exam, or have had their proposal accepted in an area of research relevant to WPO's research, and are about to embark on their dissertation. This year the focus will be on research that connects with the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) and Joint Transfer Technology Initiative (JTTI) programs and missions.
CPAESS strives to have diverse representation of universities and student backgrounds in the Fellow cohort each year. We encourage applications from individuals who are members of a group that is historically under-represented in the atmospheric and related sciences, including students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic or Latino, female, LGBTQ, first generation college students, veterans, and people with disabilities.
U.S. citizenship (and you must reside in the U.S. for this position) is a requirement of the Weather Program Office (WPO) Dissertation Fellowship.
The application deadline is February 7, 2025.
Please review Selection Criteria and Program Policies before applying.
How did you find us?
Before you apply, please fill out this very short form.
Thank you!
Application Process
There are two steps to the application process:
- Prepare your application according to the Application PDF Format Instructions listed below.
- Submit your application online according to the Online Application Instructions listed in the second section below.
Application PDF Format Instructions
Prepare, collect, organize, and compile your application materials into a single (1) PDF document, including all of the 4 required sections, in the order listed below. Two references will also be collected separately.
1. Personal Statement (1 page, 12 pt. type size) addressing the questions below:
- Why are you specifically interested in a WINGS Doctoral Fellowship?
- How do you plan on using this experience to grow your leadership skills?
- Outline how your Research Proposal enhances and complements NOAA’s Weather EPIC and JTTI Program Offices missions, and address future interactions with NOAA.
NOTE: Examples of future interactions could include: using NOAA data, establishing new collaborations with a NOAA scientist, giving a talk on your work and research outcomes at a NOAA Laboratory or Program Office, etc. - Provide a clear indication of when you completed/plan to complete the coursework portion of your PhD.
2. WINGS Fellowship Research Proposal
Note: (up to 5 pages, 12 pt. type size, including figures and appendices).
- Include your PhD dissertation title, abstract, and proposal description.
- Proposals must describe the specific research project they intend to conduct.
- Proposal should be original, not sourced from a previously funded proposal to a different funding agency.
- Address the broader impact of your research to the community at large.
NOTE: Bibliography/Citations/Literature References are NOT included in this 5-page proposal limit.
3. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Include a list of relevant presentations and publications, training, community involvement, and outreach.
NOTE: For all publications that are not yet published, please indicate the stage the paper is at, for example: In Development, Submitted, Under Review, or Accepted.
4. PhD Advisor Plan (1 page, 12 pt. type size)
- Include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided by your current PhD Advisor.
NOTE: This can include, but not limited to: Orientation; Career Counseling; Publications and Presentations; Professional Development, etc.
Recommendations (collected separately, within the online application)
You will be asked to provide contact information for 2 individuals who are able to speak on your behalf. It is your responsibility as an applicant to 1.) inform your recommenders about this Fellowship and its application criteria, and 2.) provide the following dates and deadlines: CPAESS will contact them between February 17 - February 21 to complete a Recommendation Questionnaire, which must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, March 3, 2025.
NOTE: Your PhD advisor does NOT have to be used as a recommender, however, if you choose them, you will need to provide their name and email address for both the Advisor and Recommendation sections within the online application.
Submitting Your Application
You must apply online at the UCAR Career Opportunities Page
Step 1.
To begin the application process, go here and select the “Apply” button. When prompted, create a new account. If you have applied to a different position within UCAR please sign in to your existing account.
Step 2.
You will be prompted to submit your current resume. At this point, upload your completed application materials with the 4 required sections and compiled into a single (1) PDF document).
Here are two resources for combining multiple documents into a single PDF: How To Combine Files into One PDF; How To Combine PDFs into One File.
NOTE: Click “Select File” to find your file on your computer and then select Next.
Step 3.
Add any missing information and/or edit and verify any information that is pre-populated on the "My Information" and "My Experience" pages within the online application. Continue the application process as prompted.
Step 4.
You will be asked to provide contact information for 2 individuals who are able to provide a reference on your behalf, as well as inform them that CPAESS|UCAR will contact them between February 17 - February 21, 2025 to complete a questionnaire that will serve as a Recommendation (due March 3, 2025)
NOTE: Your PhD advisor does NOT have to be used as a reference, however, if you choose to have them serve as a reference, you will need to provide both their name and email address for both the Advisor and Reference sections within the online application.
Questions?
Questions on the Workday application process may be addressed to HR Recruiting (hrrecruiting@ucar.edu).
General questions regarding this fellowship program may be addressed to Kate Rodd (krodd@ucar.edu).
U.S. citizenship is not required to participate in this program, but the selected doctoral fellows must be hosted at a research institution within the U.S. Appointed scientists are employees of UCAR. The two-year fellowships include a fixed annual salary and benefits: health & dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, mandatory participation in TIAA retirement fund, and life insurance. An allowance is provided for travel to scientific conferences and other support costs.
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer that strives to develop and maintain a diverse workforce. UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy.
Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). We are committed to inclusivity and promoting an equitable environment that values and respects the uniqueness of all members of our organization.