Meteorological Development Laboratory MDL Student Career Experience Program

Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL) Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) Carl Mc. Calla, Sr. Student Career Experience Program Coordinator carl. mccalla@noaa. gov http: //www. nws. noaa. gov/mdl/coop. htm

Table of Contents 1. Program Description 2. What Students Will Do 3. MDL Projects 4. Application Requirements 5. The Hiring Process 6. The Successful SCEP Candidate 7. Working At MDL 8. Student Benefits 9. FAQ 10. Helpful URLs Student Career Experience Program

Program Description ØAlternate full-time employment and study v The appointment is for at least 12 months – Students typically start off working full-time for 6 consecutive months – Students may work during class breaks – Students may work part-time while attending school – Students may attend school full-time while on LWOP – Students must complete the SCEP either concurrent with or before their graduation • Postponement of graduation may be required Student Career Experience Program

Program Description ØWork on MDL project(s) related to major v Meteorology v Computer Science v Information Technology v Mathematics v Statistics v Physics v Oceanography Student Career Experience Program

Program Description ØGain valuable work experience v MDL has 5 branches and more than 50 staff v MDL has nearly 20 different projects underway Student Career Experience Program

What Students Will Do ØWork alongside experts v v Develop and test software Gain knowledge related to latest forecasting, verification, and product generation techniques Student Career Experience Program

MDL Projects ØDecision Assistance Branch v v v v Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP) Fog Monitor Four Dimensional Storm Investigator (FSI) General User Alert Display Panel (GUARDIAN) Local Storm Report Application (LSR) System for Convection Analysis and Nowcasting (SCAN) System on AWIPS for Forecasting and Evaluation of Seas and Lakes (SAFESEAS) Student Career Experience Program

MDL Projects ØEvaluation Branch v v AWIPS Verification Program Storm Surge and Coastal Wave Applications – Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) – Extra-tropical storm surges – Coastal waves Student Career Experience Program

MDL Projects ØMesoscale Prediction Branch v v National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) Local AWIPS Model Output Statistics Program (LAMP) Student Career Experience Program

MDL Projects ØProduct Generation Branch v v Aviation Forecast Preparation System (Avn. FPS) Central Product Generation Forecast Uncertainty XML Services Student Career Experience Program

MDL Projects ØStatistical Modeling Branch v v Model Output Statistics (MOS) Gridded MOS Student Career Experience Program

Application Requirements ØAre pursing a degree in relevant area of study ØCommit to at least 12 months of employment ØHave a GPA of 2. 0 overall and 2. 5 in major ØAre United States citizens ØVerify college has NOAA/COOP agreement Student Career Experience Program

The Hiring Process ØMDL accepts SCEP applications throughout the year ØInterviews usually take place in mid-Sept and mid-Feb ØHRMO makes all SCEP job offers ØJob offers typically occur in December and April ØStudents usually begin work in January and May ØRecruitment may occur to fill unanticipated vacancies Student Career Experience Program

The Successful SCEP Candidate ØHas excellent grades ØKnows C/C++, FORTRAN, PERL, Python, etc. ØHas experience in software development v Class project(s) v Summer job(s) ØIs interested in a career with the NWS ØLikes working with computer software ØKnows where they want to fit into MDL Student Career Experience Program

Working At MDL ØNWSH is located in Silver Spring, MD v 18 story office building v Cubicle offices ØMDL is on the 10 th & 11 th floors of NWSH ØD. C. Metro & MARC rail are adjacent to NWSH v Current commuter transportation subsidy (<= $105. 00/month) ØLimited assistance provided to find housing Student Career Experience Program

Student Benefits ØGain full-time professional work experience ØConsolidate career decisions ØEarn GS-4 ($24, 460 / year) or greater salary ØExploit promotion potential ØWork 120 -days following graduation, if MDL agrees ØConvert to career conditional, if MDL endorses ØEarn sick and annual leave ØBecome eligible for retirement benefits ØReceive travel expenses between school/work Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØEligibility Requirements v Q. How many times can a student be appointed to the SCEP? v A. There is no limit on the number of times a student may be appointed as long as he/she meets the eligibility requirement for the appointment Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØEligibility Requirements v Q. Must students be U. S. citizens at the time they are appointed? v A. No. However, many agencies are precluded from hiring non-citizens by a ban in their appropriations act. Students who participate in the SCEP cannot be converted to career conditional employment in the competitive service unless they are citizens at the time of conversion. Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØAppointment Type v Q. Can a student appointed to the SCEP remain on the appointment once they have completed their educational requirements? v A. Yes. Those appointed to the SCEP may continue on the appointment for 120 -days beyond the date of completing their work and academic requirements. At the end of the 120 -days, if the graduate has not been converted to a position in the competitive service, then he/she must be separated. Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØClassification/Pay Tenure v Q. Do students get within-grade increases? v A. Yes. Students in the SCEP are eligible for withingrade increases. v Q. Can students be promoted? v A. Yes, SCEP students may be promoted. Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØStudent Schedules v Q. Must students work or attend school during the summer? v A. Students are always either attending classes, working at the agency, or both. Agencies may permit a break in the program during which time the student is neither attending classes or working. The agency would place the student on LWOP during this period. Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØConversion – SCEP v Q. When does the 120 -Day conversion window begin … upon completion of course requirements or upon “graduation ceremony day”? v A. Upon satisfactory completion of course requirements. Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØConversion – SCEP v Q. Can a student work any of the required 640 hours necessary for conversion, after he/she completes his/her educational requirements? v A. The required work experience must be gained prior to, or concurrent with the completion of the student’s education. Student Career Experience Program

FAQ ØConversion – SCEP v Q. Is a student only eligible for non-competitive conversion in the agency where the student worked prior to the completion of his/her education? v A. No. A student is eligible to be non-competitively converted in any federal agency. Check job listing on USAJOBS to find appropriate positions for graduated students. Student Career Experience Program

Helpful URLs Øhttp: //www. weather. gov/mdl/ Øhttp: //www. nws. noaa. gov/mdl/coop. htm Student Career Experience Program