New

Temporary Student Intern for Soil Moisture Assessment

North Carolina State University

$15-18/hr DOQ

United States, North Carolina, Asheville

180 Coxe Avenue (Show on map)

Apr 22, 2025

Position Information

Posting Number	PG195078TM
Position Number	06KKC02
Position Type	Temporary
Essential Job Duties	The North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies ( NCICS) is seeking motivated undergraduate students for an internship focused on comparing remotely sensed and ground-based soil moisture measurements and their relationship to vegetation health across different regions of the U.S. This internship will provide hands-on experience working with soil moisture data related to agriculture, drought monitoring, and wildfire risk assessment, and will contribute to real-world applications. The intern(s) working on this project will evaluate Fractional Available Water ( FAW) and Critical Theta (CT), two important metrics derived from soil moisture data, and sing satellite-based data from NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive ( SMAP) mission, will compare FAW estimates to in situ data from the U.S. Climate Reference Network ( USCRN) and the Oklahoma Mesonet. The intern(s) will be expected to utilize their education and background to: Evaluate SMAP-based FAW alignment with ground-based observations, with attention to regional variation across the U.S. Explore FAW value correspondence with indicators of vegetation stress, potentially improving early detection of agricultural drought or wildfire risk. Calculate FAW and Critical Theta metrics using remote and in situ data. Conduct statistical comparisons between datasets at multiple geographic scales. Analyze spatial and temporal trends in vegetation health using satellite-based vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI). Interpret results and assist with preparing visualizations, maps, or figures for presentations and reports. Participate in regular meetings with research mentors and contribute to collaborative discussions.
Is Time Limited	Yes
If Yes, Appointment Length	11 months

Department Information

Job City & State	Asheville, NC
Department	NC Institute for Climate Studies

System Information

Classification Title	Temporary-Technical/Paraprofessional
Working Title	Temporary Student Intern for Soil Moisture Assessment

Requirements and Preferences

Work Schedule	10-20 hrs/wk
Other Work/Responsibilities
Minimum Experience/Education	High school diploma, or equivalent, and college coursework pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in environmental science, atmospheric science, geospatial analytics, agronomy, data science, statistics, mathematics, engineering, meteorology, atmospheric science, or related field with a minimum GPA of 3.2.
Department Required Skills	Strong analytical skills and attention to detail. Ability to work independently and in a collaborative research environment. Ability to multitask and meet deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and solid interpersonal skills.
Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education	N/A
Required License or Certification	N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required?	No
Commercial Driver's License Required?	No

Recruitment Details

Anticipated Hiring Range	$15-18/hr DOQ

Recruitment Dates

Job Open Date	04/17/2025

Applicant Information

Quick Link

https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/217344

AA/EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process, please call 919-515-3148.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. If highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree equivalency verified at www.wes.org or equivalent service. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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