Job Description Summary:

UCAR 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.

NSF 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.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Term - Casual (Fixed Term)

Compensation Min - Mid Range:

$23.41/hour (up to $936.40/week), untaxed

*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.

Application Notes

Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm MT on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Applications will not be accepted past this date, and candidates will receive a status update no later than Monday, March 16, 2026.

Register for our How to Apply to NSF SOARS Webinar on Thursday, November 13 at 2:00 pm MT

Required application materials - Uploaded/submitted within the application.

• Unofficial 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.

  • Transcripts with security encryptions/password restrictions WILL NOT be accepted.

  • DO NOT include High School transcripts.
     

• 2026 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.

    • Research - NSF SOARS Proteges spend eleven weeks conducting original research at the NSF NCAR or other NSF SOARS sponsors with world-renowned scientists. By the end of the summer, Proteges will prepare scientific papers and present their research. 

      • Describe your previous research or problem-solving experiences, and how the skills you gained will help you contribute meaningfully to your research project.

      • What 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?

    • Mentoring - NSF SOARS is a uni