Student Positions

If you are enrolled or planning to enroll in FWS at FSU for the 2026-27 academic year and are interested in scientific computing using meteorological and oceanographic datasets, you can obtain real-world experience to build your resumé or graduate school application credentials at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS). COAPS is a world-class, off-campus research laboratory in Innovation Park and has an opening for an FWS-eligible undergraduate student. The job entails using and modifying existing software, as well as writing new software, to process, extract, and transform datasets as well as producing analysis-oriented visualizations and derived datasets in well-structured, interoperable data formats. This work will be conducted as part of a team of undergraduate, graduate, and professional researchers and will support ongoing and future research at COAPS. Duties include [1] reviewing/testing/modifying existing software code and workflows (primarily Python, but may also include Fortran, C/C++, Perl, IDL, and/or MATLAB), [2] writing and testing new software code, [3] documenting and maintaining version control on new/modified software code, [4] developing new graphical visualizations for data analysis, and [5] transforming data to a well-structured, value added datasets. This position will provide the motivated undergraduate with an opportunity to develop and expand his or her computer science skills while supporting an operational research and development center.

Qualifications

Candidates should be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in meteorology, oceanography, computer science, information technology, scientific computing, computer engineering, or a related field and have a strong interest in data processing, transformation, and visualization. The successful candidate will have strong teamwork skills and a working knowledge of Python or another common object-oriented programming language (e.g., C/C++). Experience with developing & testing data-centric software code, an interest in structured data formats, and the desire to acquire new scientific programming skills are essential. Familiarity with Bitbucket, GitHub, C/C++, Fortran, IDL, MATLAB, netCDF, and/or SQL is a plus. Other bonus skills include a working knowledge of common application programming interface (API) types, such as REST, SOAP, and GraphQL. Familiarity with Linux/Bash shell scripting, open-source software development, software repository management, and/or technical manuscript writing is a plus, but not required.

Candidates must be able to work on-site (with occasional remote work), within a team environment, and meet deadlines established by their supervisors. The selected undergraduate student is not expected to come into the position with all the skills listed here, but at minimum we expect a strong willingness, desire, and ability to demonstrate learning new scientific programming skills under the direction of their supervisors and/or mentors. The supervisors will be full time faculty research staff and the mentors will be either full time IT staff or advanced undergraduate students working on-site at our lab.

The position will be filled for fall semester 2026 (~10 hrs/wk depending on the candidate’s FWS funds). The applicant must be able to work a regular schedule between 8 am and 5 pm (M-F) at our facility in Innovation Park. City and FSU bus services to/from campus are available.

Contact

Interested applicants should email their resume, unofficial transcripts, and contact details for three references to Mr. David Moroni (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Mr. David Moroni
Associate in Research, Marine Data Center
Center for Ocean Atmospheric Prediction Studies
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2741
Ph: (850) 644-2556
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

COAPS/FSU is seeking applications from prospective graduate students with strong computational science backgrounds for studies in physical oceanography and ocean modeling. Students with either B.S or M.S degrees may apply. Applications from students from computationally intensive fields, such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Meteorology, and Engineering are particularly encouraged.

Students will pursue M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in physical oceanography from the FSU Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences while conducting innovative research in ocean modeling and forecasting at COAPS in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. This unique opportunity provides students with course instruction from top faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities, and mentorship from some of the world’s foremost ocean modelers and forecasters. Though scientific computing and modeling will be central to the research program, students will have opportunities to gain experience in traditional oceanographic research methods through cruises, in situ and satellite data analysis, and laboratory methods.

Students will receive financial support covering tuition, annual stipend, health insurance subsidy, and funds to cover travel to work with scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory. As this opportunity involves access to U.S. Department of Defense facilities, applicants should be U.S. Citizens.

For more information, please contact Dr. Eric Chassignet at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FSU is an Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action Employer.

COAPS periodically has technical and administrative staff openings that are posted on this webpage. Please also check the FSU Employment and Recruitment Services website.