Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL)
Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
Carl McCalla, Sr.
Student Career Experience Program Coordinator
carl.mccalla@noaa.gov
www.weather.gov/mdl/coop/coop.php
Table of Contents
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Program Description
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What Students Will Do
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MDL Projects
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Application Requirements
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The Hiring Process
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The Successful SCEP Candidate
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Working At MDL
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Student Benefits
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FAQ
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Helpful URLs
Program Description
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Alternate full-time employment and study
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The appointment is for at least 12 months
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Students typically start off working full-time for 6 consecutive months
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Students may work during class breaks
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Students may work part-time while attending school
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Students may attend school full-time while on LWOP
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Students must complete the SCEP either concurrent with or before their graduation
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Postponement of graduation may be required
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Program Description
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Work on MDL project(s) related to major
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Meteorology
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Computer Science
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Information Technology
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Mathematics
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Statistics
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Physics
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Oceanography
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Program Description
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Gain valuable work experience
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MDL has 5 branches and more than 50 staff
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MDL has nearly 20 different projects underway
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What Students Will Do
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Work alongside experts
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Develop and test software
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Gain knowledge related to latest forecasting, verification, and product generation techniques
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MDL Projects
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Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP)
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Fog Monitor
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Four Dimensional Storm Investigator (FSI)
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General User Alert Display Panel (GUARDIAN)
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Local Storm Report Application (LSR)
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System for Convection Analysis and Nowcasting (SCAN)
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System on AWIPS for Forecasting and Evaluation of Seas and Lakes (SAFESEAS)
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MDL Projects
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AWIPS Verification Program
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Storm Surge and Coastal Wave Applications
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Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH)
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Extra-tropical storm surges
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Coastal waves
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MDL Projects
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Prediction Branch
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National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD)
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Local AWIPS Model Output Statistics Program (LAMP)
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MDL Projects
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Aviation Forecast Preparation System (AvnFPS)
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Central Product Generation
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Forecast Uncertainty
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XML Services
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MDL Projects
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Model Output Statistics (MOS)
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Gridded MOS
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Application Requirements
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Applicant
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Is pursing a college degree relevant to MDL projects
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Is committed to at least 12 months of employment
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Has a GPA of 2.0 overall and 2.5 in his/her major
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Is a United States citizen
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The Hiring Process
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MDL accepts SCEP applications throughout the year
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Interviews usually take place in mid-Sept and mid-Feb
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HRMO makes all SCEP job offers
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Job offers typically occur in December and April
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Students usually begin work in January and May
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Recruitment may occur to fill unanticipated vacancies
The Successful SCEP Candidate
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Has excellent grades
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Knows C/C++, FORTRAN, PERL, Python, etc.
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Has experience in software development
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Class project(s)
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Summer job(s)
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Is interested in a career with the NWS
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Likes working with computer software
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Knows where they want to fit into MDL
Working At MDL
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NWSH is located in Silver Spring, MD
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18 story office building
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Cubicle offices
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MDL is on the 10th & 11th floors of NWSH
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D.C. Metro & MARC rail are adjacent to NWSH
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Current commuter transportation subsidy is up to $110/month
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Limited assistance is available for locating housing
Student Benefits
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Gain full-time professional work experience
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Consolidate career decisions
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Earn GS-4/GS-9 salary
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Exploit promotion potential
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Work 120-days following graduation, if MDL agrees
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Convert to career conditional, if MDL endorses
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Earn sick and annual leave
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Become eligible for retirement benefits
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Receive travel expenses between school & workplace
FAQ
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Eligibility Requirements
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Q. How many times can a student be appointed to the SCEP?
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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.
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FAQ
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Eligibility Requirements
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Q. Must students be U.S. citizens at the time they are appointed?
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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.
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FAQ
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Appointment Type
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Q. Can a student appointed to the SCEP remain on the appointment once they have completed their educational requirements?
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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 for graduation. At the end of the 120-days, if the graduate has not been converted to a career conditional position in the competitive service, then he/she must be separated.
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FAQ
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Classification/Pay Tenure
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Q. Do students get within-grade increases?
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A. Yes. Students in the SCEP are eligible for within-grade increases.
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Q. Can students be promoted?
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A. Yes, SCEP students may be promoted.
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FAQ
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Student Schedules
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Q. Must students work or attend school during the summer?
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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.
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FAQ
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Conversion – SCEP
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Q. When does the 120-Day conversion window begin … upon completion of course requirements for graduation or on “graduation ceremony day”?
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A. Upon satisfactory completion of course requirements for graduation.
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FAQ
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Conversion – SCEP
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Q. Can a student work any of the required 640 hours necessary for conversion, after he/she completes his/her educational requirements?
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A. The required work experience must be gained prior to or concurrent with the completion of the student’s educational requirements for graduation.
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FAQ
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Conversion – SCEP
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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?
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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.
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Helpful URLs
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www.weather.gov/mdl/coop/coop.php
Carl McCalla, Sr., W/OST24
1325 East-West Highway
SSMC2, Room 10364
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Phone: (301) 713-1065 x169
Fax: (301) 713-9316