Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute

Information for Prospective Graduate Student Fellows

Program Overview

The Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute (WPI-SI) is a partnership between CUAHSI and the University of Alabama that engages the academic community in research to advance water prediction and flood forecasting. This program supports workforce development in water prediction. Graduate student Fellows work in teams with peers from across the country on research projects that advance the field, and build skills and professional networks along the way.

Projects are generally self-contained, though they may overlap with a student’s own research. Each team completes a final report and capstone presentation, and most teams have published their work in a scientific journal.

The 2027 Summer Institute will take place June 7 through July 21, 2027.

What Fellows Gain

Professional connections: relationships with peers, Theme Leaders, and experts from universities, federal agencies, and industry, including NOAA National Weather Service Office of Water Prediction staff, plus a lasting alumni network.
Broader research perspective: a team-based project outside your usual research area, and new ideas and approaches to carry into your own research.
Technical skills: hands-on training in areas such as the NextGen modeling framework, flood inundation mapping, hydroinformatics, Python and cloud-based data workflows, machine learning, and reproducible research practices (Git/GitHub, FAIR data principles).
Professional skills: planning and managing projects, working in collaborative teams, using AI tools responsibly, and presenting results.
Career exposure: insight into operational and federal water careers.
Research outcomes: a completed project documented in a published final report, with the opportunity to develop it into a peer-reviewed manuscript or conference presentation.

Proposed Themes for the 2027 Summer Institute:

Research projects completed by Fellows over the course of the program will relate to the following Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) Research Themes:

Advancing the Next Generation National Hydrologic Modeling
Advancing Risk Communication and Public Engagement in Hydrologic Hazards
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Applications in Hydrological Predictions
Developing Novel Hydroinformatics Tools, Services, and Datasets to Support Operational Frameworks
Innovations in Flood Inundation Mapping for Operational Forecasting

Eligibility

Current and incoming M.S. and Ph.D. students enrolled in U.S. institutions. We seek Fellows from a wide range of institutions.
Priority may be given to U.S. citizens and permanent residents for a subset of spots because this is a federally funded program that supports workforce development in water prediction in the U.S. All students affiliated with U.S. institutions are eligible.
Students selected to participate must stay onsite in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the program.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for foreign national students:
F-1 and other international students must have appropriate work authorization to participate in the program. Some foreign national students require Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization to participate in the Summer Institute. CPT is arranged through your home institution and must be approved before you arrive on campus. Foreign national students on F-1 visa status should consult with their home institution’s international student office as early as possible to find out whether CPT applies to you and how long approval takes. Timelines vary, so it is recommended to begin this conversation with your institution before the application deadline. If required by your home institution, CPT paperwork must be completed prior to your arrival on campus. Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they are in compliance with all visa and work authorization requirements that apply to their participation in the Summer Institute.

Expectations for Participation

Commitment: The Summer Institute is an intensive, seven-week residential program. Active participation is expected of all student Fellows, and Fellows must attend onsite in Tuscaloosa, AL for the entire program June 7 - July 21, 2027 including presenting at the Capstone event. The expected commitment is 40 hours per week working on WPI-SI-related projects during the program dates. We understand that occasional brief absences may be necessary, and these must be discussed with and approved by project leadership in advance. During the program, each project group will create a project plan and will present on their progress during weekly report-out meetings. The program will culminate in a written report and a formal capstone presentation on July 21, 2027.
Pre-Work: Asynchronous pre-work will be assigned prior to your arrival at the Summer Institute. This may include an introduction to Git or other tutorials and participation in pre-program webinars.
Training Bootcamp: The first two weeks of the program will consist of a "training bootcamp" where students receive instruction on essential skills and project-related information to prepare for their work, as well as team formation activities. Sessions will run from approximately 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM CT, and full participation is required.
Project Work: Most project work is done in small groups organized under the guidance of the Theme Leaders. While every effort is made to accommodate each student’s theme interests and team preferences, we also need to ensure a balanced team composition and that each participant's skills align with the project's needs. Although there may be some overlap between a Summer Institute project and an individual student's academic research, Summer Institute projects generally are self-contained. Project topics are developed collaboratively with the student research teams.
Policies: All participants must comply with CUAHSI's Code of Conduct. Fellows are expected to abide by the WPI-SI Authorship Agreement, which provides guidance for how products resulting from collaborative project work during the WPI-SI will be acknowledged.
Security Clearance: Final approval for participation in the program is contingent upon the successful completion and approval of the required security clearance process by The University of Alabama.
Insurance and equipment: Neither CUAHSI nor the University of Alabama provides medical insurance, so Fellows are responsible for their own. Students are expected to bring their own laptop, or work with organizers to secure a loaner.

Travel Support

Fellows who travel to participate in the Summer Institute will receive:

Reimbursement for approved round-trip travel expenses for traveling to and from the program.
Dorm-style lodging at the University of Alabama with individual bedrooms and a shared living suite.
Anticipated opportunities for conference travel support to present your Summer Institute work at a conference such as AGU.

Additional financial resources will be provided, subject to evolving federal regulations.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: January 12, 2027

The application process has two phases: (1) submitting the application form and required materials, and (2) a brief virtual interview for shortlisted applicants.

Phase 1: Application Form and Materials
You can save and return to your application before submitting. All applications must be submitted by the deadline. A complete application includes:

Application form with a few longer written answers.
CV (one to two pages) covering your education, experience, and current research focus.
Unofficial transcript.
Letter of endorsement from your faculty advisor. The letter should endorse the student's participation in the Summer Institute, explain why the student is qualified to participate in the SI, and describe how the experience will benefit the student. The letter should be signed by the student's advisor and uploaded as a PDF file, or advisors may also submit the letter of endorsement directly.

Phase 2: Virtual Interview
Shortlisted applicants will be invited via email to a brief virtual interview (about 10 minutes). Interviews will take place mid January to early February.

What we look for
Student Fellow applications are evaluated on academic background, skills, training, and experience, including work in a collaborative environment. The ideal participant is committed to advancing water prediction, collaborative, curious, and a rapid learner.

A successful applicant will demonstrate:

Experience conducting scientific research, especially on a topic relevant to the Summer Institute themes.
A strong desire to advance water prediction.
Baseline technical skills relevant to water prediction, such as coding, GitHub, Docker, GIS and geospatial analysis, models (hydrologic, hydraulic, coastal, groundwater, statistical), or AI/machine learning in hydrology.
The ability to work with teammates in a fast-paced environment on complex tasks.
Enthusiasm for collaborative science with peers across institutions.
Openness to new skills that broaden their research scope beyond their current focus.

We are committed to a collaborative and inclusive Summer Institute. We believe a diverse and inclusive community is essential for promoting innovation, equity, and excellence in the water sciences and related fields. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences, and strongly encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply.

Questions

For questions about the program or application process, contact Julia Masterman at email hidden; JavaScript is required.