For Students Already In the Track
The classroom is half of this program. The other half happens through the AMS student chapter, storm-chasing field work, and time spent around NWS Louisville. Here's how to plug into all of it.
Student Organization
UofL's chapter of the American Meteorological Society was formally chartered in 2015 and is open to atmospheric-science majors and non-majors alike.
...WHAT THE CHAPTER DOES...
Skywarn spotter training, guest talks from working meteorologists, trips to the AMS Annual Meeting and regional conferences, and a standing invitation to storm chase. The chapter also runs joint events with WKU's AMS/NWA chapter, including a joint gathering hosted at WAVE3's studios with Chief Meteorologist Kevin Harned.
...WHY IT MATTERS...
Almost everything that separates a strong NWS or broadcast application from an average one — conference presentations, spotter certifications, a real severe-weather season under your belt — comes from chapter activity, not coursework alone.
...HOW TO JOIN...
The chapter is listed in the university's student organization directory under Engage. New members are welcome at any point in the year; watch for announcements in your ENVS/GEOG meteorology courses.
Field Experience
A permission-of-instructor field course that takes students storm-chasing across the Great Plains to observe deep convective storms firsthand, with possible stops at the National Weather Center (Norman, OK) or NCAR (Boulder, CO). See the degree page for prerequisites.
A competitive but real opportunity to work inside the Louisville Weather Forecast Office — shadow forecasters, train on the Weather Event Simulator (practice issuing real warnings), assist during severe weather operations, and take on an independent research project you present to the office staff. Some students may earn course credit for their hours.
NWS Louisville regularly hosts NOAA Hollings Scholars and Pathways students for 9-week summer research placements, working a real project alongside forecast staff and presenting findings at the end of the summer. Talk to your advisor early — these are competitive, national-pool opportunities with application deadlines well before summer.
Staying On Track
Undergraduate research is normal in this program, not exceptional — see the faculty research page for what Dr. Naylor and Dr. Gunter's labs are currently working on, and ask directly about openings.