Freelance Data Visualization Intern Jobs in Champaign, IL

Ameren is a leader in the energy industry, and our transformation toward more clean, renewable energy is also transforming other industries and infrastructure in our communities. As a regional company serving local customers, we not only serve our communities, we're a part of them. This isn't just a job. At Ameren, we invest in you, so you can power the quality of life you want.

Visit our Benefits & Perks Page for more information on benefits provided to regular, full-time employees.

About The Position

Ameren Illinois is seeking a motivated and curious Meteorology Intern to support the Crisis Management team. This internship provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience applying meteorological principles within the electric utility industry while learning how weather intelligence supports operational decision-making, emergency preparedness, and storm response.

Working alongside crisis management, emergency response, and utility operations professionals, the intern will assist with monitoring weather conditions, preparing weather briefings, analyzing forecast information, and supporting situational awareness activities. The intern will also gain experience with emerging technologies, including weather data visualization, business intelligence tools, and artificial intelligence applications used to support utility operations.

This position is designed to provide practical experience, professional development, and exposure to the intersection of meteorology, emergency management, and utility operations.

Key Responsibilities Include:

The Meteorology Intern will assist the Crisis Management team by:

• Monitoring daily weather forecasts, watches, warnings, advisories, and other weather products that may impact utility operations.
• Assisting with the preparation of daily weather briefings, storm outlooks, and situational awareness reports.
• Learning to analyze forecast models, radar imagery, and meteorological data to identify potential operational impacts.
• Supporting weather monitoring activities during severe weather and emergency events.
• Assisting with research related to historical weather events, storm trends, and post-event analyses.
• Supporting efforts to correlate weather information with operational and outage data.
• Assisting with the enhancement of weather intelligence capabilities within the Ameren Illinois Crisis Management Dashboard and Athena AI platform.
• Researching emerging weather technologies, forecasting tools, and decision-support resources used within the utility industry.
• Collaborating with team members across crisis management, emergency preparedness, operations, and business continuity functions.
• Participating in training, exercises, after-action reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Completing special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university in:

• Meteorology
• Atmospheric Science
• Climatology
• Geography
• Environmental Science
• Emergency Management
• Or a related discipline

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework in meteorology, atmospheric science, forecasting, climatology, or related fields.
• Basic understanding of weather forecasting principles and meteorological analysis.
• Familiarity with National Weather Service products, radar imagery, and forecast data.
• Interest in severe weather, emergency management, crisis management, utility operations, or disaster response.
• Experience through coursework, research projects, student organizations, or internships involving weather analysis or environmental sciences.
• Exposure to GIS, Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Python, or other analytical and visualization tools is a plus.

The Successful Candidate Will Demonstrate

• Strong interest in meteorology and weather-related decision support.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Eagerness to learn, adapt, and contribute in a dynamic environment.
• Attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement.

Additional Information

This is a full-time summer internship opportunity (40 hours per week) designed to provide meaningful, hands-on experience in meteorology, crisis management, and utility operations.

Preferred work locations include Peoria, Springfield, Pawnee, Champaign-Urbana, and other locations within Central Illinois. Hybrid work arrangements may be available based on business needs.

Throughout the internship, students will have the opportunity to:

• Gain real-world experience applying meteorological concepts in support of utility operations and emergency response.
• Work alongside crisis management, emergency preparedness, and utility operations professionals.
• Develop skills in weather analysis, forecasting, situational awareness, and decision support.
• Learn how weather intelligence supports storm restoration, operational preparedness, and customer reliability.
• Explore emerging technologies including weather data visualization, business intelligence tools, and artificial intelligence applications.
• Contribute to projects that enhance operational readiness and resilience across Ameren Illinois.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to experience the intersection of meteorology, emergency management, and critical infrastructure operations while building skills that can support future careers in weather forecasting, emergency management, utilities, or related fields.

Compensation:

We take into consideration a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skills, abilities, experience, education, credentials, and internal equity when determining the salary offered.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, military service or status, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other class, trait, or status protected by law.