Internships for planetary science students
Enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student and interested in planetary science? Please find a non-exhaustive list of internship opportunities:
For both undergraduate and graduate students:
JACOBS internship
Jacobs JETS offers graduate students and exceptional undergraduates opportunities to conduct research in planetary science fields. Unlike the engineering side of the contract, nearly all of our internships are semester based, with limited to no availability during the summer. Students may return for multiple semesters. In addition to the Jacobs minimum requirements, our students must have some demonstrated laboratory experience. On-site internships are available for all US citizens, but internships at UNLV are possible for all students whose advisors are working collaboratively with NASA or JETS Contract employees. For more information contact lisa.r.danielson@nasa.gov.
NASA Internships and Fellowships at Johnson Space Center
“The Johnson Space Center’s Office of Education provides internship, fellowship and scholarship opportunities to high school, undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States.”
NASA’s One Stop Shop Initiative
“OSSI is a NASA-wide system for the recruitment, application, selection and career development of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Opportunities for students in other disciplines are available.” This website is a comprehensive database that includes all internships at all NASA stations that do not fall within the umbrella of a larger internship program. This includes a wide variety of subjects with different experience needs.
John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) College Summer Internships
“APL offers science and engineering internships each summer. The Laboratory’s internship program provides practical work experience and an introduction to APL. Students spend the summer working with APL scientists and engineers, conducting research, developing leadership skills, and growing professionally. This past summer, more than 350 interns from 120 colleges and universities worked at APL. These interns ranged from freshmen to Ph.D. level, worked on projects across the Laboratory in every technical department, and had the opportunity to network throughout the summer at receptions, social events, seminars, and workshops.”
Here is the link for NASA APL program: http://www.jhuapl.edu/NASAIntern/
LPI Lunar exploration summer intern program
“NASA and its partners in academia, industry, and the international community are examining options for a new era of robotic and potentially human exploration of the lunar surface. That effort began when the agency asked the National Research Council (NRC) to develop a set of science priorities for this lunar exploration initiative. To help integrate those science priorities with NASA’s exploration program, the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) has been hosting a special summer intern program to evaluate possible landing sites for robotic and human exploration missions. This program is open to graduate students in geology, planetary science, and related programs. It is also open to undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours of credit in those fields so that they, too, can participate in lunar exploration activities.”
NASA Pathways Intern Employment Program (IEP)
The NASA Pathways Intern Employment Program (IEP) is open to current students and individuals accepted for enrollment in qualifying educational programs. The IEP provides opportunities to work and explore careers while still in school. Intern appointments may be for indefinite periods without not-to-exceed (NTE) dates or appointments with NTE dates of up to one year. If you successfully complete an Intern appointment without an NTE date at NASA, you may be converted to permanent employment or term employment of up to six years.
JPL Summer Internship Program
“The JPL Summer Internship Program offers 10-week, full-time, summer internship opportunities at JPL to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. As part of their internships, students are partnered with JPL scientists or engineers, who serve as the students’ mentors. Students complete designated projects outlined by their mentors, gaining educational experience in their fields of study while also contributing to NASA and JPL missions and science. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of enrichment activities, including tours, lectures and career advisement, arranged by the JPL Education Office.” Look at also Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) Program: (http://sfp.caltech.edu/programs/surf)
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Summer internships
“Our structured summer internship program provides firsthand experience working in a museum. It’s a great introduction to museum work or an opportunity to expand on previous experience. During the 10-week program, each intern is assigned a supervisor and works on an internship project and other tasks. In addition to their projects, interns also frequently meet as a group for presentations, professional development opportunities, enrichment activities, and tours.”
For undergraduate students:
List of Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in planetary science. Choose the particular field of interest in this link.
LPI Summer Intern Program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston
“The Lunar and Planetary Institute invites undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours of credit to experience cutting-edge research in the lunar and planetary sciences. As a Summer Intern, you will work one-on-one with a scientist at the LPI or at the NASA Johnson Space Center on a research project of current interest in lunar and planetary science. You will participate in peer-reviewed research, learn from top-notch planetary scientists, and preview various careers in science.”
NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program
“The NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program, or PGGURP, is an eight-week summer internship providing undergraduates majoring in geology and related sciences with an opportunity to participate in NASA planetary geosciences research.”
Smithsonian Institution Natural History Research Experience (NHRE)
“The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), located in Washington, D.C. hosts a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site for 10 weeks each summer, funded through NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences. The REU program will support 16-18 students each summer for 10 weeks, during which students will conduct independent research and participate in a variety of professional development workshops. Students will be provided a stipend and will be housed in dorms on the nearby George Washington University campus.”
SETI Institute Ames REU: Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates
“The SETI Institute (www.seti.org), a non-profit private scientific research institution located in California’s Silicon Valley, invites students to apply for a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates program for highly motivated students interested in astrobiology research. Students will work with scientists at the SETI Institute and at the nearby NASA Ames Research Center on projects spanning the field of astrobiology from microbiology to observational astronomy.” The program also includes field trip.
Brooke Owens fellowship program
Paid internships and executive mentorship for undergraduate women in aerospace. “The Brooke Owens Fellowship Program is designed to serve both as an inspiration and as a career boost to capable young women who, like Brooke, aspire to explore our sky and stars, to shake up the aerospace industry, and to help their fellow men and women here on planet Earth. We do this by matching thirty-six extraordinary women per year with purpose-driven, paid internships at leading aviation and space companies and organizations and with senior and executive level mentors.”
For graduate students:
NASA MUREP Aeronautics Scholarship and Advanced STEM Training and Research Fellowship
“The NASA Office of Education MUREP Aeronautics Scholarship and Advanced STEM Training and Research Fellowship, or AS&ASTAR, provides fellowship awards for individuals pursuing or planning to pursue graduate studies leading to Masters and Doctoral degrees in relevant NASA-related disciplines at accredited U.S. universities. This funding opportunity is open to students pursuing advanced degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, specifically in areas of projected deficiencies in the NASA STEM workforce. AS&ASTAR students perform graduate student research at their respective campuses during the academic year under the guidance of their University Faculty Research Advisor, who serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) on the award. In addition to his or her faculty advisor, each student will be paired with a NASA researcher (based upon the research opportunity for which the student submits a proposal), who will serve as the student’s NASA Center Technical Advisor.”
For undergraduate, graduate students, and postgraduates:
NASA DEVELOP program
“DEVELOP, part of NASA’s Applied Sciences Program, addresses environmental and public policy issues through interdisciplinary research projects that apply the lens of NASA Earth observations to community concerns around the globe.” This program is Earth and environmentally-focused. Interested in remote sensing analyses? This internship is for you.