The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has multiple programs to support undergraduate research. Students apply for most programs through a central application site, the One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI), where they can search for opportunities by location, internship dates, major, and/or keywords. After registering, students fill out one application. The list of programs that the OSSI site covers is here. Students do not specify a specific internship program when they submit an application. The NASA Education community will determine which internship programs you are eligible for according to the information you provide in your application. Students identify specific opportunities of interest, but not specific internship programs.
OSSI does not yet include all NASA student internships. If you are interested in working at a specific site, be sure the check the site's education webpage for internship opportunities. If you need to apply for the position through OSSI, you will be directed there. Other sources for NASA internships not listed on OSSI include:
- Pathways for Students and Recent Graduates to Federal Careers site. Students apply at USAJobs.
- List of All Student Grades K-12 and Higher Education Projects
- NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research
- Exploration Science Summer Intern Program
- Applied Science DEVELOP Program
The closest NASA facility to UCSC is the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field. Examples of opportunities available listed on OSSI include internships in robotics, planetary system science, nanotechnology, and stability of pharmaceuticals in space flight.
NASA Ames is also a site for the Applied Sciences’ DEVELOP Program, through SSAI, sponsors paid internships. Graduates, undergraduates, and recent graduates work on Earth science research projects that extend research results to local communities. See the site for more information.
NASA Ames partners with UCSC to offer an an additional opportunity for undergraduate research. The University Affiliate Research Center (UARC) sponsors the the Systems Teaching Institute. Find the database entry here. The STI provides for educational interaction among university faculty, students and Ames researchers, and work to develop future human resources in technology and science in those areas of particular importance to the NASA Ames mission.
Keywords: NASA; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; internship; one stop shopping initiative; robotics; astronomy; space; nanotechnology; science; engineering; Ames; Pathways; summer; intern; stipend; OSSI; technology; engineering, astrophysics
Basic Eligibility:
U.S. Citizen (either by birth or naturalization) is required in order to apply in OSSI to be a NASA intern or fellow. If selected, you will be asked to provide proof of citizenship before the internship or fellowship begins.
A Permanent Resident Alien (PRA) or Legal Resident are not considered U.S. citizens and are not eligible for NASA student opportunities available through OSSI.
Pre-college applicants must be at least 16 years of age (at time of application) and a current high school sophomore, junior, or senior. Please note that if a student completes an academic level in the spring, they will be considered the next level for summer sessions (i.e. a high school senior that graduates in the spring would be considered a freshman for a summer opportunity).
At the time the opportunity begins, undergraduate and graduate students must be accepted/enrolled full-time in an accredited U.S. college or university. Please note that high school seniors are considered freshmen when applying for internships. Before beginning an internship, a high school senior must have been accepted to an accredited U.S. college or university with plans on attending full-time.
Grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0. Please note if your college or university does not use GPA, you will need to explain the grading method in the application.