Resources

Cafeterias – There are three cafeterias at JPL, located in buildings 167, 190 and 303 that serve drinks, breakfast (short-order breakfast items, yogurt and oatmeal, pastries) lunch (short-order lunch items, Mexican food, sandwiches, pizza, soup and salads) and snacks. Meal times include:

• Breakfast: 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Morning break: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Lunch: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Afternoon break: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For a list of specials and weekly offerings, visit Eurest's website.

Coffee – Drip coffee is available in Cafe 167 and 303. Speciality drinks are also available in Cafe 167. Espresso drinks are available from the Lavazza self-service machines at Cafe 190 and outside the JPL Store.

Snacks and Self-Service – Cafe 190 and The JPL Market in Building 114 are self-served and open 24/7. Selections include snacks, vending machines, and pre-prepared food.

The JPL Ethics Office assures that JPL employees, contractors, students and fellows conduct business lawfully and to high ethical standards. It provides resources, consulting and reporting services in areas including:

• Conflicts of interest
• Use of JPL and sponsor resources
• Gifts and gratuities
• Special invitations and honorariums
• Outside employment, consulting and other activities
• Commercial and political endorsements
• Ethics in research
• Integrity of information
• Fraud

For more information or guidance about JPL ethics, call the Ethics Office at (818) 354-6338 or request an ethics handbook from the Education Office or Human Resources.

These websites offer recommendations about fun things to do in and around Los Angeles. Note: JPL does not endorse these websites.

• Time Out: Los Angeles
• Eventbrite
• Trip Advisor: Things to Do in Los Angeles

JPL interns who are over 18 are eligible for a summer membership at the Caltech gym. (Caltech is not able to offer this membership to JPL faculty programs, only JPL student and Caltech SFP programs.)

Membership is $75 and may be purchased from May 1 to July 31, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the front desk of Caltech's Braun Athletic Center. Note that all memberships are valid from May 1 to October 1 and will not be prorated.

Membership includes full access to the Braun Athletic Center, equipment, and classes.

Note: The JPL gym is not available to students.

All visitors to the Lab must be escorted by a JPL employee with a PIV badge. If you plan to bring visitors to the lab, such as family and friends, then you must also arrange to have a JPL employee with a PIV badge serve as the primary escort. Note: Foreign nationals cannot host visitors without a JPL employee present for the entirety of the visit. The JPL employee must also have completed FN Escort Training.

Coordinate visits with your mentor or group supervisor at least one or two weeks in advance. They must submit and approve a visitor request on your behalf.

All members of the JPL community have the right to be treated, and the responsibility to treat others, with dignity and respect. These principles are fundamental to the educational and intellectual mission of JPL.

It is the policy of JPL to provide a work and academic environment free of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation. JPL will not tolerate such conduct and is committed to educating the community in ways to prevent its occurrence.

You are encouraged to report sexual harassment and violence to the Title IX Office, the annonymous report line at (888) 395-8787, or to Human Resources, any supervisor or manager, or the Office of Protective Services.

See JPL's Policies & Forms page for more information.

Learn about housing options for JPL interns and fellows, explore local listings and get information on finding a roommate in the "Get Started" section of this website.

• On-Lab Bus Service – An on-lab bus service runs every 7-10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bus travels clockwise around the laboratory starting at the south parking structure. Buses will run later in the event of heavy wind or rain to accommodate employees until necessary. See the interactive map* on JPL Space for the bus route and bus-stop locations.
• Assisted Bus Service (ABS) – A bus service with accessible bus stops and loading ramp capabilities is available between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. See the interactive map* on JPL Space for the ABS bus route and bus-stop locations. Individuals located in buildings along Pioneer Road, may request service by calling fleet dispatch at (818) 354-5003.

• The JPL Store sells clothing, souvenirs, posters and kids toys as well as stamps, cards and office supplies. It is located in building 114-104 and online at https://thejplstore.com/. An additional, smaller storefront can be found in the Visitor's Center.

JPL has its own library, known as The Hub, located in building 111 and online. There you can find books, ebooks and journals in such areas as astronomy and physics, math, computer science, and engineering.

The Hub includes both the Library services desk and the ITSD 4-HELP desk (for device pickup, etc). Visit Tech Cafe: 4HELP @ the Hub for more information on the ITSD Help Desk.

The Hub is a collaborative work space with areas for open and private meetings, space for small to medium-sized events, quiet study spaces, as well as a makerspace with 3D printers and HoloLenses for use. Events and activities promoting cross-functional collaborations are highly encouraged. All events and activities conducted at the Hub should be related to JPL work.

The Hub is open 24/7 with badge required for access Monday through Friday before 7:30 a.m. and after 5:15 p.m.

For business mail, ask your mentor or group supervisor about the mail stop number for your office and the location of the in/out boxes where you can drop off and pick up mail. When sending mail internally, address it using the building number followed by the mail stop/pickup location number (for example, 180-109). Mail stop codes are required for delivery of internal mail and can be found on JPL Space*.

For personal mail, use the green mailboxes found around the laboratory. (Note: All other JPL mail services are for business use only. Do not use JPL's address, letterhead, stationery or official envelopes for personal mail.)

The area code for JPL is 818. "On-Lab" (Oak Grove facility) numbers have prefixes of 354 or 393. To make internal calls from a JPL landline phone, dial the five-digit extension number, which begins with a 3 or 4. To make a call from a JPL landline phone to a number outside of JPL, dial 9, then the number. A directory of contacts at the lab can be found on JPL Space*.

Telephones, like computers and other JPL (government) resources, may be used for personal use on an "occasional and reasonable" basis.

The laboratory and its various offices and buildings are spread out over more than 170 acres, so don't be surprised if it takes you a couple weeks to get your bearings. And don't rely on the building numbers to guide you; buildings at JPL were numbered in the order that they were built, which makes things more than a little confusing for those who are new to the lab.

The good news is that you will receive a map of key locations in your pre-arrival packet of information from Education Office. (Check with the Education Office or Human Resources if you do not receive a map and would like one.) You can also find an online interactive map of buildings, parking lots, and shuttle and bus routes* on JPL Space.

Inclusion is a JPL core value, and fostering a diverse and equitable work environment is mission-critical for the Lab. Just as we are fearless in doing the impossible, we must also be fearless in taking action, respecting our employees' experiences, creating an inclusive environment where differing perspectives are valued and respected, and being a catalyst for positive change.

The Office of Inclusion (OOI) develops, implements, evaluates, and informs the matrix of activities and efforts that involve Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) at JPL. Examples of this work include:

• Developing and implementing a DEIA strategic plan for the Lab.
• Driving mechanisms and partnerships to cultivate the growth an inclusive, welcoming environment for all employees and the communities with which we engage.
• Collaborating with the Communities of Inclusion to ensure issues affecting marginalized communities are heard by senior leadership.
• Working with HR, senior leadership, managers, and other stakeholders to ensure our business practices are equitable and inclusive.
• Partnering with NASA and Caltech to help ensure DEIA efforts are aligned with both NASA and Caltech’s goals.

For more information, visit the Office of Inclusion website.

The Ombuds Program offers a confidential, neutral, informal, and independent place to discuss and clarify concerns, identify options, and discover problem-solving strategies to constructively navigate and overcome differences.

For more information, visit the Ombuds Program website. To schedule an appointment, call or text the Ombuds line at (626) 437-1990.

Events, tours and talks for students and faculty are scheduled throughout the year and can be found on the student calendar. During the summer, when we host the largest number of students and faculty at the lab, the event calendar is also packed with activities, including:

• Summer Kick-Off Social
• Career Fair
• Student Poster Day
• Professional Development Workshops
• Summer Speaker Series
• Summer Movies at the Hub
• Lab Tours
• Aerospace Summer Games
• End of Summer Social/Mentor Appreciation

Check the student calendar for details on these annual summer events

Public, group and educational tours are available through the JPL Public Services Office. Tour reservations can be made on the JPL public website.

Explore a number of transportation options, including carpooling, vanpooling and bicycling in the "Get Started" section of this website.

Chances are you'll be hearing a lot of acronyms thrown about in meetings and around lab. In fact, you've probably already been asked about the name (meaning acronym) of the program that brought you to JPL (SIP, MSP, APX). If you want to look up any of the myriad JPL acronyms, check out the acronym dictionary on JPL Space*.

Mobile apps for internal use on JPL-issued devices are available on the Internal Mobile App Store page*.

A list of public JPL apps and links to download them are available at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/apps/.

Even current interns will find plenty of useful advice in this article covering everything you need to know about the world of JPL internships, the skills and experience hiring managers are looking for, and how to set yourself on the right trajectory even before you get to college.

It's also a great resources for friends and family interested in a future internship or career in STEM.

Free counseling and support services, including telephone and face-to-face counseling, financial and legal consultation, and assisted searches for services, are available to JPL interns and fellows from LifeMatters. Download the flier for contact information and to learn more.

We love capturing interns at work and having fun around lab, so don't be surprised if you see a photographer or two hanging about. You can find most of our photos and videos on the @NASAJPL_Edu and @NASAJPLCareers social media channels as well as on the Meet JPL Interns page.

We also love seeing your photos from your time at JPL. Tag @NASAJPL_Edu and @NASAJPLCareers on social media to share them with us. But, be sure to read JPL's policies about taking and sharing photos first.

Explore career opportunities at the laboratory for new grads and apply on the JPL Jobs page.

Learn about the history of JPL, from its beginnings in the mid-1930s through its current place as a leading NASA center for robotic exploration of the solar system.

Visit the JPL History & Archives page

JPL Space* is the internal website, or intranet, for JPL. It serves as the gateway to a number of online services and resources at the lab including Human Resources, IT, JPL Rules and an employee directory. It also features JPL news and events as well as maps and a classifieds page.

To access JPL Space, you must have access to the JPL network or be signed on to JPL WiFi (not the guest network). Note: Not all students and faculty will have access to the JPL network, so we have tried to make as many resources as possible available via this website. If there are resources you would like to see added to this page, please contact the Education Office.

• This video catalog (accessible only on the JPL network at https://jpltube.jpl.nasa.gov/*) features recordings of events and talks at JPL, an introduction to life and work at the lab, and lessons in technical software and processes.

The public JPL Education website features profiles of interns, fellows and their mentors. Read more on the Meet JPL Interns blog.

If you have an idea for a story or video, email your idea to the Education Office.

Get tips for writing an effective resume from JPL program coordinators.
› Download presentation (PDF)

JPL manages a number of social media accounts that share updates about and build communities around the lab's missions, news, events, activities and programs. Keep an eye on these channels to stay up to date on the latest happenings at JPL. You might even see yourself in a photo or two!

Facebook:

• NASA/JPL Edu
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Careers

Twitter:

• @NASAJPL_Edu
• @NASAJPL
• @NASAJPLCareers

Instagram:

• @NASAJPL_Edu
• @NASAJPL
• @NASAJPLCareers

YouTube:

• NASAJPL Edu
• JPL News

LinkedIn: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

› All JPL social media channels

› All NASA social media channels

Students and fellows are encouraged to join the online conversation by sharing personal photos and stories about their time at JPL, however, be sure to read JPL's policies regarding social media before posting anything online! Failure to follow JPL's social media policies could result in disciplinary action. If you have questions or ideas regarding social media, contact the Education Office.

The Office of Information Technology Solutions Directorate (ITSD) provides IT applications and services for the laboratory. IT services include:

• Network service
• Remote access service
• Hardware
• Software
• Telecommunications
• Email and Calendar
• Chat services
• NearSpace storage
• Networking and collaboration tools

Technical support is available 24/7 online at jplit.jpl.nasa.gov/4help* and at (818) 354-HELP. In-person technical support is available at the Hub Tech Cafe (Building 111).

Visit the JPL IT website* (available via the JPL network) for more information about IT services.

A monthly newspaper featuring institutional news, profiles and events is available online at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/. Sign up to receive email notifications when the latest issue is released.

Think of this as your digital yearbook. Share your favorite moments and photos from your time at JPL, stories of inspiration and mentor appreciation. Visit the Universe of Inspiration page and click "Share your story." Note: Posts are moderated.

One of JPL's quests is to share the work we do with the public through outreach and education and inspire the next generation of explorers. To that end, JPL hosts a number of public websites that feature news, videos, interactives, and educational resources, activities and programs. Exploring these websites can help you get a window into all of JPL's activities.

• JPL Education
• JPL News
• Asteroid Watch
• Exoplanets
• Global Climate Change
• Mars Exploration
• Science and Technology
• NASA Eyes
• Cassini Mission to Saturn
• Dawn Mission
• Juno Mission to Jupiter
• Spitzer Space Telescope

If your project involves developing a website, app or other online product, whether for public outreach purposes or the internal JPL community, please contact the Digital News and Media Office (1820) for guidelines, best practices and other resources.