Internships FAQ
Students gain the maximum value by participating in research experiences on Lab, which embeds them in cohorts of other students within JPL’s vibrant, multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. This also allows interns to participate in on-Lab activities, including tours, seminars and career development workshops, and in-person hiring considerations for graduating students.
A mentor may request a remote-only internship for a student if they have completed a 10 week on-Lab internship immediately prior to going remote.
Your participation in an internship is contingent on the following:
- Favorable review of your background investigation.
- Completion of badge enrollment and fingerprinting appointment at JPL or other NASA on start date.
- Continued availability of federal funding to support your position.
- Agreement to follow any safety protocol required by NASA or JPL.
- Continued student status and meeting programmatic requirements.
Internships and fellowships are offered by the JPL Education Office for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Internships and fellowships have a strong educational and research component, allowing students to gain valuable experience in their field of study. Students are paired with a mentor for a specific research or mission project and are required to do a final presentation to demonstrate what they’ve learned and how they have contributed to JPL research.
Student employment is offered by JPL Human Resources as an internship option for both non-STEM and STEM majors. Student employment focuses on giving students career experience at JPL and introducing them to the laboratory workforce and operations.
Note: While interns, fellows and student employees come to JPL through different channels and for different opportunities, the JPL student community is very much that: a community. The JPL Education Office and Human Resources work closely to ensure that all students have the same stellar experience at JPL, with opportunities to network, participate in tours, lectures and career advisement, and ready themselves for a bright future.
Application deadlines vary by program. Check the program page for details. For summer internships, we recommend submitting your application between October and February. Note: Applications stay active in our system for 8 months.
To qualify for an internship offered through the JPL Education Office, you must meet all program requirements (listed in the “Requirements” section of each program page), submit your application prior to the deadline, and/or for programs requiring nominations, connect with your campus’ faculty advisor(s). Note that meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee placement in an internship.
To qualify for internship opportunities offered by the JPL Education Office, applicants must be studying STEM fields and meet the requirements outlined on the program page. Desirable characteristics include aptitude in STEM fields, enthusiasm, motivation, focus, and commitment to complete a project.
Most students studying STEM fields and some related areas of design, including product and transporation design, qualify for JPL Education Office internship opportunities. Note: Additional internship opportunities for non-STEM majors can be found on the JPL jobs website.
Internship sessions vary by program. Most internships offered through the JPL Education Office require a minimum 10-week commitment. See the “Details” section of the program page for more information.
You are encouraged to apply to multiple programs. However, you should only apply to programs for which you meet the eligibility requirements. See the “Requirements” section of the program page for more information.
No. Program coordinators in the JPL Education Office will review your application and work directly with mentors to pair you with a specific internship opportunity. This system allows us to make the best match possible for both the student and the mentor.
Opportunities are available to foreign nationals on a limited basis through the JPL Visiting Student Research Program. See the program page for more information about how to qualify and apply.
Each year, the JPL Education Office determines if it will be possible to offer high school internships for the subsequent summer. Because these internships have not been adequately funded, JPL has been unable to offer an ‘open call’ for qualified applicants and has instead worked with strategic partners to offer a small number of internship opportunities. If at-large internships become available, JPL will post details and application information on the program page under the program name “JPL SpaceSHIP.” Interested high school students, age 16 and older, should check the page in the December/January timeframe for opportunities beginning in summer (typically mid-June). If JPL SpaceSHIP does not appear on the listing, then the Education Office is unable to offer at-large internships for the year.
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Yes. JPL Human Resources offers additional opportunities for STEM majors and some for non-STEM major, as well. See the JPL Jobs website for more information and to apply.
Yes. See the “Details” section of the program page for more information.
No. However, most programs come with a stipend. See the “Details” section of the program page for more information.
Participants in the Student Independent Research Internship, or SIRI, program have the option to receive course credit. None of JPL’s other internship programs offer course credit.
Some programs offer housing and/or travel allowances to eligible students residing outside the 50-mile radius of JPL. See the “Details” section of the program page for more information.
If you have been selected for an internship offered by the JPL Education Office, you will be notified via email. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond individually to every applicant or application status request.
If you have been selected for an internship opportunity, you will receive an offer letter from the JPL Education Office via email. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond individually to every applicant or application status request.