Summer Internship FAQ

General Questions

Q: For whom is the internship designed?
A: The internship is designed for undergraduate, graduate and medical students who have an interest in the space program and space life sciences.

Q: What qualifies a student for eligibility?
A: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have completed their sophomore year of college.

Q: What majors can apply?
A: Typical majors of past interns include biomedical engineering, exercise physiology, physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, pharmacology, neuroscience, chemistry, biology, food science, statistics, medicine, epidemiology, etc.

Q: Are the research areas listed on the NSBRI website the research areas to select from for the application?
A: No, the research areas listed on the website are not necessarily areas available during the internship. On your application, we are interested in knowing what areas of research you are interested in or have had experience in.

The research laboratories at NASA Johnson Space Center that often select interns include exercise physiology, cardiovascular, bone physiology and imaging, neuroscience, habitability and human factors, bed-rest studies, food science, nutritional biochemistry, biostatistics, pharmacology, space medicine, radiation biophysics, biomechanics and anthropometrics, medical informatics and healthcare systems, and microbiology.

The research emphases at NASA Glenn Research Center that often select interns include probabilistic simulation of medical event scenarios, lab testing of components for reusable lab-on a-chip devices, computational approaches to simulate human physiological systems, exercise physiology, bone loss, biomechanics and anthropometrics.

The research laboratories at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) that select interns are often from the discipline areas of radiation biology, gravitational biology, molecular/cellular biology, neuroscience, bone and signaling studies, microbiology, oxidative and nitrosative stress, animal studies, genomics and proteomics.  Also included in this list is the Visuomotor Control Laboratory which investigates the links among perception, action, and cognition using eye movements to model the human sensory-motor system. This model supports ARC’s broader research interests in Space Human Factors Engineering and Sensorimotor Adaptation.

Q: Is this a paid internship?
A: Yes. Interns are paid an hourly wage based on education level.

Q: Are travel and housing costs covered for the interns?
A: No, the intern is responsible for their own travel and housing costs.

Q: I'm not from Houston, Cleveland or Moffett Field...where will I live?
A: Interns selected for the program will be given information regarding affordable housing near the NASA Johnson Space Center, NASA Glenn Research Center or NASA Ames Research Center.

Q: When is the deadline?
A: The deadline is January 31. The application must be submitted and the letters of recommendation must be postmarked by that date in order to be considered for the program.

Q: Can I participate in the NSBRI Summer Internship and still attend summer school?
A: The internship is a full-time summer experience.

Q: I have another commitment during the summer and will not be able to complete the minimum 10 weeks. Am I eligible?
A: No, internships are no shorter than 10 weeks in order for the student to become fully engrained in the laboratory and have the most benefit on the work done in the lab.

Q: I am a student who will be studying for the MCAT during the program dates. Should I still apply?
A: The summer internship is a full-time commitment. We encourage you to think seriously about the time you will be able to invest in your exam preparation.

Q: If accepted, will I have a say in which lab I work?
A: On the application, there is room for you to list your three top areas of research interest. These areas of interest will be taken into consideration should you be selected for the program.

Q: What should the letter of interest include?
A: The letter of interest should state your interest in the program, how the program will help you attain your career goals and dates you are available for the summer. Any academic or professional experience or accomplishments can be fleshed out in the letter.

Q: Who should write a letter of recommendation for me?
A: In the past, we have received letters of recommendation from professors, mentors, employers and co-workers.

Q: What should be covered in the letters of recommendation?
A: The letter of recommendation does not have a set outline. However, we encourage the writers to elaborate on the applicant's experiences, accomplishments, career goals and personality.

Q: To whom should the letters of recommendation be addressed?
A: The Summer Internship Program applicant review process is conducted by a committee. Please address your letter of interest as you see fit (To whom it may concern, Dear Reviewers, etc.)

Q: Will my application be considered complete after I have submitted the online application and uploaded my CV/resume and letter of interest?
A: No, the two letters of recommendation must also be received (postmarked by the deadline of January 31st) for your application to be considered complete.

Q: Can I make changes to my online application after I submit it?
A: No. Once the online application is submitted, it cannot be retrieved. Please be sure to print it out before you close the window.

Q: Should I send my college transcripts?
A: No, transcripts are not required and will have absolutely no impact on selection. Any transcripts received will be destroyed without review.

Q: To what address should the letters of recommendation be mailed?
A: All recommendations should be sent to:
      National Space Biomedical Research Institute
      Summer Internship Program
      One Baylor Plaza, NA-425
      Houston, TX 77030-3411

Q: Can I email or fax my letter of recommendation rather than mailing a copy?
A: No. Faxed copies, PDF attachments, etc. are not accepable forms of letters of recommention.

Accepted Applicants

Q: When should I expect to hear back if I’m accepted into the program?
A: Selected applicants typically receive an acceptance letter in early April.

Q: I was offered a position but will be unable to accept it. What do I need to do?
A: As soon as possible, please email the program coordinator, Kristen Boucher (klbouche@bcm.edu) to notify NSBRI that you are declining the internship.

Q: I have accepted the offer and would like to know more about the lab I have been placed in. How do I find out?
A: Contact the program coordinator, Kristen Boucher (klbouche@bcm.edu) for more information about the laboratory and to obtain your mentor's contact information.

Q. What type of work occurs in the labs?
A. Intern projects may involve the following, depending upon the lab's needs: research, laboratory data collection, sample analysis, data management or analysis, and/or literature reviews.

Q: What is the dress code in the lab?
A: We require our interns to follow business casual and OSHA standards for dress (i.e. long pants, closed-toe shoes, and no shorts, midriffs or flip flops). Alternate appropriate dress code will be up to the discretion of your mentor.

Q: Are health and dental insurance provided?
A: No, the program does not provide health or dental insurance. However, medical facilities are available near your lab.

Q: I participated in the internship last summer, but would like to apply again. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. You must fully repeat the application process and send new letters of recommendation.

Applicants Not Selected

Q: When should I expect to hear back if I'm not accepted into the program?
A: Applicants will be notified via email in late March if they are not accepted.

Q: Why was my application not selected?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot select all of the excellent applicants we receive. We take into account previous studies, research experience, interests, and career and education goals.

Q: Can I apply again next year?
A: Yes. We encourage you to apply again.

Q: Can you save my application for next year?
A: No, we do not store or save applications. You will have to follow and complete the application process again including obtaining new letters of recommendation.