General Questions

Q: For whom is the internship designed?
A: The internship is designed for undergraduate, graduate, veterinary 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 by the start of the internship program. Applicants must also be available during the dates of the program.

Q: What majors can apply?
A: Typical majors of past interns include aerospace/astronautics, biomedical engineering, chemistry, counseling, exercise physiology, mechanical engineering, food science, genetics, mathematics, medicine, molecular biology, neuroscience, nutrition, physics, psychology, space studies, and systems biology engineering.

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. Please review the information below on the types of research opportunities available at the three NASA Centers.

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 health care 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 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 available for internships is the Visuomotor Control Laboratory, which investigates the links among perception, action and cognition using eye movements to model the human sensorimotor 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 receive a stipend of $6,600.

Q: Are travel and housing costs covered for the interns?
A: No, the intern is responsible for their own travel (both to the NASA center and local travel) and housing costs. We encourage interns to room together to lower the expense.

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 Johnson Space Center, Glenn Research Center or Ames Research Center. The intern is responsible for locating housing.

Q: When is the deadline?
A: The deadline is December 31. The application, CV or resume, letter of interest, transcripts, and the letters of recommendation must be received 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 commitment, from May 28 to Aug. 2, 2013.

Q: I have another obligation during the summer and will not be able to complete the 10 weeks. Am I eligible?
A: No, internships are for the full 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. However, this is decided by the NASA center program manager and the researchers and is based on your application interests, education and skills.

Q: What should the letter of interest include?
A: The letter of interest should state your interest in the program and how the program will help you attain your career goals. 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. It is to your advantage to have someone write this letter who knows something about you. Generic letters of recommendation score low.

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 overseen by a program manager. Please address your letter of interest to Summer Internship Program Manager.

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, college transcripts and two letters of recommendation must also be received by the deadline 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: Can I email or fax my letters of recommendation rather than having them uploaded?
A: No. Faxed copies, PDF attachments, etc., are not acceptable forms of letters of recommendation.


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 March.

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 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. All interns will be required to provide proof of medical insurance for the internship period. A low-cost, short-term medical insurance option will be offered to those who need it.

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. However, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted as this is a competitive process.


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 April 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 education strengths and accomplishments, 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.