The NASA Ames STEM Engagement & Mission Experience Internship offers students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience at one of NASA’s major research centers while exploring the wide range of scientific, technological, educational, operational, and mission-support activities that contribute to NASA’s work.

Based at NASA Ames Research Center in California, this internship is designed for students who want to understand NASA from a broader, center-wide perspective rather than focusing exclusively on one scientific or engineering discipline. Interns will work with the NASA Ames Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) and contribute to activities that connect students and mentors with NASA’s people, facilities, research, educational resources, and career pathways.

The opportunity is particularly interesting because it welcomes students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. While STEM students can benefit from exposure to different NASA research areas, students studying education, communications, public relations, business, project management, design, digital media, and related fields may also contribute valuable skills.

NASA describes OSTEM internships as short-term, hands-on opportunities through which students work on real NASA projects under the guidance of NASA mentors. NASA also states that internships can be available to both STEM and non-STEM majors.

About the NASA Ames STEM Engagement & Mission Experience Internship

The NASA Ames STEM Engagement & Mission Experience Internship is an educational internship designed to provide students with an unusual opportunity to see how a multidisciplinary NASA research center operates.

Rather than assigning the intern to a narrowly defined technical research project, the internship provides exposure to different parts of NASA Ames. Students can learn about:

• NASA research programs
• Scientists and engineers
• STEM education and engagement
• Mission-support activities
• Research facilities
• Career pathways
• Program management
• Communications
• Educational events
• Student engagement initiatives
• Behind-the-scenes facility experiences

The intern will work with the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA Ames, helping develop meaningful experiences for students and mentors.

This makes the internship especially suitable for students who are curious about NASA as an organization and want to understand how different disciplines work together to support a major scientific and aerospace institution.Internship Location

The internship is based at:

NASA Ames Research Center
California, United States

The opportunity is described as fully on-site, meaning selected interns are expected to work physically at NASA Ames rather than remotely.

Students should therefore consider their ability to be present at the NASA Ames facility for the duration of the internship when applying.

Full-Time and Part-Time Internship Options

One of the notable features of this opportunity is its flexibility.

The internship is available on a:

• Full-time basis
• Part-time basis

Applicants are expected to indicate their preferred arrangement in their application response.

This can make the opportunity particularly useful for students who have different academic schedules or availability during the internship period.

However, applicants should carefully consider the practical requirements of a fully on-site internship, including their ability to be physically present at NASA Ames.

What Will the Intern Do?

The internship provides exposure to a broad range of STEM engagement and mission-related activities.

The intern will primarily work with the Ames Office of STEM Engagement and help support programs that connect students and mentors with NASA.

1. Support Behind-the-Scenes NASA Facility Tours

One of the central components of the internship involves helping coordinate behind-the-scenes tours and learning experiences at NASA Ames research facilities.

The intern may assist with:

• Coordinating tour schedules
• Organizing logistics
• Communicating with participants
• Preparing background information
• Developing learning materials
• Helping ensure that participants have meaningful educational experiences

This can give the intern firsthand insight into how educational experiences are organized within a complex research institution.

2. Support STEM Engagement Events

The intern may assist with STEM engagement activities and events organized by NASA Ames.

Potential responsibilities include:

• Supporting student programs
• Assisting with STEM events
• Helping coordinate special initiatives
• Communicating with participants
• Supporting event logistics
• Working with organizations and teams across NASA Ames

These activities can help students develop practical experience in event coordination and STEM outreach.

3. Learn About NASA Research Areas

NASA Ames is a multidisciplinary research environment.

The intern will have opportunities to learn about different areas of research taking place at the center and understand how these areas contribute to NASA’s broader mission.

This can be particularly valuable for students who want to explore NASA beyond a single technical discipline.

Rather than limiting their experience to one research field, students can gain a broader understanding of the types of work performed at NASA Ames.

4. Translate Technical Information for Student Audiences

Another potential responsibility is helping make technical information easier for students and other audiences to understand.

The intern may contribute to:

• Educational resources
• Background materials
• Briefing documents
• Guides
• Digital content
• Informational materials
• STEM engagement resources

This is especially relevant for students interested in science communication, education, public relations, digital media, communications, or outreach.

The ability to take complex information and communicate it clearly to a general audience is an important professional skill.

Interaction With NASA Professionals

The internship may provide opportunities to interact with professionals working at NASA Ames, including:

• Scientists
• Engineers
• Researchers
• Program managers
• Mission-support professionals
• STEM educators
• Communications professionals
• Other NASA personnel

Through these interactions, students can learn how different academic and professional disciplines contribute to NASA’s missions.

This can also help interns better understand the range of careers available within a large research and aerospace organization.

Additional Activities

Depending on the student’s interests, academic background, skills, and the needs of the program, the internship may include additional activities.

These can include:

STEM Engagement

Supporting:

• Student programs
• Educational events
• STEM engagement initiatives
• Special NASA Ames projects

Content Development

Creating or assisting with:

• Informational resources
• Briefings
• Guides
• Digital content
• Educational materials
• Career pathway resources

Event Planning

Helping with:

• Event organization
• Scheduling
• Participant communications
• Logistics
• Coordination between different NASA Ames organizations

Participant Experience

The intern may help document participant experiences and identify ways that future STEM engagement activities could be improved.

New STEM Engagement Ideas

Students may also be encouraged to contribute ideas for new approaches to introducing students and educators to:

• NASA research
• NASA careers
• Educational opportunities
• Scientific disciplines
• Engineering
• Technology
• Mission-support careers

Who Should Apply?

The opportunity is intentionally designed to attract students from a wide range of academic disciplines.

Applicants do not need to be experts in every scientific field represented at NASA Ames.

Instead, the project emphasizes qualities such as:

• Curiosity
• Initiative
• Organization
• Communication
• Willingness to learn
• Collaboration
• Interest in NASA
• Ability to work with others

NASA’s broader OSTEM program also states that it offers internships to non-STEM majors, meaning students do not necessarily have to be studying science or engineering to find suitable NASA internship opportunities.

STEM Students

The internship may be particularly valuable for students studying STEM subjects who want to understand NASA beyond a single technical discipline.

STEM students can potentially use the experience to:

• Explore different NASA research areas
• Meet professionals from different disciplines
• Understand how research supports NASA missions
• Learn about STEM careers
• Develop professional communication skills
• Expand their professional network
• Gain experience in a major research environment

Students may also discover areas of NASA work that they had not previously considered.

Students Interested in STEM Education

The internship can also be relevant to students considering careers in science or STEM education.

Students interested in education can gain exposure to:

• NASA research
• Real-world scientific environments
• STEM professionals
• Educational programming
• STEM outreach
• Student engagement
• STEM career pathways

This can help future educators develop a better understanding of how classroom concepts connect to real-world research and NASA missions.

Non-STEM Students

One of the most important aspects of this opportunity is that students from non-STEM disciplines may also bring valuable skills.

Potentially relevant academic backgrounds include:

• Education
• Communications
• Public relations
• Business
• Project management
• Design
• Digital media
• Related disciplines

For example, a communications student could contribute to content development and participant communication, while a project-management student could contribute to event coordination and logistics.

Therefore, students should not automatically assume that NASA opportunities are restricted to engineering, physics, computer science, or other traditional STEM disciplines.

NASA confirms that its OSTEM program includes opportunities for non-STEM majors.

Internship Learning Objectives

By the conclusion of the internship, the student is expected to have developed several important professional and academic competencies.

1. Understanding NASA Ames

The student should develop a broader understanding of:

• NASA Ames Research Center
• Its research capabilities
• Its facilities
• Its people
• Its multidisciplinary environment
• Its role within NASA

This broader exposure can help students understand how a large research institution operates.

2. Educational Experience Coordination

Students can gain practical experience in coordinating:

• Educational activities
• Tours
• Events
• Student experiences
• STEM engagement programs

This can strengthen their ability to work within a professional environment involving multiple stakeholders.

3. Professional Communication

The internship is expected to strengthen communication skills through interaction with:

• Students
• Educators
• NASA professionals
• Researchers
• Engineers
• Program managers
• Other participants

Communication may take place through meetings, written materials, participant communications, briefings, and educational resources.

4. Organization and Project Management

Students can develop practical skills in:

• Planning
• Scheduling
• Coordination
• Organization
• Event logistics
• Project support
• Time management

These skills can be useful regardless of the student’s eventual career path.

5. Collaboration

Because the internship involves working with different organizations and professionals across NASA Ames, students can gain experience collaborating in a multidisciplinary environment.

This can help them understand how people with different academic and professional backgrounds work together toward common objectives.

6. Understanding NASA Career Pathways

Another important objective is helping students understand the variety of careers that contribute to NASA missions.

These may extend beyond traditional scientific and engineering positions to include areas such as:

• Education
• Communications
• Program management
• Administration
• Digital media
• Public relations
• Mission support
• Research
• Technology

This broader perspective can help students identify career pathways they may not have previously considered.

Professional Networking Opportunities

The internship can provide opportunities for students to interact with NASA professionals.

Networking with scientists, engineers, researchers, program managers, and other professionals can help students:

• Learn about different career paths
• Understand professional expectations
• Ask questions about NASA careers
• Build professional relationships
• Gain insight into research environments
• Better understand how different disciplines contribute to missions

For students considering a future career in science, technology, education, communications, or mission support, this exposure can be valuable.

What Makes This Internship Different?

Many internships focus heavily on a single research project, technical discipline, or specialized skill.

This NASA Ames opportunity is different because it emphasizes a center-wide perspective.

Instead of concentrating exclusively on one research area, the intern can gain exposure to:

1. NASA research
2. STEM engagement
3. Educational programming
4. Facilities
5. Scientists
6. Engineers
7. Program managers
8. Mission-support professionals
9. Communications
10. Career pathways

This makes the opportunity especially attractive for students who are still exploring which area of NASA or STEM they might eventually pursue.

NASA OSTEM Internship Context

The opportunity falls under NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) internship structure.

NASA explains that OSTEM internships are paid, hands-on opportunities for college-level students to contribute to NASA projects under the guidance of NASA mentors. The agency offers three internship sessions annually.

NASA’s current published schedule lists the following OSTEM deadlines:

• Spring 2027: September 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
• Summer 2027: February 26, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
• Fall 2027: May 21, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Important Deadline Note

The specific NASA Ames project description provided for this article does not state a separate project-specific deadline or internship session.

Therefore, applicants should verify the current session and deadline shown in the NASA application system for Project ID 025677 before submitting an application. If the project is listed under the Spring 2027 OSTEM cycle, the current NASA deadline is September 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

NASA Internship Eligibility Requirements

Although the individual project description says internships are available to undergraduate and graduate students aged 16 and above, NASA’s current official OSTEM eligibility requirements provide additional requirements.

Applicants must generally:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Be a full-time or part-time college student from undergraduate through graduate level
• Be at least 16 years old at the time of application
• Be enrolled in a degree-granting program at a U.S. Department of Education-accredited college or university
• Be pursuing a course of study aligned with NASA’s needs

NASA also states that letters of recommendation are not required as part of the OSTEM internship application.

Because the project description itself does not list every general NASA eligibility requirement, applicants should check the official NASA internship system and current project listing before applying.

Is This Internship Open to International Students?

This is an important consideration for international applicants.

The standard NASA OSTEM internship program requires applicants to be U.S. citizens. NASA’s current FAQ explicitly states this requirement.

NASA does have an International Internship (I²) program, but NASA currently states that the International Internship program is not being offered at this time.

NASA’s international internship information also lists specific countries that have participating agreements when the program is active. Ghana is not among the currently listed participating countries.

Therefore, an international student should not assume that they can apply to this NASA Ames OSTEM internship simply because the project description says undergraduate and graduate students.

The citizenship and institutional eligibility requirements of the applicable NASA internship program must be satisfied.

Funding and Internship Stipend

NASA states that the majority of OSTEM interns receive a stipend award, with the amount based on academic level and session duration.

However, the project description provided does not specify the exact stipend amount for Project 025677.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming a particular dollar amount until the official NASA internship listing or offer specifies it.

Housing and Transportation

Applicants should also plan carefully for the practical costs associated with an on-site internship.

NASA states that interns are responsible for making their own housing arrangements and paying for their housing. NASA does not provide housing, although resources may be available to help interns identify options.

Because this NASA Ames opportunity is fully on-site, selected students should consider:

• Housing in the NASA Ames area
• Transportation to and from the center
• Local living expenses
• Food
• Personal expenses
• Any costs not covered by the internship stipend

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Students interested in Project 025677 should focus on demonstrating that they can contribute to STEM engagement while learning from NASA’s multidisciplinary environment.

1. Demonstrate Curiosity

Explain why you are interested in NASA and why you want to understand the organization beyond a single technical discipline.

2. Highlight Communication Skills

Because the internship involves students, educators, NASA professionals, tours, educational materials, and participant communications, strong communication skills can be valuable.

3. Demonstrate Organization

Mention relevant experience involving:

• Event planning
• Scheduling
• Project coordination
• Administrative support
• Student activities
• Team projects

4. Show Your Interest in Learning

You do not need to be an expert in every field represented at NASA Ames.

Instead, demonstrate that you are willing to learn from researchers and professionals from different disciplines.

5. Connect Your Academic Background to the Internship

Whether you are studying engineering, science, education, communications, business, design, or another relevant subject, explain how your skills could contribute to NASA’s STEM engagement activities.

6. Highlight Teamwork

NASA is a highly collaborative environment. Examples of successful teamwork can strengthen your application.

Why Students Should Consider This NASA Ames Internship

The internship can provide a combination of professional development, STEM exposure, networking, communication experience, and firsthand exposure to NASA operations.

It can be particularly valuable for students who:

• Want to explore NASA careers
• Are interested in STEM engagement
• Want exposure to a multidisciplinary research center
• Are considering STEM education
• Want experience in science communication
• Are interested in project management
• Want to develop professional communication skills
• Want to understand how different disciplines contribute to major missions
• Want to build their professional network
• Are interested in working with scientists, engineers, researchers, and program managers

Opportunity Summary

How to Apply

Interested students should apply through the official NASA internship system and search for the opportunity using:

Project ID: 025677

Apply HERE

Applicants should carefully review the current project listing, eligibility requirements, internship session, deadline, and application instructions before submitting.

NASA’s official internship information explains that students can explore OSTEM opportunities through its internship system and apply for multiple opportunities.

Read details about this Opportunity HERE

Conclusion

The NASA Ames STEM Engagement & Mission Experience Internship offers a distinctive opportunity for eligible students to gain firsthand exposure to the multidisciplinary environment of NASA Ames Research Center.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on one scientific discipline, the internship allows students to explore NASA’s research, people, facilities, STEM engagement programs, educational activities, career pathways, and mission-support functions.

Students can contribute to behind-the-scenes facility tours, STEM events, educational resources, participant communications, event coordination, digital content, and other activities while interacting with NASA scientists, engineers, researchers, program managers, and mission-support professionals.

The opportunity can therefore be valuable not only for traditional STEM students but also for students interested in education, communications, public relations, business, project management, design, digital media, and related fields.

However, applicants should carefully verify eligibility because NASA’s current OSTEM requirements include U.S. citizenship, a minimum 3.0 GPA, student enrollment requirements, and attendance at a U.S.-accredited institution.

For students who meet those requirements and are interested in gaining a broader understanding of NASA’s work, Project 025677 provides an opportunity to develop professional skills while experiencing NASA Ames from a center-wide perspective.