The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) offers a limited number of research internship opportunities throughout the year for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Typically, around twenty openings are available for summer interns, with about a dozen for autumn and spring terms. A significant portion of these summer internships are integrated into the year-round Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI). The CCRI provides an interdisciplinary STEM engagement and experiential learning opportunity where students and faculty collaborate directly with NASA scientists on climate change research projects conducted at NASA GISS and partner institutions. Participants in these programs gain hands-on experience by working alongside graduate students and lead scientists, developing research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and contributing to scientific presentations, posters, and potentially publishable research papers. Eligibility generally requires applicants to be US citizens currently enrolled in a formal education program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Depending on the project, interns may be required to reside within 50 miles of NASA/GISS in New York City or NASA/GSFC in Greenbelt, MD, though some projects may allow for virtual participation. All interested students must apply via the NASA STEM Gateway website. Deadlines for upcoming terms include May 16, 2025, for Autumn 2025; September 12, 2025, for Spring 2026; and February 27, 2026, for Summer 2026.
Program
Organizer: NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Host: NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Timeframe: Autumn, Spring, and Summer sessions annually. Application deadlines: May 16, 2025 (Autumn 2025); Sep. 12, 2025 (Spring 2026); Feb. 27, 2026 (Summer 2026).
Duration: 42 days - 112 days
Locations: North America, United States, Greenbelt, New York City
Study Area: Natural Sciences
Specific Fields: Astronomy & Space Science, Climate & Atmospheric Sciences, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Application
Deadlines:- May 16, 2025
- September 12, 2025
- February 27, 2026
Criteria: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens and currently enrolled in a formal education program of study, maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. College students must be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours. Applicants must be at least 16 years old at the time of application. Depending on the project, interns may need to reside within 50 miles of NASA/GISS (New York City) or NASA/GSFC (Greenbelt, MD), while some projects permit virtual/remote participation.
Target Degrees: Bachelor, Master, PhD
Required Documents:- Resume
- Transcripts
- Additional PDF form specific to the CCRI program
Costs & Contact
Stipend: Paid stipends are provided, varying by academic level and session duration. Examples include $2,400 for high school interns (6-8 weeks) and $11,700 for graduate student research assistants (8-10 weeks).
Cost: Interns are responsible for their own housing arrangements.
Contact: matthew.d.pearce@nasa.gov
Apply Now