MSGC Internships
Montana Space Grant Consortium (MTSGC) works with mentors with our affiliated institutions around the state to bring Montana undergraduates hands-on opportunities under the Big Sky. MTSGC's goal is to help bolster students' work experience in NASA-related fields. If you have any question, please feel free to reach out to our office.
Requirements for MSGC Internships
- U.S. Citizen,an undergraduate student enrolled at one of the Montana Space Grant Consortium campuses as at least a part-time (6 credits or more) student.
- Graduating seniors do not qualify unless they have been accepted to a graduate school in a STEM discipline in the state of Montana.
- Two types of interns: Standard and Peer-Leader. Students who have had previous research experience can apply to be a Peer-Leader. (See below for more information.)
- Interns are expected to work with their mentors for 10 weeks at 40 hours per week unless otherwise stated.
- Pay is $7,000 for a Standard Intern and $7,500 for a Peer-Leader
- Complete an award acknowledgment and accompanying paperwork prior to starting the internship.
- Complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training course prior to starting the internship.
- Complete a final report of at least 2-pages at the end of the term.
- Complete a final presentation by the end of the term.
- Complete a confidential end-of-term evaluation.
2025 MSGC Summer Internships
Due February 28th, 2025
Paid summer internships are available for students from Montana campuses with the Balloon Outreach, Research, Exploration And Landscape Imaging System (BOREALIS) program at Montana State University - Bozeman.
Students work in a mission-like team environment where they are encouraged and mentored to design, develop and deploy experiments to the edge of space (100,000 feet). Students receive training and hands-on experience in using upper level wind forecasts for flight track predictions, balloon inflation and launch and the use of tracking systems for recovery of the experimental payloads. Additional opportunities include training in computer programming and modeling of wind forecasts and simulations.
These positions (approximately 6) are located in Bozeman.
Paid five-to-ten week summer internships are available for students from Salish Kootenai College, Blackfeet Community College, Flathead Valley Community College, and the University of Montana with the Balloon Outreach, Research, Exploration And Landscape Imaging System (BOREALIS) program at a college in north-western Montana.
Students work in a mission-like team environment where they will learn to fly weather balloons to examine atmospheric dynamics up to 115,000 feet in altitude. Students receive training and hands-on experience in using upper level wind forecasts for flight track predictions, balloon inflation, designing field campaigns, and basic atmospheric dynamics.
These positions (approximately 6) are located in North-Western Montana.
The Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO) mission is
- to coordinate and guide faculty, staff, and students in Montana for understanding and decision-making regarding the implementation of UAS in a changing research and regulatory environment.
- to establish the infrastructure and resources in order to create sustainable autonomous aerial research.
- to stimulate UAS-related innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development in the state of Montana.
AASO is considering summer positions for motivated interns interested in working on several possible projects. These positions are located in Missoula, MT on the University of Montana Campus. Projects include building UAS and custom UAS sensors, and UAS for river and vegetation monitoring.
In addition to standard internships, AASO also offers peer-leader internship positions. Peer-leader interns have all the responsibilities and opportunities of a standard internship, plus additional duties related to peer mentoring, project management, and research support. Peer-leader positions offer a higher pay rate to compensate for additional responsibilities.
The intern would need to have some experience with or a strong aptitude to learn:
- C++, R, or Python Coding
- Flight Controller Programming
- Infrared Image Processing
- Digital and/or Analog Circuit Design
- GIS experience
- Multispectral image analysis.
These positions (approximately 6) are located in Missoula.
The Montana American Indians in Math and Science (MT AIMS) program provides hands-on STEM-related summer experiences for students from Montana’s tribal communities. There are 3 components to MT AIMS:
- Gatherings – a 10 day in-person experience for middle school students.
- Pathways – a 5 day in-person experience for returning middle school students.
- Journeys – a 12 day in-person experience for returning 9-10th grade students
The summer intern will help in developing and implementing NASA and/or STEM-related daily activities for the Gathering participants and longer 5 – 10 day focused projects for the Pathways and Journeys participants. These residential programs run in June and July on the University of Montana campus. The intern will work from mid-May through the end of July.
This position is located in Missoula.
Up to three students, sophomores through seniors, from MSGC Affiliate campuses will have the opportunity to participate in the development of space science/engineering experiments at the Space Science Engineering Laboratory at the MSU – Bozeman campus. Students will receive complete training and mentoring from MSU students and SSEL staff experienced in space hardware design. SSEL programs to design, fabricate, test, and fly systems in the space and near-space environment include rockets, balloons, and satellites. Visit the SSEL website for more project information.
This opportunity is designed to enable college students to participate in a missionlike team environment where students design, build, and fly space hardware. Approximately twenty people will work in the SSEL over the summer on various group or individual projects, making the environment rich and supportive.
In addition to standard internships, SSEL also offers peer-leader internship positions. Peer-leader interns have all the responsibilities and opportunities of a standard internship, plus additional duties related to peer mentoring, project management, and research support. Peer-leader positions offer a higher pay rate to compensate for additional responsibilities.
These positions (approximately 2) are located in Bozeman.
Forests are a crucial C sink, covering 30% of the world’s land surface and accounting for 92% of terrestrial biomass. However, droughts are increasing in intensity and frequency around the globe, increasing forest mortality, changing tree species distributions, and altering terrestrial C dynamics in unpredictable ways. Our research seeks to use leaf spectra to monitor and predict physiological responses of high-elevation pines to drought, with a focus on using plant carbon dynamics as an early predictor of drought-induced tree mortality (see latest news story on this research). By utilizing a greenhouse-based approach to study these relationships between leaf spectra and plant non-structural carbohydrates at the individual tree level, we hope to improve predictions of tree mortality at landscape scales using hyperspectral remote sensing platforms. We are currently seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic interns to join our team for a summer internship working in the lab and greenhouse. As a summer intern in our lab, you will work closely with a PhD student to contribute to ongoing research projects aimed at developing innovative methods for predicting tree mortality. Join us in making a positive impact on the environment through groundbreaking research!
Intern Responsibilities:
- Greenhouse: Collect leaf spectra and physiological data from various tree species in a controlled greenhouse environment.
- Lab: Process and prepare samples for analysis of non-structural carbohydrate content, including grinding and weighing tree tissues.
- Data Analysis: Process and analyze the collected leaf spectra and physiological data to identify patterns and correlations related to tree health and mortality.
Qualifications:
- Strong interest in the intersection of remote sensing and physiological ecology research.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work independently and take initiative.
These positions (approximately 3) are located in Bozeman.
Using atmospheric modeling and aircraft measurements to determine global sources of pollutants
This project will use a global model of the atmosphere (www.geos-chem.org) to simulate concentrations of key toxic air pollutants such as benzene and toluene. We will use airborne and ground-based measurements to test and improve the model. We aim to draw conclusions regarding the emission sources of these pollutants, in particular, from wildfires, and how they affect human health regionally. Students will use high-performance computing and should wish to gain experience with Unix and scientific programming. Prior programming experience is preferred but is not required; students can learn on the job.
Using a mass spectrometer to determine emissions of atmospheric organics from wildfires
This project will use a state of science equipment (proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer) to measure concentrations of organic pollutants from western U.S. wildfire smoke and urban pollutants. We will deploy a PTR-MS on a research aircraft to fly in Salt Lake City to sample organic compounds. Students will learn to operate a PTR-MS, trace gas calibrations, datalogger, automatic control system, etc. Students should wish to gain experience with scientific programming (R) for data processing and data analysis.
These positions (approximately 2) are located in Missoula.
- Develop a feasible microscale 3D printing ink that is based on sliver nanoparticles.
- Measure the inks’ rheological properties that are important during the 3D printing process.
- Apply machine learning algorithms to establish the relationship between ink composition and its rheological properties.
- Juniors or seniors
- Self-motivated and has a strong aptitude to learn
- Has hands-on lab work experience, especially in a chemistry or materials science lab
- Has Python programming experience
This position is located in Bozeman.
We aim to understand how plant populations and communities respond to environmental variability, including more frequent wildfires, earlier snowmelt, and warmer temperatures. We combine population monitoring, vegetation surveys, plant trait measurements, and pollination experiments to predict how plant populations will persist under global change.
Wildfires have increased in size, severity, and frequency over the last century, affecting subalpine lodgepole forests’ ability to recover. More frequent high-severity wildfires can disrupt the long-term trajectory of understory vegetation, potentially affecting biodiversity, ecosystem function, and the fuel for subsequent fires. We are using population monitoring to identify how the processes that contribute to vegetation recovery vary with fire regime (the time between and since wildfires), with the aim of projecting plant cover and diversity under future fire regimes. An intern involved in this project will:
- Monitor populations of ecologically important subalpine plants (beargrass, fireweed, lupine)
- Conduct understory vegetation surveys (no plant identification experience required!)
- Collect data on environmental conditions, soils, and tree regeneration
- Process and prepare soil and plant tissue samples in the lab
- Process and help analyze collected data to identify effects of wildfire on plant population health
This position requires fieldwork in remote areas of the Sapphire Mountains. The position is based in Missoula, MT. The field team (~4 people) will camp for 4 nights at a time throughout the summer, and fieldwork includes hiking over rugged terrain and carrying heavy gear. In your personal statement, please include any experience camping in remote sites/backpacking and working outside.
Qualifications:
- Strong interest in plant ecology and field research
- Willingness to learn new skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience working outdoors and camping/backpacking
This position is located in Missoula.
We aim to understand how plant populations and communities respond to environmental variability, including more frequent wildfires, earlier snowmelt, and warmer temperatures. We combine population monitoring, vegetation surveys, plant trait measurements, and pollination experiments to predict how plant populations will persist under global change.
Native cushion-forming plants represent one of the most conspicuous and charismatic plant groups found in extreme habitats, including the (sub)alpine regions of the Intermountain West. Despite their adaptations to harsh environmental conditions, cushion plants are especially sensitive to climate change. Missoula, MT, hosts several native cushion plant communities in grasslands at unusually low elevation for a typical cushion plant community. Local cushion plant species have declined over the past decade, potentially due to early snowmelt and increasing drought. We partner with Missoula Parks & Recreation to monitor populations of six cushion plant species, including one endemic species (Missoula phlox) and the Montana state flower (bitterroot). An intern involved in this second project will:
- Monitor populations of native cushion plants
- Collect environmental data and soil samples
- Collect plant morphological and physiological trait data
- Collect data on pollinator visits and conduct experiments on the reproductive ecology of Missoula phlox
- Assist with field excursions to collect genetic samples of Phlox species
- Process and prepare soil and plant tissue samples in the lab
- Process and help analyze collected data to assess cushion plant population health
This position will require some hiking and carrying personal and research gear (<30lbs).
Qualifications:
- Strong interest in plant ecology and field research
- Willingness to learn new skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent communication skills
This position is located in Missoula.
Explore how environmental changes impact forest ecosystem function through a biogeochemical
lens!
We study how changing climate conditions, altered fire regimes, and plant community
dynamics affect the flow of carbon and nutrients through ecosystems. Our research
examines how these changes influence forest function and resilience, including productivity,
post-fire regeneration, and carbon storage.
We are seeking a motivated intern to join our team investigating the impacts of short-interval wildfires on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. This project examines how short-interval wildfire reburns in subalpine lodgepole pine forests influence the formation and persistence of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM), the partially combusted or blackened plant and organic material formed during fire. PyOM is highly resistant to microbial degradation and plays a vital role in long-term ecosystem carbon storage and nutrient cycling but is often an under-quantified component of carbon and nitrogen cycling in forests. While a single fire is known to produce PyOM, how subsequent short-interval fires alter the balance of its production and consumption, as well as the resulting effects on vegetation recovery, remain unclear. This internship offers a balance of fieldwork and lab/greenhouse work, along with opportunities to collaborate with undergraduate and graduate researchers at the University of Montana's Plant Population & Community Ecology Lab and Research Ecologists at the U.S. Forest Service Missoula Fire Sciences Lab
Intern Responsibilities
- Fieldwork: Assist with vegetation surveys and soil sampling in fire-affected forest sites (plant identification skills are a bonus but not required!).
- Laboratory: Prepare and process organic and mineral soils for chemical analyses (e.g., total carbon, nitrogen, and pyrogenic carbon). Assist with soil incubations to measure gas fluxes (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) using a Picarro gas analyzer.
- Data management and analysis: Help process, store, and analyze data collected
- Collaboration: Work closely with researchers in the UM Plant Population & Community Ecology Lab and USFS Missoula Fire Science Lab.
Fieldwork Details
Fieldwork will occur over ~2–4 weeks in remote areas of the Sapphire Mountains, with
potential sites in Lolo and Helena National Forests. Tasks involve hiking over rugged
and steep terrain, carrying heavy gear, and camping in remote sites for up to four
nights at a time. This position is based in Missoula, MT, with fieldwork at various
locations across western Montana.
What We’re Looking For
- Interest in forest ecology, fire science, biogeochemistry or soils.
- Comfort working in remote and challenging outdoor conditions, including hiking and camping (please speak to you experience with this in your personal statement)
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to pay attention to detail and to work both independently and collaboratively.
This position is located in Missoula.
Application Materials:
- Online application form through Submittable - select the internships you are interested in
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- Resume
- Unofficial College Transcript
Apply for MSGC Internships in Submittable.
Other Information
- Application Deadline: February 28th, 2025. Letters of recommendation are also due February 28th.
- Notification: Students will be notified at the end of March/beginning of April.
- One application: Make an account in Submittable and one application can be used for multiple internships. You simply select all of the internships you are interested in. You can also save your work and come back.
- Peer-Leaders interns are expected to:
- be a leader for a small group, either locally or remotely for a state-wide group
- act as an MSGC ambassador for their campus
- in their application, describe their planned leadership actions
- give a post-internship presentation beyond the traditional end-of-the-summer presentation with fellow interns.
- Child Care Financial Assistance: is available for those who need help with child care to be able to participate in a summer internship away from home. Students interested in this assistance should describe their need in their personal statement. This support is possible through generous donations to the Hiscock Memorial Fund at the National Space Grant Foundation.
- Cost-of-Living Supplement: For those conducting internships in locations separate from where they live or attend school, we can offer a cost-of-living supplement. Inquire with the MSGC Staff at msgc@montana.edu.
- Established Faculty Mentor: For students already selected by their faculty research mentor, under "Select the internship you are applying for:" choose "Other" and then enter the name of your mentor.
Other Internships
NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM)paid internships allow high school and college level students to contribute to agency projectsunder the guidance of a NASA mentor.
- Applicants for this internship must be U.S.Citizens and meet a minimum 3.0 GPA
requirement. - These paid internships are offered acrossNASA facilities in fall, spring, and summer
sessions. - One application is viewed agencywide.
- OSTEM interns may receive a stipend basedon academic level and session length.
- Prior experience is not required.
- Opportunities are available at the highschool, undergraduate, graduate, andeducator levels
2025 Internship Application Deadlines:
Summer 2025: Feb. 28, 2025
Fall 2025: May 16, 2025
For more information and application: https://intern.nasa.gov/
NASA International Internship (NASA I²) seeks to better prepare students to work in a global environment and on multicultural international missions. NASA and the nation benefit from a cadre of future scientists, engineers and other professionals who become familiar and experienced in multinational environments. Internship sessions are arranged in three sessions during the calendar year (spring, summer and fall).
Current Countries Participating with Agreements
- Australia: Victorian Space Science Education Center (VSSEC)
- Brazil: Brazilian Space Agency (AEB)
- Israel: Israel Space Agency (ISA)
- Jordan: Crown Prince Foundation
- Lithuania: Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA)
- Mexico: Mexican Space Agency (AEM)
- New Zealand: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
- Norway: Norwegian Space Center (NSC)
- Portugal: Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
- South Korea: Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)
- Sweden: Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA)
- Trinidad and Tobago: National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST)
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): UAE Space Agency (UAESA)
If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed above, and are interested in applying to one of the available research opportunities, please contact the entity in your country currently participating in this program. Contact information can be found below.
Additional Requirements Include:
- Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) in a topic relevant to NASA’s mission priorities.
- Maintaining high academic standing.
- Demonstrating an active interest in the U.S. space program.
- Communicating proficiently in English
For more information, see NASA International Internships
The NASA Academy offers an intense, multi-disciplinary research program that emphasizes collaboration, teamwork, leadership, innovation and creativity.
Academy participants experience research under circumstances similar to those faced by aerospace professionals. In addition to a team research project, the program includes invited lectures on technical subjects, weekly discussions with NASA professionals, and use of NASA research facilities.
Note, this is NOT a typical internship with a mentor-prescribed research plan. This is an intense, multi-disciplinary, research project that requires focus and commitment. A real problem in aeronautics or aerospace is given to the team and the team decides how to solve the problem using available resources. The team will have a technical advisory committee composed of NASA experts in the area of the project, including past summer team alumni. The advisory committee meets once per week to hear the team's progress, take questions, make suggestions, etc.
Details:
- Application Opens: January 9, 2024
- Application Deadline: February 20, 2024 23:59 ET
- Program Dates: TBD during the Late May or early June-August 12 time frame for 10 weeks 40 Hours a week.
- This is a paid internship, stipends will be determined based on funding
- Housing: Housing will be be provided for the team.
For more information, see AcademyApp
Space Interns is a volunteer project that serves as a platform for recurring space opportunities and a hub for space resources. The Space Interns team, led by Caroline Juang and Chris Fu, is a team of young professionals with a passion to increase the diversity and access to the aerospace industry for the future workforce.
For more information, see SpaceInterns
The SETI Institute (www.seti.org), a non-profit private, scientific research institution located in California’s Silicon Valley, invites you to apply for a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates program for highly motivated students who are interested in research related to astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary science. You will work with scientists at the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center. Research topics span the field of astrobiology, from microbiology to planetary geology to observational astronomy.
Students will work with scientists at the SETI Institute and at the nearby NASA Ames Research Center on projects spanning the field of astrobiology, from microbiology to planetary geology to observational astronomy.
Applications:
Available Dec. 2, 2024, due Saturday, February 1, 2025.
Program dates:
June 1 to August 9, 2025.
For more information and application:
Resources
A personal statement is required for all summer internships. In your personal statement, include what you hope to get out of a MSGC summer internship. If you're applying to be a peer-leader, describe your planned leadership actions.
Typically, a personal statement outline looks like this:
- Opening paragraph (open with a story that relates to your chosen career path)
- A few paragraphs on your skills and knowledge that relate to the application—and how that benefits the mentor and research
- Your life goals and how you see this internship getting you there
- Closing statement which refers back to your story and wraps it all up
MSGC has done sessions on STEM Resumes in their STEM Student Professional Skill Symposia. Content can be found on the Student Resources page. You can review the slides or the video. Let us know if you have any questions. msgc@montana.edu
Ask for LOR early in your application process. This gives the recommender time to plan and think about your letter intentionally.
The most impactful letter usually come from a professor. You can ask in person, but you should follow up with an email. Here is a template that you can modify:
Subject: Recommendation for ___ (First and Last Name) ___
Dear Professor ____________,
My name is _________________ and I was in your [BLANK] course during fall 20__.
I am applying to internships with Montana Space Grant Consortium and I am writing to ask if you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me. I am requesting a letter from you because you helped to inspire me to further pursue the field of [YOUR FIELD] and you were extremely helpful when I had questions about the course as well as with ideas for research. Your course made me think more deeply about research and I appreciated your direct and unique approach to instruction.
My application, with letters of recommendations are due February 28th, 2025 and I would greatly appreciate a letter for me. I am attaching my resume for you to review. If you agree, I will submit your information in the online recommendation form. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your time.
Full Name
Student ID# ______________
[UNIVERSITY] E-mail:_______________
Phone: ___________________
Another option is using an AI tool such as https://www.recombuilder.com/.