Landing a Spot: A Guide to NASA Cybersecurity Internships
NASA's Office of STEM Engagement offers over 2,000 students the opportunity to contribute to the agency’s mission annually via hands-on internships. These internships offer a stellar opportunity to launch your future as part of America’s aerospace workforce. If you're passionate about space exploration and cybersecurity, a NASA cybersecurity internship could be your launchpad. This article outlines the requirements and what you can expect during the application process and the internship itself.
Eligibility and Academic Requirements
To be eligible for a NASA internship, you need to be enrolled at a Department of Education accredited college or university with a course of study aligned to NASA’s needs. Educators are also eligible to apply if enrolled as a student. NASA also offers internships for non-STEM majors. Even if you are not a science or engineering student, you can get an internship at NASA! Interns may support a variety of business and program management work, including human resources, administration and program analysis, accounting and budget, communication and public relations, procurement and contracts, information technology, security, and education.
The Application Process: Showcasing Your Story
NASA wants to get to know you and see your story - so be clear and concise, but elaborate! Your resume is your best opportunity to demonstrate what sets you apart from other applicants.
While uploading a resume file is not part of the application process, you do have the opportunity to enter all of your experience, skills, interests, and relevant background directly into the fields provided in the application form.
NASA prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application to include responses to questions in which you must provide a narrative response. You must create your own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources.
Read also: A Look at NASA Intern Compensation
While NASA encourages you to create your narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, you are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT. Any information you provide during the application process is subject to verification.
Many project mentors like to conduct phone or video interviews with potential candidates prior to internship selection; however, this is not a requirement. Selections may occur any time after you submit your application.
Application windows typically open two times per year-around February and September. When NASA is accepting applications for Pathways opportunities, you can find them on the NASA Careers: Pathways site.
What NASA Looks For: Beyond Technical Skills
For Pathways Intern positions, NASA is looking for students who are not only captivated with the NASA Vision & Mission, but who are also well-rounded with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. Our commonalities unite us as a team, and our differences strengthen our capabilities as an organization. At NASA, our engineers, mathematicians, scientists, accountants, writers, IT specialists, project managers, program analysts, and many other professionals work together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Internship Details: Location, Housing, and Transportation
Interns will have the opportunity to work at one of NASA’s centers located around the country. Projects vary at every center each session. Once you complete an application, you will be able to view the available projects for the specified session.
Read also: Interning at NASA JPL
Interns are responsible for making their own housing arrangements. This includes locating their own housing options and paying for their housing. While NASA does not provide housing, they will provide you sufficient time and options to locate housing. Many centers will provide resources, such as online forums, where you can connect with other employees to find affordable housing options in the area.
Your center location and housing options will determine if you need a car. At most centers, unless you find housing within walking distance, you will most likely need a car.
Compensation and Benefits
The starting pay for Pathways interns varies depending on academic hours completed, position location and grade level(s) of the position being filled. Pathways interns are promoted on the basis of academic hours completed and performance ratings.
In addition to pay and valuable work experience, you may receive the same benefits as a permanent employee. This includes health, life, dental and vision insurance, retirement plan, paid leave, holidays and more.
Pathways to a Career: Conversion Opportunities
A Pathways internship may be converted to a full-time permanent civil service position (or, in some circumstances, a full-time term position lasting 1-6 years) within 180 days of successful completion of degree requirements.
Read also: Your Guide to NASA Internships
Code of Conduct: Professionalism and Ethics
A professional Code of Conduct is a set of rules that guides behavior. NASA is committed to providing a safe, friendly, and welcoming environment. By participating in an Office of STEM Engagement internship, you agree to abide by their Code of Conduct, based upon the ethical principles of respect, responsibility, honesty, integrity, professionalism, and trust. As an intern in this new professional setting, you should aspire to conduct yourself with respect for others, exhibit the highest ethical standards, and embrace personal integrity.
Essential Functions and Work Environment
The essential functions and work environment for an internship can vary depending on the specific role and center. Generally, it involves an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on task. Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of time). It may require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs (5% of time). Standard office equipment (PC, telephone, printer, etc.) will be used. Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule is critical. Ability to work outside normal schedule and adjust schedule to meet peak periods and surge requirements. Professional behavior that enhances productivity and promotes teamwork and cooperation is expected.
Overcoming Misconceptions
A common misconception is that NASA only offers engineering internships. NASA needs employees with a variety of knowledge and skills.
The NASA Culture: Passion and Innovation
At NASA, we explore the extraordinary every day and our work is more than just a profession-it’s a lifelong pursuit and a passion. NASA needs your talent, teamwork, and energy to help them achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. NASA needs you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help them envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable space exploration while benefiting people here on Earth.
Success Stories: Inspiration from Former Interns
- Aaron Yazzie: A former intern at JPL, inspires a new generation of Diné scientists and engineers, proving their voices have an essential place in the story of the cosmos.
- Clare Luckey: A former intern was selected as one of Forbes’ 30 under 30. Her hard work and determination has landed her at the forefront of space exploration as she helps plan how the first astronauts will land on Mars.
- Vivian Li: Remotely operating NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover from millions of miles away is no easy task.
tags: #nasa #cybersecurity #internship #requirements
