Apply now

The primary goal of the Space Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP) is to train the next generation of scientists and engineers, enabling NASA to meet future research and development challenges in the space life sciences. The SLSTP provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research and discover exciting careers in Space Biology at NASA’s Ames Research Center located in Silicon Valley, California. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 internship was held virtually, and the 2021 program will be held remotely as well. Interns are paired with a mentor for individual research projects in areas such as molecular, cell, organismal or synthetic biology, bioinformatics or bioengineering.  In addition, the cohort of interns designs and executes a group project.

The SLSTP is an equal opportunity program. Admission is by competitive application process. Past student participants were selected for their outstanding merit, passion for space, and desire to study space life science. Applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

• be a US citizen*
• be in high academic standing (GPA of 3.2 or greater)
• have a minimum age of 18
• be a junior or senior undergraduate student next Fall
  — or —
  a senior graduating in 2020 and entering graduate school next Fall.
• have a passion for space and a desire to study space life science

*Citizens of US territories Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Marianas are U.S. citizens. Permanent Resident foreign nationals, Legal Resident Aliens, Work Permit holders, and Illegal Immigrants are not eligible.

The SLSTP Intern Program application deadline is January 5, 2021.  The 10-week program begins on June 7, 2021 and ends August 13, 2021. Interns accepted into the program receive a stipend. Financial support is also provided to interns who submit an accepted abstract as first author to the annual meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research.