Working for NASA may be a dream for some, but did you know you can contribute to the organization's projects as a student? NASA internships are in high demand and Career Communications Group (CCG) had the opportunity to speak with the senior intern coordinator, Jennifer Becerra, about the many opportunities NASA is providing.

Becerra works for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She recruits and manages the many interns that walk thought NASA’s doors. She said applicants go through one round of interviews but sometimes, mentors conduct a second interview to learn more about the candidates.

“Once we understand their needs, we give the list of candidates to mentors,” Becerra said. “Every now and then they’ll do a quick phone call to some of the candidates for a second interview and then we determine together who would be the best fit for their particular project.”

Internships are available to students of all levels, from high school, community college, and four-year universities. Becerra encourages students to apply no matter their circumstances because they may be surprised by NASA’s response.

“I applied for a NASA job as a teacher thinking ‘I’ll never get an interview.’ I bought a house and then two months later, I was moving to Houston. You just never know,” Becerra explained.

There are projects in just about every STEM discipline at NASA from mathematics to aerospace and mechanical engineering. Sharmane Powell is a current NASA intern. She said her previous internship experiences gave her the tools she needed to successfully land her internship at NASA. She is currently doing an internship from home and plans to be on-site for her summer internship opportunity.

Powell said that the application process was straightforward. She advises to prepare to answer why you would like to work at NASA in 255 words or less.

“I suggest eliminating soft skills from this explanation and include them more in the skill section,” Powell said. “It’s good to have the application pre-planned before starting.”

Along with other companies, NASA is making an effort to create a more inclusive space for current and future employees. Becerra said they removed the letter of recommendation requirement because they want to include students who have not had the chance to develop professional relationships yet.

If you would like to intern at NASA, you can apply online.