The LPI Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on research alongside leading planetary scientists. During the 10-week internship, students conduct meaningful research and participate in enrichment activities, including lectures and career development workshops.

The benefits of this internship include:

Developing new skills and refining others

Meeting and working with professionals

Establishing contacts for letters of reference and networking

Experiencing a new work environment

The 10-week program runs from June 1 to August 7, 2026. Summer interns will work one-on-one with a scientist from the LPI or the NASA Johnson Space Center on a research project.

ELIGIBILITY:

Undergraduates who have completed at least 50 semester hours of credit are eligible. Students with majors in physical or natural sciences, engineering, computer science, or mathematics are preferred, but all eligible students will be considered. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, religion, or other protected status.

Selection is based on these criteria:

Scholarship, curriculum, and experience

Career objectives and scientific interest

Match of the applicant’s interest with available research projects

All online application information must be received by the LPI no later than December 12, 2025, 11:59 p.m. U.S. CST. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Notification of selection will be made by March 2026. Successful applicants should be prepared to make a decision regarding the offer to participate within two days of notification.

Due to security issues, citizens of countries identified on the U.S. State Department Designated Countries list are not eligible. Reference the Designated Country List: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

You must submit your application using the online application form. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Once you begin the application, you must complete all questions on the form, including the essay-style questions. Upon submission, you will receive a confirmation email with your application number and a link to track the status of your letters of recommendation. All application materials must be submitted in English.

To be considered for the program, you are required to submit the following items.

At least two (maximum of three) letters of recommendation via the online application

Official transcript

The application and all supporting materials must be submitted in English and received by December 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. CST

Transcripts: Both official original and electronic transcripts are accepted. Unofficial transcripts from the applicant will not be accepted.

Electronic transcripts must be sent directly from the Institution registrar or the Institution transcript service to: internprogram@lpi.usra.edu. You must include your application number when providing the delivery address to the registrar or transcript service.

Original transcript should be mailed to:
LPI Summer Intern Program
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston, TX 77058-1113

Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation must be submitted independently through the online application system.

English Language Proficiency (for Foreign Nationals): If you are a foreign national, and English is not one of your primary languages, you must provide current proof of English proficiency through one of the following methods.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score

A letter from a professor in your college’s English department confirming that you possess sufficient spoken and written English skills to successfully participate in the internship program.

BENEFIT:

Selected interns will receive at least $13,351 in financial support to cover the costs associated with their stay in Houston during the program. This amount covers the internship stipend, travel, housing, and cost of living expenses. Housing costs will be paid directly to the housing vendor on behalf of the intern from this total and will be deducted from the total stipend amount.