Intern applications for AY26-27 are open from March 27 - May 22, 2026
Attention University of Arizona Undergraduate Students
The University of Arizona NASA Space Grant Internship Program is an opportunity to challenge yourself, learn new skills, and receive hands-on training in an exciting STEM field!
Can you imagine yourself working with a faculty mentor to develop an autonomous vehicle that will explore caves on Mars? What about studying the effects of zero-gravity on muscles and other organ systems; studying the effects of climate change on planet Earth; or even devising a system for mining fuel from a Martial atmosphere?
Imagine no more. The U of A NASA Space Grant Internship Program places U of A undergraduate students in paid research opportunities for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. Students work alongside practicing scientists on exciting cutting-edge research. We seek a robust group of students that are dedicated, enthusiastic, and eager to learn. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to participate in this NASA program - all STEM majors and those interested in STEM are welcome!
If you're ready for a challenge, then make sure to apply during the next round of open internships. For more information, contact Michelle Coe, Arizona Space Grant Manager, at PG4gdWVycz0iem52eWdiOnpucGJyQG5ldm1iYW4ucnFoIj56bnBickBuZXZtYmFuLnJxaDwvbj4=.
Program Details
Internship Overview
Review internship eligibility, award amounts, program timelines, expectations, and more.
Mentor Overview
Review mentor eligibility, mentor responsibilities, funding and cost-share options, deadlines, events, and other commitments.
Intern / Mentor Selection & Matching Process
Review the intern selection and project matching process.
Applications
Mentor Application
Apply February 9 - March 23, 2026
Please read our 'Mentor Overview' webpage to review mentor eligibility and FAQs. Please review our 'Matching Process' webpage for more information on the review, selection, and matching process for interns and mentors.
Intern Application
Apply March 27 - May 22, 2026
Please read our Intern Overview tab below to review intern eligibility and FAQs. Please review our Matching tab below for more information on the review, selection, and matching process for interns and mentors. For a preview of the application, view (PDF download).
Student Application Instructions & Available Projects
1. Scroll down this page to view the list of available internships for AY26-27.
2. Click the “Project Description” link for more details about each project proposal.
3. Note that a "Reserved" project means a mentor has identified a student(s) they want to work with, however, it does not mean that this student will be selected for the program.
4. Identify the internship(s) you are interested in (you can list up to 5 on your online application if you choose, or note that you're interested/open to being matched with any relevant project). You are encouraged to still put "Reserved" projects on your list because the requested student is not guaranteed a spot in the program and many projects have multiple positions open.
5. Fill out your online student application using the Qualtrics link above!
| Mentor | Location | Project Title | Open/Reserved Project | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamel Didan | UA Main Campus | How Shadows Affect Synoptic Remote Sensing Observations | Open | Project Didan |
| Carl Fields | UA Main Campus | Exploring Modeling Uncertainties in Core-Collapse Supernova Progenitors | Reserved/Open | Project Fields |
| Pierre Haenecour | Steward Observatory | Origins of Life’s Ingredients in Primitive Asteroids: Carbon Clues from the CM1 Meteorite El Mrira 002 | Reserved/Open | Project Haenecour |
| Chris Impey | Steward Observatory | Communicating Astronomy Research | Open | Project Impey |
| Vasiliki Karanikola | UA Main Campus | Sustainable Strategies for Mitigating Persistent Environmental Contaminants | Open | Project Karanikola |
| Mihailo Martinovic | UA Applied Research Building | Quasi-Thermal Noise Spectroscopy for ionosphere of Earth | Reserved/Open | Project Martinovic |
| Angela Marusiak | UA Main Campus and/or Remote | Moonquake Detection and Characterization on Short Period Seismometers | Open | Project Marusiak |
| Vasileios Paschalidis | UA Astronomy Building | Modelling Electromagnetic Signatures from Supermassive Binary Black Holes with Cutting-edge Computer Simulations | Reserved/Open | Project Paschalidis |
| Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta | UA Main Campus | Tiny Particles, Big Impact: Hands-On Environmental Health Research with Communities | Open | Project Ramírez-Andreotta |
| Tyler Robinson | UA Main Campus | Understanding Instrument Noise Impacts in Direct Imaging Observations with NASA HWO | Reserved/Open | Project Robinson |
| David Sand | UA Main Campus | The Hubble Census of Nearby Satellites: Measuring the Structure of the Faintest Galaxies | Open | Project Sand |
| Yancy Shirley | UA Main Campus | Comparing Deuteration Rates in the Taurus Molecular Cloud | Reserved/Open | Project Shirley_1 |
| Yancy Shirley | UA Main Campus | A Spectral Line Survey of A Collapsing Prestellar Core | Open | Project Shirley_2 |
| Sergey Shkarayev | UA Main Campus, AME Building | Suborbital Unmanned Aerial Vehicles | Open | Project Shkarayev |
| Carlos Vargas | UA Main Campus and/or Remote | NASA Aspera Space Mission Flight Operations and Software Development Internship | Open | Project Vargas_1 |
| Carlos Vargas | UA Main Campus and/or Remote | NASA Aspera Mission PR and Marketing Intern | Open | Project Vargas_2 |
| Israel Wygnanski | UA Main Campus, AME Building | Does distributed electrical propulsion change the wing loading? | Reserved/Open | Project Wygnanski |
| Lynne Zielinski | UA Special Collections Library, Main Campus | Historical Literature Researcher on Lunar Mapping and Feature Naming (for SpacEdge Education of National Space Society (NSS)) | Open | Project Zielinski |
| Emma Marcucci | Visits to AZ Remote Schools & Remote Work | Smithsonian STARS in the Classroom: Developing Multimedia Science Education Assets | Open | Project Marcucci |
| Dana Lapides | UA Main Campus and/or Southwest Watershed Research Center | Are plants making the river go dry? | Open | Project Lapides |
| Shuo Kong | UA Main Campus | Measuring Star Formation Rate in Infrared Dark Clouds | Open | Project Kong |
| Ramya Anche | Steward Observatory | Characterization of optical components for a small satellite Astrophysics pioneers mission, PUFFINS | Open | Project Anche |
| Joanna Masel | UA Main Campus | Simulating protein evolution under earlier genetic codes | Reserved/Open | Project Masel |
| Christopher Willmer | UA Main Campus | Uncovering strong emission line galaxies at redshifts between 4 to 6 | Reserved | Project Willmer |
| Virginie Faramez | Steward Observatory | Cosmic CSI: Profiling Planetary Architects in the Fomalhaut System | Reserved/Open | Project Faramez |
| Stefano Nerozzi | UA Main Campus | Drone-based radar instrument development for future planetary geophysics exploration | Open | Project Nerozzi |
| Christopher Hamilton | UA Main Campus | Lava Flow Modeling Using Network-Graph Theory | Reserved/Open | Project Hamilton |
| Renu Malhotra | UA Main Campus | Orbital pathways in cislunar space | Open | Project Malhotra |
| Hannah Budinoff | UA Main Campus | Leveraging Generative Artificial Intelligence in Structural Design and Additive Manufacturing | Open | Project Budinoff |
| Karen Perez | UA Main Campus | Searching for Pulsars and Technosignatures Toward the Galactic Center | Open | Project Perez |
| J. Serena Kim | UA Main Campus | Spectroscopic analysis of young stellar objects in stellar nurseries in Taurus and Orion star forming regions | Open | Project Kim |
| Stephanie Juneau | NOIRLab, on campus | Revealing the chemical enrichment of “missing” galaxies | Reserved/Open | Project Juneau |
| Brittany Miles | UA Main Campus | Simulating and Analyzing Mid-Infrared Exoplanet Observations | Open | Project Miles |
| James Threadgill | UA Main Campus | Transonic Wind Tunnel Testing: Experimental Design, Calibration & Analysis | Reserved/Open | Project Threadgill_1 |
| James Threadgill | UA Main Campus | Articulated Model Support System for Polysonic Wind Tunnel | Reserved/Open | Project Threadgill_2 |
| James Threadgill | UA Main Campus | Free-Flight Wind Tunnel Testing | Open | Project Threadgill_3 |
