[nfbcs] Announcement: NASA Internship Opportunities for Summer 2011

[Silberman, Kenneth A. (GSFC-1600)]

NASA is looking to increase the number of blind and disabled students, pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers through our internship programs. We have a two-percent hiring goal. Students can apply between November 1 and February 1. They can register for an account and look for internships anytime at http://intern.nasa.gov/ . Internships run for ten weeks from May 31, 2011,  through August 5, 2011.

In order to be eligible to apply, students must be accepted as freshmen at an accredited institution of higher learning, i.e., a college or university at the time of the internship. This is what we call a rising freshman. NASA has internships for rising freshmen through doctoral students in STEM fields. A minimum GPA of 2.8 is required to apply; however, applicants must understand that the competition for internships is keen. The age limits for interns are eighteen years and up.

Internships are available at all NASA centers nationwide. Students can submit applications where they either select or do not select an opportunity or opportunities. Selecting an opportunity or opportunities has the advantage of allowing applicants to be considered by mentors who work in disciplines of interest and at a particular center. For example, an opportunity having to do with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) will be at Goddard in Maryland because SDO is here. Not selecting any opportunities may result in no mentors even looking at their applications because they will not have flagged their applications to mentors' opportunities. It's important to make clear that applications can be viewed by all mentors whether students select opportunities or not. However, not selecting any opportunities means that prospective interns will be hoping that a mentor happens to read their applications rather than directing their applications to mentors in fields and at centers of interest.

Students, who are selected for internships, will receive an offer letter by E-mail sometime after February 2, 2011. They will then have five days to either accept or reject the offer on the website. The offer will automatically expire after five days if no action is taken.

Please feel free to contact me for more information or help with applying.

Kenneth A. Silberman, Esq.
U.S. Supreme Court, Maryland, & Patent Bars B.A., M.Eng., J.D.
NASA Engineer & Registered Patent Attorney Education Office Code 160 NASA/GSFC Mailstop 160 Bldg. 28 Rm. N165 Greenbelt, MD  20771, USA
Voice:  (301) 286-9281
Fax:  (301) 286-1655
E-mail:  kenneth.a.silberman at nasa.gov
Office Location:                 Building 28 Room W151