Like science and space? Become an NSBRI intern at NASA.
Applications are being accepted for 10-15 week summer internships involving research that benefits health care on Earth. The positions, part of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s Summer Internship Program, provide an introduction to the health concerns associated with long stays in space.
The program places undergraduate, graduate and medical students in labs working under the guidance of scientists and physicians at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., or NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
Applications for the program are due January 31, 2011, and include an online application, CV or resume, letter of interest, college transcript and two letters of reference. Participants must have completed their second year of undergraduate studies by the summer of 2011 and must be U.S. citizens. Since 1998, 136 students from 70 universities have participated in the highly competitive program.
"Interns work in labs at NASA and learn not only how their work is benefiting space exploration but also how the research benefits health on Earth," said Dr. Jeffrey Sutton, NSBRI director. "We hope as a result of their exposure that many of the students will seek careers related to the nation’s space program."
Typical internship projects include assessing muscle performance and changes in lean body mass, studying the effects of radiation on bone, testing products in the space food systems laboratory, and developing techniques to assess physiological adaptation to space.
NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight. Research findings will also impact the understanding and treatment of similar medical conditions experienced on Earth. The Institute’s science, technology and education projects take place at more than 60 institutions across the United States.
For more information, visit the NSBRI Summer Internship Program web page, contact 713-798-7412 or email info@nsbri.org.