Our structured summer internship program provides firsthand experience working in a museum. It's a great introduction to museum work or an opportunity to expand on previous experience.
Each year, positions are available in areas such as aviation or space history, planetary science, digital experience, exhibit and graphic design, communications, finance, and education. Students from all fields of study are encouraged to apply.
During the 10-week program, each intern is assigned a supervisor and works on an internship project and other tasks. In addition to their projects, interns also frequently meet as a group for presentations, professional development opportunities, enrichment activities, and tours.
Discover what internships we're offering this year below, and learn more about each project.
Fast Facts
Length: 10 weeks, full-time
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Stipend: $5,500
Application Open: January 15 to February 15
Questions? Email: NASMInternships@si.edu
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2015 intern Chris Reddersen assists in conservation of the Spirit of St. Louis.
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Education Outreach interns Celeste Zabowski and Brendan Fay film for an episode of the webcast series “STEM in 30.”
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2013 interns pose with NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn.
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2015 interns gather for a group photo at the Farewell Lunch.
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Retired Rolls-Royce North America CEO and Chairman of the National Air and Space Museum Board Jim Guyette talks to the 2014 interns about success.
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2014 Collections intern Melissa Miller works with a model aircraft at the Paul E. Garber Center.
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2015 interns tour the Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Where does this internship take place?
Many interns work at the Museum in Washington, DC, but others work at the nearby Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, or the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Suitland, Maryland.
When does the internship program take place?
The 2017 program will run from May 30, 2017 until August 4, 2017. Interns work full-time, 40 hours a week.
Are the dates flexible?
We are happy to work with you to figure out a start and end date that work with your existing commitments and school schedule. However, a commitment of 10 weeks during the summer is required.
Is there financial support for this internship?
We provide a $5,500 stipend to help interns defray expenses. This stipend is administered in intervals during the internship period.
Who can apply?
To be considered for the Summer Internship Program, you must be a high school graduate and be currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a degree-granting undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university. You are expected to have a strong academic record. Applicants from outside the U.S. are welcome! More information for international interns is available on the intern orientation website.
How and when do I apply?
Applications are accepted from January 15 to February 15 during the calendar year of the internship. Interns are notified of the status of their application by April 1.
The National Air and Space Museum Summer Internship Program application must be submitted via the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA). Complete applications must include:
- Unofficial transcript
- Two letters of recommendation
- A statement of purpose (500-1,000 words) indicating the type of internship you are interested in and how an internship will contribute to your education and career goals
Please indicate your top three projects on your SOLAA application. If you have questions about filling out the application, please see our SOLAA tips.
What do I need to know to qualify for an internship?
Internships are opportunities to learn and grow your skills. While you don't necessarily need work experience related to the internship you plan to apply for, you are expected to have a base knowledge of or familiarity with the subject (e.g. exhibits design interns will be expected to have familiarity with programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop).
What Internships are Available
This year's internship projects can be found below. Learn more about each project. You will indicate you top three projects on your SOLAA application.
At the Museum in Washington, DC
Curatorial and Archival Internships:
Archival Information Management
Diversity in Space History Exhibitions (Curatorial)
Interview Transcription and Qualitative Analysis (Space History/Curatorial)
Space Shuttle Artifact Acquisitions (Space History/Curatorial)
Education Internships:
Astronomy Education
Engaging Girls in STEM (Education)
Middle School STEAM Education
Museum Education
Museum Management and Operations Internships:
Advancement and Fundraising
After-Hours Programming
Project Management
Visitor Services
Planetary Research Internships:
Investigating the Subsurface of Mars (CEPS Research)
Jupiter’s Moon Europa (CEPS Research)
Mapping Lava Flows on Mars and Science Outreach (CEPS Research)
Venusian Impact Ejecta (CEPS Research)
Strategic, Digital, and Visual Communications Internships:
Communications and Public Relations
Digital Content Creator (Written)
Exhibit and Graphic Design
Digital Video Archiving
Multimedia Design and Production
Social Media
Video Production
At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia
Conservation Internships:
Paper Conservation
Conservation of Flak-Bait
Education Internships:
Aerospace Education
Engaging Girls in STEM (Education)
Museum Management and Operations Internships:
Visitor Services
Strategic, Digital, and Visual Communications Internships:
Communications and Marketing
At the Paul E. Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland
Exhibits Production Internships:
Fabricating Museum Exhibits and Signage
