In this guide, we’ll cover all important details about the NASA SEES Internship, including eligibility requirements, the application timeline, research opportunities, and the selection process, along with tips for submitting a competitive application. We’ll also shed light on how your SEES participation can strengthen your academic profile and give you an edge in your college applications.
1. What is NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science?
The NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Internship is a prestigious research program that engages high school students with NASA research teams. Interns directly collaborate with NASA scientists and university researchers to investigate scientific questions using NASA mission data.
Hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research (CSR), SEES gives students exposure to a wide range of research fields. Earth science and planetary science sit alongside astronomy and aerospace engineering, with additional tracks in remote sensing, data science, microgravity research, and space geodetic techniques. Over the course of the summer, participants work through the full research cycle. They analyze scientific data and develop a project alongside the team, then present their findings at a professional science symposium.
Several SEES alumni have gone on to significant achievements:
- Riya Tyagi (SEES 2023) was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024 Top 40 Finalist, earning a $25,000 prize
- Zoe Koniaris (SEES 2019) went on to Princeton University for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and received the Brooke Owens Fellowship
- Three other SEES alumni were named Regeneron STS 2024 Top 300 Scholars
- One alumnus now works as an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the Europa Clipper mission
- Several alumni have successfully published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Yale Scientific Journal and Journal of Emerging Investigators
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2. Is the NASA SEES Competitive?
SEES started small in 2010 as a local program serving 12 students and three teachers every summer. A $1.3 million NASA grant in 2015 changed their trajectory. That significant funding allowed the Center for Space Research to formalize its curriculum and recruit mentors from NASA’s research network, eventually expanding a regional pilot into a national internship program that attracts thousands of applicants from all over the United States.
Today, approximately 3,000 students compete annually for around 80 internship spots, putting the acceptance rate at around 2–3%. For comparison, that is tighter than the admissions rate at most Ivy League universities. This level of selectivity places SEES among the most competitive STEM research programs available to high school students.
3. Eligibility Requirements
The NASA SEES Internship is open to high school students in the 10th and 11th grades (high school sophomores and juniors) who are U.S. citizens and who demonstrate a strong interest in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Selected students are required to complete required online coursework and activities before participating in the on-site internship program
4. Program Structure and Timeline
SEES runs in three phases: (1) distance learning, (2) project work under mentors, and (3) either an on-site engagement in Austin or a virtual internship. Here’s the timeline of activities for reference:
Date | What Happens |
February 22 | Application deadline (8:00 PM PT, no exceptions) |
March 1 | Recommendation forms due |
Around May 1 | Notification emails sent |
May 15 – July 1 | Earth and Space Science distance learning module |
May 15 – July 1 | Python distance learning module (if required by project) |
June | SEES Speaker Series (Tuesdays and Thursdays) |
June – July 3 | Project-specific online work with mentors |
July 1 | Distance learning modules due (8:00 PM PT, no exceptions) |
July 5 – 18 | On-site internship at UT Austin |
July 18 | Departure of interns |
June – July 21 | Virtual project work (schedule varies by project) |
July 20 – 21 | Virtual Science Symposium (all interns present) |
Starting May 2026, students will complete required online learning activities to prepare for their research projects. Coursework can include foundational Python programming, an introduction to remote sensing techniques, or training in the specific software a research group uses to process satellite data. The goal is to have every intern arrive at their project already fluent in the tools their mentor expects them to use, rather than losing valuable research time to basic instruction once the summer starts. All activities must be completed by July 1, 2026, to remain eligible for the program.
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4. Program Structure and Timeline
SEES runs in three phases: (1) distance learning, (2) project work under mentors, and (3) either an on-site engagement in Austin or a virtual internship. Here’s the timeline of activities for reference:
Date | What Happens |
February 22 | Application deadline (8:00 PM PT, no exceptions) |
March 1 | Recommendation forms due |
Around May 1 | Notification emails sent |
May 15 – July 1 | Earth and Space Science distance learning module |
May 15 – July 1 | Python distance learning module (if required by project) |
June | SEES Speaker Series (Tuesdays and Thursdays) |
June – July 3 | Project-specific online work with mentors |
July 1 | Distance learning modules due (8:00 PM PT, no exceptions) |
July 5 – 18 | On-site internship at UT Austin |
July 18 | Departure of interns |
June – July 21 | Virtual project work (schedule varies by project) |
July 20 – 21 | Virtual Science Symposium (all interns present) |
Starting May 2026, students will complete required online learning activities to prepare for their research projects. Coursework can include foundational Python programming, an introduction to remote sensing techniques, or training in the specific software a research group uses to process satellite data. The goal is to have every intern arrive at their project already fluent in the tools their mentor expects them to use, rather than losing valuable research time to basic instruction once the summer starts. All activities must be completed by July 1, 2026, to remain eligible for the program.
On-site internship details
The main on-site internship in Austin, Texas, will take place at the University of Texas Center for Space Research. During this two-week stretch, students will conduct research and attend academic sessions while also participating in field investigations under the guidance of teachers and graduate student mentors. Depending on the project, this can mean flying drones for mapping exercises or working hands-on with satellite data in a lab setting.
Students participating in virtual research projects shall complete all activities from June through July 2026, with schedules varying depending on the research team. While virtual interns don’t get the on-campus experience, many virtual projects, such as the Air Quality Initiative or Exoplanet Transits, involve collecting original data from the student’s own location, which gives the research a personal, place-based dimension that on-site projects don’t always have.
Every intern, whether virtual or on-site, will present their research findings at the SEES Virtual Science Symposium on July 20–21, 2026, where they will share their work with NASA experts, scientists, families, and invited guests.
5. Tips for a Strong Application
Demonstrate Meaningful STEM-Related Experience
The admissions committee values active STEM exploration beyond the four corners of the classroom. Highlight all the research projects, engineering builds, coding experience, science competitions, or independent learning that you can, because these can all serve as evidence of your curiosity and problem-solving ability.
Connect Your Interests to SEES Research Projects
SEES offers a variety of research teams, each focused on a different scientific discipline. Review the available projects before applying, then explain why particular research areas align with your interests and experience.
For example:
- If you are interested in aerospace engineering, you can expound on robotics, engineering design, or flight-related projects.
- If astronomy is your passion, mention telescope observations, astrophotography, astronomy clubs, or coding projects tied to astronomical data.
- If you enjoy environmental science or data analysis, highlight experiences working with weather, climate, GIS, or programming.
Even students without a perfect match can make a compelling case by drawing a clear line between an interest and a specific project, provided they can explain the connection honestly. Showing that you understand what these research opportunities involve and explaining why they are a good fit for your goals can strengthen your application significantly.
Create an Authentic Introduction Video
The introduction video gives reviewers an opportunity to learn about you beyond what you wrote on your application. Use this opportunity to catch the admission committee’s interest with your enthusiasm and personality. Reviewers watch a large volume of these videos, so the ones that stand out tend to be specific rather than a generic statement of interest.
Practice enough to speak with clarity and confidence, but avoid memorizing a script word for word. A natural, genuine presentation often leaves a stronger impression than one that sounds rehearsed. Filming in a quiet space with decent lighting also matters, as a clear recording lets your personality come through without distraction.
Choose a Strong Recommender
Your recommendation letter should come from someone who has directly observed your intellectual abilities and work ethic. This can be your Science teacher, research mentor, engineering instructor, or robotics coach; they can often provide more detailed and persuasive narratives about your interest than someone who knows you outside the academic setting. Be sure to ask well in advance so your recommender has enough time to write a thoughtful letter before the deadline.
It also helps to share a short summary of your STEM activities and aspirations with your recommender ahead of time, since even a teacher who knows you well may not remember every relevant detail without a reminder.
Rank Research Projects Carefully
When ranking your project preferences, choose the areas that genuinely match your interests and skills. Remember that the SEES selection committee places students where they are most likely to succeed and contribute meaningfully, so decide mindfully.
Be honest about your experience level. Selecting projects solely because they seem prestigious, rather than because they fit your background, can lead to a less rewarding experience if you get admitted. A strong ranked list usually includes at least one project a student feels confident about alongside one or two that stretch their skills, rather than five equally ambitious reaches.
Build Your STEM Profile Early
If you are not yet eligible to apply, the groundwork can start now. Many successful applicants have spent years developing their interests through coursework, extracurricular activities, competitions, and independent projects, often long before they reach the eligibility stage.
A student who starts a robotics club as a freshman, or spends a summer teaching themselves Python through free online courses, is quietly building the exact profile SEES looks for two years later. The point isn’t to check every box on this list, but to follow one or two interests consistently enough that a real track record forms.
Consider opportunities such as:
- Conducting an independent research project
- Joining robotics, coding, or Science Olympiad teams
- Learning programming languages such as Python
- Participating in science fairs or engineering competitions
- Taking advanced STEM coursework
- Exploring NASA’s open datasets or citizen science projects
- Keeping a running log or portfolio of projects and results, even informal ones, to draw from later when writing the application
Over time, these experiences help build the technical skills and research mindset that the SEES program values.
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