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The LPI Summer Intern Program 2027 is fully funded. Selected interns receive at least $13,639 in financial support, which covers an internship stipend, travel, housing and living costs, for a 10-week planetary science research internship in Houston, Texas, USA.
The internship is run by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), and some interns work with NASA’s Johnson Space Center. It is open to undergraduate students from the United States and other countries who have completed at least 50 semester hours of university credit.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | USA (Houston, Texas) |
| Organisation | Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), with NASA Johnson Space Center |
| Duration | 10 weeks: 7 June to 13 August 2027 |
| Funding | Fully funded: at least $13,639 for stipend, travel, housing and living costs |
| Study level | Undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours of credit |
| Who can apply | U.S. citizens and foreign nationals (not citizens of NASA Designated Countries) |
| Application fee | None mentioned |
| Deadline | 14 December 2026, 11:59 PM US Central Time |
What is the LPI Summer Intern Program?
The Lunar and Planetary Institute is a research institute in Houston that studies the Moon, planets and the solar system. Its summer internship has trained young scientists since 1977, and many of today’s leading planetary scientists started there.
For 10 weeks, from 7 June to 13 August 2027, you work one-on-one with a research scientist on a real project. You also join lectures, career workshops, lab tours at NASA Johnson Space Center, a midterm presentation and the LPI Summer Intern Conference at the end of the programme.
What you get
- At least $13,639 in financial support
- An internship stipend
- Travel to and from Houston
- Housing (paid directly to the housing provider and taken from the total)
- Living costs for the 10 weeks
- One-on-one research mentoring from planetary scientists
Who can apply
- Undergraduate students who have completed at least 50 semester hours of credit
- Enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in the semester before the programme
- U.S. citizens and foreign nationals
- Majors in physical or natural sciences, engineering, computer science or mathematics are preferred, but all eligible students are considered
- You can take part only once
Citizens of countries on the NASA Designated Countries List are not eligible, for security reasons. Check that list on the official page before you apply.
Is there an age limit?
No age limit is listed. Applicants are considered without regard to age.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
If you are a foreign national and English is not one of your main languages, you need proof of English. You can send a TOEFL score, an IELTS score, or a letter from a professor in your university’s English department confirming your spoken and written English.
Do I need to study physics or astronomy?
No. Science, engineering, computer science and maths majors are preferred, but all eligible undergraduates are considered. Selection also looks at how well your interests match the available research projects.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee is mentioned.
Required documents
- The online application form, including the essay-style questions
- An official transcript, sent directly by your university or mailed as an original
- Your CV or resume
- Two or three letters of recommendation, submitted by your referees through the online system
- Proof of English, if you are a foreign national and English is not your main language
All documents must be in English.
How to write your essays
Selection is based on your academic record, your career goals and scientific interests, and how well you match a research project.
- Read the research topics on the LPI site and name the ones that excite you.
- Describe any lab work, coding, data analysis or field work you have done, even in class.
- Explain your career goals and how planetary science fits into them.
- Ask referees who know your academic work well, and ask them early.
How to apply, step by step
- Open the official LPI internship page using the button at the end of this post.
- Check the eligibility rules and the NASA Designated Countries List.
- Start the online application and answer every question.
- Ask your university to send your official transcript, quoting your application number.
- Make sure your two or three referees submit their letters through the online system.
- Submit everything before 14 December 2026.
Selection process
LPI reviews each application on scholarship, curriculum and experience, career goals and scientific interest, and the match with specific research projects. Selected interns are told in March 2027.
Deadline
14 December 2026, 11:59 PM (US Central Time).
Your transcript and recommendation letters must also arrive by this date. The programme runs from 7 June to 13 August 2027.
Have a question?
Drop your question in the comments and we will do our best to help. If you study science or engineering, tell us which planet you would research, it helps the next reader.
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