Canadian Student Participation in the NASA International Internship (NASA I2) Project (summer 2022, fall 2022 & spring 2023)
To apply to the NASA I2 Project, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria. Certain criteria are required by NASA under the NASA I2 Project:
- Be a Canadian citizen on the date of application (NASA requirement);
- Be enrolled in a Canadian university as a full-time student in a graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) in a topic of interest to the CSA and relevant to NASA's mission priorities, as reflected in the available internship projects (NASA I2 Project List [PDF, 540 KB]). University enrollment must be effective at the time of application and at the time of the internship (refer to Section 5.5);
- Have previously completed an undergraduate or graduate program in STEM;
- Have obtained, for the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent), a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher on a scale of 4.0, or an equivalent standard if the student's university does not use GPA (an average grade of "
A-
" or higher). Note that the CSA reserves the right to consider the academic results obtained prior to the applicant's last two years of studies completed if few or no grades appear on their transcript in the last two years (for example, during multiple semesters devoted to research); - Be the first author or co-author of at least one (1) publication in a journal or in conference proceedings;
- Be proficient in written and spoken English (level "
Intermediate
", "Advanced
" or "Native
" required; this criterion may be evaluated) (NASA requirement).
Note: Although applicants may indicate their interest for more than one internship session (summer 2022, fall 2022 and/or spring 2023), priority may be given to applicants participating in the NASA I2 Project for the first time or who have not previously interned at NASA.
As part of its commitment to support the development of the next generation of space professionals in Canada and to foster future international collaboration between Canada and other countries, the CSA joined the NASA International Internship (NASA I2) Project.
NASA I2 is a NASA initiative that seeks to better prepare students (U.S. and international) for future missions that require innovative thinking and cooperation with international collaborators. It is an intensive experience with an emphasis on learning, teamwork, research, and creativity. The program balances science and technology exploration with intercultural experiences. Interns take part in seminars on a wide variety of topics from both internal and external experts, informal discussions, supervised research, group projects, cultural lunches/ dinners, poster presentations, tours of NASA facilities, and other self-organized social events in the area. Interns make connections with peers and professionals in their fields and form relationships that serve them throughout their careers.
Internships are offered by NASA in three sessions during the calendar year: spring (16 weeks), summer (10 weeks) and fall (16 weeks). Current NASA participating research centres are the Ames Research Center and the Goddard Space Flight Center. The internships are not remunerated.
As a NASA I2 Project participant, the CSA may nominate highly qualified university students who may subsequently be selected by NASA to participate in internship projects along with U.S. students and students from abroad.
As the only official agency in Canada allowed to submit candidates to NASA for the NASA I2 Project, the CSA will manage, through this AO, the preselection of Canadian graduate students that have a demonstrated expertise and background in scientific and technical areas of interest to NASA and the CSA. Interested applicants should refer to the NASA I2 Project List (PDF, 540 KB) and submit their application for one internship project. Applicants may select up to two (2) alternate internship projects in case their first choice is not available. In that case, NASA could consider the alternate choices. However, applications will be assessed by the CSA on their first choice only. Applicants should verify specific project information to know the exact location of each internship.
The CSA and two funding organizations, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada, intend to award grants to the students that are selected by NASA to support them with their associated expenses such as travel, lodging, meals and visa processing costs if applicable. The total grant amounts that could be awarded to each grantee are the following:
- Up to $8,000 for a 10-week internship (summer);
- Up to $11,000 for a 16-week internship (fall and spring).
The CSA's share of these amounts is $2,000 for a 10-week internship and $3,000 for a 16-week internship.
The CSA will preselect Canadian applicants that comply with the AO eligibility criteria and who successfully pass the evaluation process. As funding organizations, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada will also be part of the preselection process. The files of the applicants that will have successfully passed all the stages of the preselection process, as described in Section 5, will be submitted to NASA for its final selection. The CSA, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada will support a maximum of six (6) applicants per fiscal year.