Student Opportunities & Internships
Explore internships, research experiences and employment opportunities related to physics, astronomy, geosciences and science education. The lists below are a starting point, not a complete list of available opportunities. Talk with your adviser about programs that fit your interests.
Internships
Summer research internships can provide valuable experience for future employment or graduate study. Many are paid, and application deadlines often fall between January and March. These programs can be competitive, so consider applying to several.
You do not need to have every skill listed in a program description before you apply. Coursework and lab experience can be a good starting point; you can ask an instructor whose course you did well in for a letter of recommendation. If you have applied before and were not selected, consider trying again.
Physics and Astronomy Internships List
This list is a starting point, not a complete list of internships in physics and astronomy. Talk with your adviser about opportunities in other areas of physics or your field of study. Check each program’s website for current dates and eligibility before applying.
Data Science
Physics
- NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Physics
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine: Summer Fellowship Program
- DREAM medical physics internship
- Department of Energy internships and fellowships through ORISE
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory internships Laurel, Maryland
- NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
- American Physical Society internship listings
- Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)
- Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)
- Caltech LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships
- CERN Summer Studentship
- Caltech WAVE Fellowships
- UMD TREND: Training and Research Experiences in Nonlinear Dynamics
- Idaho National Laboratory internships
Listed as inactive on the original page (2025)
Aerospace
- National Space Internship Program
- Zed Factor Fellowship
- Zed Factor Fellowship FAQs
- Ball Aerospace internships (Boulder, Colorado)
- Northrop Grumman internships
- Lockheed Martin careers (search for internships)
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Planetary Science
- UMD GRAD MAP
- NASA internships
- NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Astronomy
- NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Physics Some programs may also have astrophysics or space physics options.
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory / Green Bank Observatory summer student programs
- NRAO NAC program
- Rowland Fellows at Johns Hopkins University
- Space Telescope Science Institute: Space Astronomy Summer Program (Baltimore, Maryland)
- Lunar and Planetary Institute internships (Houston, Texas)
- Berkeley SETI Research Center internships
- Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics REU Summer Intern Program
- American Astronomical Society: Internships and Summer Jobs
Listed as inactive on the original page (2025)
International Opportunities
- DAAD RISE: Research Internships in Germany
- LEAPS/ESA Astrophysics Program for Summer Interns at Leiden Observatory
- ASTRON Summer Research Programme
Note: Some U.S. programs also accept international applicants. Check each program’s eligibility requirements.
Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities
Master’s-to-PhD Bridge Programs
- Princeton University Horizon Fellows Program (formerly the Pre-Doctoral Program)
- University of Central Florida Physics Bridge to Doctorate
- University of Michigan Imes-Moore Bridge Program
- University of Texas at Austin astronomy graduate program (specific bridge program not confirmed)
- APS Bridge Program
Geosciences Internships List
This list is a starting point for finding internships and related opportunities in geosciences. Check each organization’s website for current openings and application details.
- Smithsonian Institution Internships
- Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Laboratory: EPIIC Internship
- Virginia Space Grant Consortium
- Maryland Geological Survey: Employment Opportunities
- Maryland Environmental Service: Internships
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- Idaho National Laboratory Internships
Research Opportunities in the Department
Working with faculty on a research project is another way to gain experience and explore an area of interest. See the current list of open opportunities, or talk with a faculty member whose work interests you. Use the following list to find active research opportunities within the department.
Department Employment Opportunities
The department offers several ways for students to gain experience while working on campus.
Federal Work-Study Positions
Students in the federal work-study program may work as lab or office assistants. These positions are generally filled at the beginning of the semester. Contact Dr. Scott at jescott AT_TOWSON with questions.
FCSM Ambassador
FCSM ambassadors represent the physics and geology programs at open houses and other student recruitment events. Ambassadors are recruited by the FCSM dean’s office. Contact Dr. Scott at jescott AT_TOWSON with questions.
Undergraduate Learning Assistant or Course Grader
Learning assistants help instructors with class or lab activities, problem-solving sessions and tutoring. Course graders help with grading. Each role is about five hours per week and is typically open to students who earned a B or higher in the course. Students can serve in both roles for the same class during the same semester. If you’re interested, talk with an instructor whose course you did well in.