ICONS Internships
Inspiring Clipper: Opportunities for Next-generation Scientists (ICONS) offers undergraduate internship opportunities to develop and sustain a diverse and inclusive Europa science community who will eventually lead the extended mission to Jupiter's icy moon.
Europa ICONS
The new Inspiring Clipper: Opportunities for Next-generation Scientists (ICONS) internships will bring members of the Europa Clipper mission team together with undergraduate students for 10-week programs that give students the opportunity to conduct original scientific research.
Internships may be in-person at the mentor's institution, virtual, or hybrid, depending on the research project and needs of the mentor and intern.
Near the end of the 10 weeks, students and mentors will convene for a two-day conference.
Interns will receive a $12,000 stipend for the duration of the program, and may be eligible for travel, housing, and relocation allowances, depending on the location of their research activities.
See below for more program details.
The first Europa ICON internship will run June 3-Aug. 9, 2024.
Questions? Contact Amanda Nahm, Europa Clipper deputy program scientist, at HQ-EuropaICONS@mail.nasa.gov.
Europa Clipper
Earth's first mission to conduct a detailed science investigation of Jupiter's moon Europa, where scientists predict a vast salty ocean lies beneath its icy crust, possibly holding the building blocks necessary to sustain life.
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Participation Information for Students
- Enrollment as an undergraduate student at a U.S. degree-granting institution, including community colleges, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. U.S. citizens enrolled at non-U.S. institutions are also eligible to apply, but must be in the U.S. for the internship (whether in person or virtual).
- May be in person, fully virtual, or travel back and forth regularly.
- Must be U.S. citizens.
- Preference will be given to students at institutions without active participation in planetary spacecraft missions.
- Provide resumes/CVs and transcripts and short description of interest.
- Stipends of $12,000 for 10 weeks, with a travel/relocation stipend also possible.
- Travel/lodging and related costs will be covered for the end-of-program mini conference.
meet the mentors
Dr. Tracy Becker
Planetary Scientist, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio
Dr. Don Blankenship
Senior Research Scientist, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin
Dr. Geoff Collins
Professor of Geology, Wheaton College, Massachusetts
Dr. Ingrid Daubar
Planetary Scientist, Brown University, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Charlie Detelich
Ph.D. Student in Astronomy, Cornell University
Dr. Andrew Dombard
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Planetary Science, Geophysics, and Planetary Exploration, University of Illinois, Chicago
Dr. Christopher Glein
Lead Scientist, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Sergei Gleyzer
Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Co-director Alabama AI Center, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Dr. Paul Hayne
Assistant Professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
Dr. Matt Hedman
Assistant Professor, Physics Department, University of Idaho
Dr. Karl Hibbits
Planetary Scientist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Hsiang-Wen (Sean) Hsu
Research Scientist, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
Dr. Benjamin Idini
Planetary Geophysicist and fellow, UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, University of California Santa Cruz
Dr. Sascha Kempf
Associate Professor, Physics Department, University of Colorado, Boulder
Dr. Erin Leonard
Project Staff Scientist, Europa Clipper mission, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Melissa McGrath
Senior Scientist, SETI Institute
Dr. Heather Meyer
Planetary Scientist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Kelly Miller
Group Lead, In Situ Techniques Group, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio
Dr. Wes Patterson
Principal Staff Scientist, John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Carol Paty
Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty, Clark Honors College, University of Oregon, Eugene
Dr. Cynthia Phillips
Planetary Geologist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Julie Rathbun
Senior Scientist, Planetary Science Institute, Pasadena. California
Dr. Ujjwal Raut
Experimental Physicist and Planetary Scientist, UTSA-SwRI Space Physics Graduate Program
Dr. Kurt Retherford
Planetary Scientist, UTSA-SwRI Space Physics Graduate Program
Dr. Kirt Robinson
Assistant Research Scientist, Arizona State University
Dr. Paul Schenk
Senior Staff Scientist, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas
Dr. Dustin Schroeder
Associate Professor, Geophysics and Electrical Engineering, and Senior Fellow, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University
Dr. Frank Seelos
Planetary Scientist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Gregor Steinbruegge
Research Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Angela Stickle
Planetary Scientist and Hypervelocity Impact Physicist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Samantha Trumbo
Astronomer, Planetary Scientist, and Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University
Dr. Ngoc Truong
Planetary Scientist, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Elizabeth (Zibi) Turtle
Planetary Scientist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Steve Vance
Deputy Manager, Planetary Science Section, NASA JPL
Dr. Hunter Waite
Clipper MASPEX Science Lead, University of Alabama
Dr. Danielle Wyrick
Staff Scientist, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Duncan Young
Research Associate Professor, University of Texas Institute for Geophysics
2024 Internships
ICONS Cities
ICONS students, mentors located across U.S., Puerto Rico
The 40 undergraduate ICONS interns and their mentors from the Europa Clipper team will work together on mission science.
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Europa ICONS Flyer
Help spread the word about the Europa ICONS undergraduate internships by posting and sharing this downloadable flyer.
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