LPI Summer Intern Program 2027 in Houston, USA: Eligibility, Stipend and How to Apply

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, Texas, takes undergraduate students for a 10-week summer of real planetary science research. Interns work with scientists at LPI or NASA Johnson Space Center, live in housing near the institute and receive a stipend. International students can apply, except citizens of countries on NASA’s Designated Countries List. Applications for summer 2027 close on 14 December 2026.

This guide was last checked on 21 October 2026 against the official LPI Summer Intern Program pages: the main page, eligibility, application information and FAQ.

LPI Summer Intern Program at a glance

Is this internship right for you?

The LPI programme is a strong first research experience for undergraduates who are curious about space science. Ask yourself:

• Are you far enough into your degree? You need at least 50 semester hours of credit, which is about the end of your second year in a US-style system.
• Do you enjoy science, maths or engineering? Preferred majors are the physical and natural sciences, engineering, computer science and mathematics.
• Can you spend 10 weeks in Houston? The programme runs from 7 June to 13 August 2027, and you need to be there for all of it.
• Is your country eligible? Citizens of countries on NASA’s Designated Countries List cannot apply.
• Are you thinking about graduate study? A summer of research and a conference presentation can strengthen later applications for a master’s or PhD.

What planetary science covers

Planetary science studies how planets, moons, asteroids and comets form and change. It draws on geology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, engineering and computing. That is why LPI welcomes students from many science and engineering majors: a geology student might study rocks and craters, a physics student might model processes on other worlds, and a computer science student might analyse spacecraft data. You do not need to be a planetary science major to apply.

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. Each summer it invites undergraduates to work on research projects with scientists, either at LPI or at NASA Johnson Space Center. Interns learn how professional research works, from planning and analysis to presenting results.

Why this internship is worth applying for

Few summer programmes let undergraduates from around the world do real research with planetary scientists. In 10 weeks you work on a genuine project, present your results twice, and join a group of interns with the same interests. You also gain a mentor who has seen your research first-hand. For students who are thinking about graduate study in the earth, planetary or space sciences, or in related engineering and computing fields, that experience can make later applications much stronger. Housing and a stipend are provided, which makes the summer more affordable for students from other countries.

The 2027 programme timeline

What the summer looks like

The programme has a clear shape. It starts with orientation on 7 June 2027, when you meet the other interns and start on your project. For the first weeks you learn the background and methods for your project. On 7 July you give a midterm presentation on your progress. In the second half of the summer you complete your analysis and prepare your final results. On 11 August you present your work at the LPI Summer Intern Conference, and you depart on 14 August.

This structure means you leave with a finished piece of research, presentation experience and a mentor who knows your work well, which can lead to a strong recommendation letter for graduate school.

Building your presentation skills

Interns present twice: at the midterm and at the August conference. If you have little presentation experience, practise before the summer. Present a class project to friends, keep slides simple with one idea each, and practise explaining your work in plain language to someone outside your field. Clear communication is a key research skill, and these talks are a chance to show it.

What interns receive

• A stipend. The FAQ says interns are responsible for reporting their stipend earnings to the US tax authority. The stipend amount is not stated on the official pages we checked.
• Housing. Interns live at University Forest Apartments, near the research facility.
• A research project with an LPI or NASA Johnson Space Center scientist.
• Presentation experience at the midterm presentations and the summer intern conference.

If your project needs travel off site, the FAQ says you provide your own transport. Travel to Houston is not described on the pages we checked, so ask LPI if you are selected.

Who can apply

• You are an undergraduate who has completed at least 50 semester hours of credit.
• You are enrolled in a bachelor’s programme in the semester before the internship.
• Majors in the physical or natural sciences, engineering, computer science or mathematics are preferred, but all eligible students are considered.
• US citizens and foreign nationals can apply.
• Citizens of countries on NASA’s Designated Countries List are not eligible. Check the list on NASA’s website before you apply.

You do not need to choose a mentor before you apply. The FAQ says applicants do not have to identify potential mentors.

What does 50 semester hours mean?

In the US system, a full-time student usually completes about 30 semester hours a year, so 50 semester hours is roughly the end of your second year. If your university uses ECTS or another system, check how your credits compare, and make sure your transcript shows them clearly.

Checking NASA’s Designated Countries List

Citizens of countries on the US Department of State Designated Countries List, which NASA uses, are not eligible. The list can change, so check the current version on NASA’s official website before you start your application. If you hold more than one citizenship, ask LPI how the rule applies to you before you invest time in the application.

Credits, timing and graduating seniors

You must be enrolled in a bachelor’s programme in the semester before the internship and have at least 50 semester hours of credit. The eligibility page does not say whether students who graduate before the summer can take part, so if you will finish your degree before June 2027, contact LPI to check. If your university uses a different credit system, include a short note or a transcript key that shows how your credits compare.

Documents you need

1. Online application form with essay-style questions. Once you start, you must complete all questions, including the essays. Paper applications are not accepted.
2. CV or resume.
3. Official transcripts. Original or electronic transcripts must come directly from your registrar or a transcript service and include your application number. Unofficial transcripts you send yourself are not accepted.
4. Two or three recommendation letters, submitted independently through the online system by the deadline.
5. Proof of English for foreign nationals whose first language is not English: a TOEFL score, an IELTS score, or a letter from a professor in your college’s English department.

Everything, including transcripts and letters, must arrive by 14 December 2026.

How interns are selected

LPI selects interns based on the application, including academic experience, scientific interests and how well you fit the available projects. Selected applicants hear in March 2027 and must reply within two days, or the offer is withdrawn. Keep checking your email in March.

Writing strong essay answers

The essay questions are part of the online form. Prepare your answers in a document first, then paste them in. Some tips:

• Show your interest in planetary science. Explain what draws you to the Moon, planets or the solar system, with a specific example such as a course, a project or a mission you followed closely.
• Describe your skills. Mention programming, data analysis, lab work, fieldwork or mathematics you have done, with concrete results.
• Explain what you want to learn. Say what kind of research you hope to try and how it fits your future plans, such as graduate study.
• Be clear and honest. Simple, specific writing is stronger than general statements.

Preparing a science CV

Your CV should help LPI match you to a project. Keep it to one or two pages and include:

• Education: your university, major, expected graduation date and credits completed.
• Relevant courses: key science, mathematics and programming courses.
• Research and projects: lab work, class projects, fieldwork or independent research, with one line on what you did.
• Technical skills: programming languages, software, lab techniques and data tools.
• Awards and activities: scholarships, science clubs, competitions or outreach.

Our research CV guide shows how to describe projects clearly, even at undergraduate level.

Proving your English

If you are a foreign national and English is not your first language, you must show English proficiency with a TOEFL score, an IELTS score, or a letter from a professor in your college’s English department. Minimum scores are not stated on the official source. The professor’s letter option can save time and money; ask early if you plan to use it. Our comparison of IELTS and TOEFL can help if you need a test.

How to stand out

• Show hands-on experience. Even a small research or lab project shows you can work like a scientist.
• Show coding or data skills. Many space science projects use programming and data analysis. Mention any experience with tools such as Python.
• Be specific about your interests. Name a topic you would like to explore, but stay open to the project you are matched with.
• Choose referees who know your work. A detailed letter from a professor who supervised you is stronger than a short letter from a famous name.

Getting your recommendation letters

You need two or three letters, and your referees submit them through the online system. Ask professors who know your work in science, mathematics or engineering, ideally someone who supervised a project or lab. Send them your CV, a short summary of your interests and the 14 December deadline. Our guide on strong recommendation letters explains how to brief them.

Arranging official transcripts

This step takes the longest for many international students. Your transcript must come directly from your registrar or transcript service and include your application number. Start the application early so you have your application number, then contact your registrar straight away. Ask how they send electronic transcripts to institutions in the USA, and allow extra time around the end of the semester.

A plan from now to 14 December

After you are selected

Selected applicants hear in March 2027 and must reply within two days, or the offer is withdrawn. After accepting, plan your summer:

• Visa: foreign nationals will need the right US visa for the programme. Ask LPI which type applies and start as soon as possible.
• Travel: plan to arrive for orientation on 7 June 2027 and leave on 14 August. Ask LPI what travel support, if any, is available.
• Taxes: the FAQ says interns are responsible for reporting their stipend earnings to the US tax authority.
• Housing: you will live at University Forest Apartments near the institute.

Life in Houston for the summer

Houston summers are hot and humid, so pack light clothing. Interns live together near the institute, which makes it easy to meet other students. If your project needs travel to another site, the FAQ says you arrange your own transport, so ask your mentor early how you will get there. Use the summer to attend talks, meet scientists and prepare a strong presentation for the August conference.

If you are not selected

Research internships are competitive, and many strong students are not chosen in their first try. If you do not receive an offer in March, keep building your profile: join a research group at your university, take programming or data courses, and look at other summer research programmes. You can apply to the LPI programme again in a later year if you still meet the eligibility rules.

Related research opportunities

• Max Planck Computer Science Summer Internships in Germany.
• NIMS Internship Program in Japan.
• USTC Research Internship Program in China.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending unofficial transcripts yourself.
• Applying with fewer than 50 semester hours of credit.
• Leaving essay questions incomplete.
• Referees missing the 14 December deadline.
• Not checking NASA’s Designated Countries List.
• Missing the two-day window to accept an offer in March.

Checklist before you submit

• I have completed at least 50 semester hours of credit.
• My country is not on NASA’s Designated Countries List.
• My essay answers are complete and specific.
• My official transcripts are on their way from my registrar.
• Two or three referees have submitted letters.
• I have proof of English if I need it.

Frequently asked questions

Can international students apply?

Yes. US citizens and foreign nationals can apply, except citizens of countries on NASA’s Designated Countries List.

Is the internship paid?

Yes. Interns receive a stipend and housing. The stipend amount is not stated on the official pages we checked.

Do I need to find a mentor first?

No. Applicants do not need to identify potential mentors.

When is the deadline?

14 December 2026, for the application and all supporting materials.

When will I hear back?

In March 2027.

Do I need to be a planetary science major?

No. Physical and natural sciences, engineering, computer science and mathematics majors are preferred, and all eligible students are considered.

Where will I work?

At the Lunar and Planetary Institute or NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, depending on your project.

How many letters do I need?

At least two and no more than three, submitted through the online system by 14 December 2026.

Can I send unofficial transcripts?

No. Transcripts must come directly from your registrar or a transcript service.

Is there an application fee?

An application fee is not stated on the official pages we checked.

Can I apply if I am in my first year?

Only if you will have completed at least 50 semester hours of credit by the time you apply. Most first-year students will not meet this rule yet.

Where to apply

Apply from the official LPI Summer Intern Program page. Our LPI Summer Intern Program page keeps the key facts in one place.