ADVICE FOR ON
OR OFF PLANET ™
BY JEN ROCHLIS, PH.D.
Here’s a little about me…
As part of WAN’s Board of Advisors, I’ve spent over 30 years in the
aerospace industry, working across academia, government, and
private industry, and currently as an entrepreneur. I run both an
aerospace consulting company and a coaching practice, where
I help individuals, teams, and families. I’m also a mom of three
and, like many of you, I’ve navigated plenty of ups and downs in
both my career and personal life. Through it all, I’ve remained
dedicated to understanding how humans survive and thrive,
both on- and off-planet.
So, whether you’re early in your career, navigating a transition, or
looking for support to take your next big step, I’ve been there —
and I’m here to help. As a mentor, advisor, and consultant, I’ve
had the privilege of supporting women at every stage of their
careers, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support you
through this column.
In every issue, I’ll answer a few of the many great questions sent
to WAN. If you’d like the chance to see yours featured in the next
column, send it to media@womensaerospace.com.
Hi there, I’m Jen, and I’m honored to share this
space with you (pun definitely intended).
Ask away!
HOW CAN STUDENTS APPLY FOR
NASA INTERNSHIPS? DOES NASA
HAVE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
FOR STUDENTS?
I’ll start by pointing you to NASA’s website, NASA.gov, which
provides an overview of the various programs available for high
school, college, graduate, and international students.
If you’re looking toward a career as a NASA government
employee (and are a U.S. Citizen), I recommend exploring the
Pathways Program. It’s one of the most direct routes to being
hired at NASA. However, it’s important to know that most NASA
employees work through contractors. In fact, at any given NASA
center, there are often far more contractor employees than civil
servants.
Each NASA center has a different focus (e.g., Earth science,
human spaceflight, launch operations), so once you know how
your interests align with a specific center, you can research the
companies that provide contractor support there. For example,
NASA’s Stennis Space Center has a career site listing more than
15 companies that supply contractors, many of which hire
interns and full-time employees. It's also a great time to look at
commercial spaceflight opportunities, as those companies are
expanding and hiring.
Mentorship happens naturally during NASA internships, and if
you’re hired full-time, there are many career development and
mentorship opportunities for both civil servants and contractors.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to network and connect with
mentors in the aerospace industry.
Lastly, if you’re aiming for a NASA internship, apply early. Start
preparing your applications now for spring, summer, and fall
internships and reach out to me or others in our community if
you need help with your applications or interviews!
SPRING 2025 - 6