Application Guide – NASA Science

Important Dates

• Application window: May 25 – June 26, 2026
• Recommendations due: July 10, 2026
• Notification window: August 2026
• Term: September 14 – November 20, 2026

• Application window: August 31 – October 9, 2026
• Recommendations due: October 23, 2026
• Notification window: November – December, 2026
• Term: January 11 – April 16, 2027

Eligibility Requirements

• At least 18 years of age by the start of the term
• Demonstrated experience and skills in Earth and environmental sciences, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and/or computer science
• U.S. citizenship or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status (required for all opportunities – in-person and virtual)
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (either cumulative or most recent) from the current or most recent institution of higher learning
• Ability to work 25-29 hours per week for the entire term during regular business hours for each location (typically 9am – 5pm Monday through Thursday)
• For in-person opportunities: Participants must have the ability to provide personal transportation to and from the EarthRISE Developers Academy location
• For virtual opportunities: Participants must reside and work within the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. for the entire term. Remote work from U.S. territories or outside the U.S. is not permitted.

Participant Classifications

Currently Enrolled Students: Students who are currently enrolled at a U.S. accredited community college, undergraduate or graduate college or university.

Must provide evidence of enrollment at an accredited U.S. school (acceptance letter or current unofficial transcripts).

Recent Graduates: Individuals who graduated with an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. accredited college or university within the past two years. 

Must provide evidence of successful graduation from a college or university (diploma or transcript showing graduation).

Early/Transitioning Career Professionals: Individuals who are pursuing further experience in the Earth sciences and remote sensing, transitioning to a new career field, and/or have at least two years of work experience in a professional environment (including transitioning/recently transitioned veterans from the U.S. Armed Forces).

Must provide transcripts from most recent college or university.

Application Checklist

The application process consists of the following sections:

• Profile
• Eligibility questions
• Application form
• Short essay questions
• Recommendation
• Voluntary information (optional)

Online Application Instructions

To submit an application, follow these steps:  

1. Click the link at the top of this Application Guide Page to open the online application. 
2. Select “Sign Up” to create a new user account or login if you are a returning user.  
3. New users will need to complete the applicant profile section. Select “Create a Profile to Get Started” and then select “Create Profile” to continue.  
4. Select the “Get Started” submission card to begin the eligibility confirmation process.  
   • Once you answer the eligibility questions, select “Mark Complete” at the bottom of the page, then select the green “Submit Eligibility” button at the top of the page to complete your eligibility.  
   • Select “View” on the eligibility section. If you meet the eligibility requirements, there will be a blue link at the bottom of the page that will take you to the applicant portal to complete your application.   
   • If you do not see a blue link at the bottom of the page, then you are not currently eligible and cannot continue.   
5. Select “Get Started” to start your draft application. 
6. Complete the application form and select “Mark Complete.”
7. Complete the short essay questions and select “Mark Complete.”   
8. Complete the recommendation section by selecting “New Request” and adding contact information for at least two recommenders, preferably one from an academic and one from a professional source, and then select “Send.” If necessary, two academic or two professional recommendations are acceptable. Select the “Close” button once you enter your recommender information to return to the Homepage.  
   • Once an applicant enters their recommenders’ information and selects “Send,” the recommenders will receive an email with instructions on how to submit the online recommendation form. Note: The deadline for recommenders to submit the online recommendation form is two weeks after the application window closes.    

9. Complete the optional voluntary information section, if you choose.  
10. Once all sections are marked “Complete,” applicants must select the green “Submit” button at the top of the page to submit their completed application.  

Important notes:

• Applicants will receive a confirmation email when a “Draft” application has been started and a final email once the application has been successfully “Submitted.”
• Applicants should save after each section to avoid losing progress.
• It is suggested to compose short essay responses on a separate document, and then copy and paste into the form.
• All applicants should review their entire application before submitting.
• You can re-access your draft application by logging in through the application portal.
  • A link to the application portal is included in the email you receive once a draft application is started.
  • The portal is also linked at the top of this Application Guide Page.
• Applicants missing recommendation form(s) after the recommendation deadline may not be considered.
• Once applications are submitted, they are accessible for review but not for revision.
• NASA EarthRISE Developers Academy prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI- assisted tools to draft application responses. Any applicant found to have used AI or AI-assisted tools will be disqualified. These tools include, but are not limited to, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

Late application submissions will not be reviewed or considered. There is no exception to this requirement.