SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Our Summer Internship Program offers an opportunity for college and university students to gain work experience in a wide variety of disciplines. Interns learn firsthand about the historic artifacts and archival materials housed in the Museum and study the scientific and technological advances they represent.

Each year, positions are available in a variety of Museum areas such as aircraft restoration, aviation or space history, planetary science, collections management, web and new media, exhibit and graphic design, public relations, budget and finance, architecture and engineering, and education. Students from all fields of study are encouraged to apply.

Location and Schedule
Many interns work in the Museum in Washington, DC, but others work at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, or the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Suitland, Maryland. A commitment of 10 weeks during the summer is required. Full-time interns work 40 hours per week beginning the first week in June until the second week in August.

Stipend and Housing
A $5,500 stipend is provided to help interns defray expenses. Information on lodging options is provided upon selection as an intern, but interns are responsible for locating and securing lodging.

Eligibility
To be considered for a summer internship, you must be a high school graduate and be enrolled in a degree-granting undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university. You are expected to have a strong academic record. Applicants from outside the U.S. are welcome! More information for international interns is available on the intern orientation website.

How to Apply 
Applications are accepted from January 15 to February 15 during the calendar year of the internship. Interns are notified of the status of their application by April 1. Visit the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA) website to apply.

Complete applications must include the following: 

• Application
• Unofficial transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• A Statement of Purpose (500-1,000 words) indicating the type of internship you are interested in and explaining how an internship will contribute to your education and career goals