The SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Summer Intern Program is a nine or ten week long program, depending on the availability of Harvard housing. In 2009 the program will likely run from Sunday, June 7th through Saturday, August 15th.
The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. Undergraduate students interested in a career in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or related physical sciences are encouraged to apply for the 2009 program.
Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents (Green Card holders), and must be enrolled in a degree program leading to a bachelors degree. Seniors who will graduate in June of 2009 (or before) are not eligible.
Application information:
A completed application consists of the on-line application form,
at least 2 letters of recommendation from professors, supervisors or
others who know you well, and official transcipts from all colleges or
universities you have attended.
We ask for an essay (600 to 800 words submitted as part of the on-line application) describing academic and career goals, scientific interests, relevant work experience, why you would like to be in our program and why you would be a good candidate.
All parts of the application for the 2009 program must be completed by February 2, 2009. All materials except recommendation letters and transcripts must be submitted via the on-line applicaton form. The electronic on-line application form will be locked at 5:00 pm EST (Eastern Standard Time) on February 2, 2009. Letters of recommendation and official transcripts must be mailed separately by U.S. mail, or other hard-copy carrier, postmarked no later than midnight EST of the deadline date. If an application is not complete, it will not be considered.
Application Requirements and More Information
You must be registered to access the on-line application.
Go to the Fellowship Application Login page.
Select "Update Account"
then "Register". On the Registration page, enter your full email address
and a password of your choice. Repeat the password for verification and
select "Register Now".
On-line Application Form
After logging in to the application, select "View Application
Status" to check what remains incomplete in your application. In
addition, when viewing your application online, you can check
previously uploaded files by clicking on the numbered button
provided. You can access and edit your application form until it is
locked at the 5:00pm EST deadline.
Please read the Application Requirements section carefully.
We do not accept FAXed or e-mailed application materials.
We do not accept "Jobtrack" or other electronic resumés.
They will not be considered.
Please have letters of recommendation and transcripts sent via U. S. mail to:
Program Director.
SAO Summer Intern Program.
Mail Stop 70.
60 Garden Street.
Cambridge, MA 02138
2008 SAO Summer Intern Program Events
Calendar for 2008 Summer Intern Program:
2008 Summer Colloquia: titles and abstracts
SAO Summer Intern Symposium, held August 13th, 2008
Past and Present Interns
- Who they are, where they came from.
Descriptions of SAO Intern's projects and abstracts from science talks given by them:
What are they doing now?
- Where they went from here.
More about Research Experiences for Undergraduates...
Other REU sites, internships and undergraduate job possibilities that may be of interest
Office of Education and Outreach
Smithsonian Institution Office of Fellowships and Grants
Minority student internships at the SAO Center for Astrophysics and elsewhere
Employment opportunities at the SAO Center for Astrophysics
Undergraduate Employment opportunities at the SAO Center for Astrophysics
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9731923.
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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NSF sponsors several other summer REU
astronomy programs.
For more information about the SAO Summer Intern Program and
other programs run by the High Energy Astrophysics Division:
(Harvard students are given preference for these jobs.)
You can contact us at:
Internet address: intern[at]cfa.harvard.edu
Valid e-mail messages sometimes get discarded as spam.
If, and only if, we do not reply to your e-mail within a
reasonable time period (allow at least one full business day),
you may call us on the phone.
Telephone: Kara Tutunjian -- (617) 496-7063.
If you are a graduate student looking for a research fellowship program,
the National Science Foundation offers one:
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This page last updated November 1st, 2008.