The Vermont Space Grant Consortium (VTSGC) aims to build a strong STEM workforce that meets the needs of our local emerging technology industries and our communities. To support this goal, the VTSGC offers the Vermont Intern Share Program, generating NASA-funded internships at our local Industrial Affiliates. The purpose of this program is to assist Industrial Affiliates with offering competitive and enticing internship opportunities to attract and retain early-career STEM professionals in Vermont. By providing co-sponsorships, participating Industrial Affiliates can advertise and interview candidates for a NASA-funded internship on-site at their own facility while retaining complete control over which student and team member(s) they choose to hire. This is a program designed for Vermont industry, and you must be an Industrial Affiliate to apply for this NASA-funded internship co-sponsorship. For information on how to become an Industrial Affiliate of the VTSGC, please email Ellen.Brennan@uvm.edu.
If you are a student looking for internship opportunities in Vermont, we recommend you search at our Industrial Affiliates' websites directly. They offer many exciting and engaging career opportunities for students and recent graduates of all ages and backgrounds.
The VT Intern Share Program
Background
A major goal of the Vermont Space Grant Consortium (VTSGC) is to build a strong STEM-focused workforce that meets the needs of our local emerging technology industries and our communities. To support this goal, the VTSGC invites applications for the Vermont Intern Share Program. The VTSGC will co-sponsor one intern hired by awarded Vermont industries who will be completing NASA-relevant work, providing resources to host a NASA-funded internship at their facility. Industry partners must propose a project on which a future intern will work, and this project must be strongly aligned with new or ongoing NASA research priorities or technology needs. The number of these awards is subject to the availability of NASA funding, and the amount of co-sponsorship will be half the rate of onsite NASA internships.
Eligibility
Eligible companies are those who are Industrial Affiliates of the VTSGC. For information on how to become a VTSGC Industrial Affiliate, please contact the VTSGC at Ellen.Brennan@uvm.edu.
Eligible interns will be high school through graduate student or recently-graduated students who will be working on-site with the Industrial Affiliate. Support from VTSGC-based funding is restricted to US citizens, but otherwise, the Industrial Affiliate will have complete discretion over who they hire to work on the awarded project.
Areas of Interest
Proposed internship projects or work must be in an area that is strongly aligned with a new or continuing NASA research priority or technology need, and the application must make an explicit connection with NASA along these lines. Current NASA priorities and existing projects can be explored here on the NASA Mission Directorates website. The work must also provide substantial professional and skill development for the student with the potential to improve and/or expand their career prospects.
Obligations with Award
Awarded Industrial Affiliates will be required to submit contact information for the hired intern before the internship begins. Interns will be required to (1) complete a demographic survey at the start of their internship and (2) provide a final report within 30 days of the end of the award period. The Industrial Affiliate will also be required to provide a brief report within 30 days of the end of the award period. Additional research progress update(s) may be requested during the award period to address NASA reporting requirements.
Review Criteria
Selected projects will be in areas that strongly align with NASA priorities and technology needs, will engage the hired intern in work critical to the company’s mission, and will have a strong potential to provide meaningful professional and skill development for the intern. Successful proposals will clearly describe what hands-on and engaged work the intern will complete.
Applications responsive to this call will be reviewed by VTSGC staff who will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the application in each of the following domains: overall impact for the intern, overall impact for the company, and alignment with NASA. Applicants will receive written critiques regardless of funding status.
Budget & Matching Funds
A brief budget must be part of the application package. This budget will clearly state the stipend rates and benefits (if applicable) for internships at the company. Matching funds are required for proposals to be eligible for the competition. Funding requested from the VTSGC must be matched 1:1. Common sources of matching funds include remaining internship stipend amounts and designated in-kind effort from internship mentors.
Submit an Application
The completed application packet must include the following items:
Cover page (using template provided at the top of this page)
Project narrative (limit: 1 page)
NASA alignment (limit: 1 page)
Budget detail, including matching plan
Items 2–4 must be typed and single-spaced using at least a 12-point font size. Applications that do not adhere to this requirement will not be considered.
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION PROCEDURE: All applications must be submitted electronically to the VTSGC Office no later than 11:59 pm on February 06, 2026. The application packet must be saved as a single PDF file and emailed to SG.Director@uvm.edu using the subject line “2026 Vermont Intern Share Application”.