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Canadian Student Participation in the NASA International Internship (NASA I²) Project (summer , fall & spring )

On this page

  1. Introduction
  2. AO Objectives
  3. Eligibility Criteria
  4. How to Apply
  5. Evaluation Process
  6. Service Standards
  7. Available Funding
  8. Grants Agreement
  9. Confidentiality and Consent of Personal Information
  10. Outreach Activities
  11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Announcement of Opportunity (AO)

Publication date:

Application deadline:

The CSA only receives applications when the selection process is open.

Important Notice: Applicants are asked to read the following AO thoroughly, including the Frequently asked question (FAQ) section, which is updated on a regular basis, before submitting their applications. All applications deemed incomplete will be rejected.

Key dates:

1. Introduction

As part of its commitment to support the development of the next generation of space professionals in Canada and to foster future international collaboration between Canada and other countries, the CSA joined the NASA International Internship (NASA I²) Project.

NASA I² is a NASA initiative that seeks to better prepare students (U.S. and international) for future missions that require innovative thinking and cooperation with international collaborators. It is an intensive experience with an emphasis on learning, teamwork, research, and creativity. The program balances science and technology exploration with intercultural experiences. Interns take part in seminars on a wide variety of topics from both internal and external experts, informal discussions, supervised research, group projects, cultural lunches/ dinners, poster presentations, tours of NASA facilities, and other self-organized social events in the area. Interns make connections with peers and professionals in their fields and form relationships that serve them throughout their careers.

Internships are offered by NASA in three sessions during the calendar year: spring (16 weeks), summer (10 weeks) and fall (16 weeks). Current NASA participating research centres are the Ames Research Center and the Goddard Space Flight Center. The internships are not remunerated.

As a NASA I² Project participant, the CSA may nominate highly qualified university students who may subsequently be selected by NASA to participate in internship projects along with U.S. students and students from abroad.

As the only official agency in Canada allowed to submit candidates to NASA for the NASA I² Project, the CSA will manage, through this AO, the preselection of Canadian graduate students that have a demonstrated expertise and background in scientific and technical areas of interest to NASA and the CSA. Interested applicants should refer to the NASA I² Project List and submit their application for one internship project. Applicants may select up to two (2) alternate internship projects in case their first choice is not available. In that case, NASA could consider the alternate choices. However, applications will be assessed by the CSA on their first choice only. Applicants should verify specific project information to know the exact location of each internship.

The CSA and two funding organizations, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada, intend to award grants to the students that are selected by NASA to support them with their associated expenses such as travel, lodging, meals and visa processing costs if applicable. The total grant amounts that could be awarded to each grantee are the following:

The CSA's share of these amounts is $2,000 for a 10-week internship and $3,000 for a 16-week internship.

The CSA will preselect Canadian applicants that comply with the AO eligibility criteria and who successfully pass the evaluation process. As funding organizations, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada will also be part of the preselection process. The files of the applicants that will have successfully passed all the stages of the preselection process, as described in Section 5, will be submitted to NASA for its final selection. The CSA, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada will support a maximum of six (6) applicants per fiscal year.

This AO is consistent with the terms and conditions of the CSA Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology – Awareness and Learning Component.

Applicants are asked to read the following AO thoroughly before submitting their applications. This AO was prepared to help applicants complete the application process, and outlines key elements, including mandatory eligibility criteria and selection process. In the event of any discrepancies between this AO and the individual grant agreement, the latter document will take precedence.

2. AO Objectives

The key objectives of this AO are to:

3. Eligibility Criteria

To apply to the NASA I² Project, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria. Certain criteria are required by NASA under the NASA I² Project:

Note: Although applicants may indicate their interest for more than one internship session (summer , fall and/or spring ), priority may be given to applicants participating in the NASA I² Project for the first time or who have not previously interned at NASA.

4. How to Apply

In this section

Applicants must read the following section carefully and follow all of the steps that are indicated below in order to ensure their applications are completed and submitted successfully.

Applicants have the option to submit their applications either electronically (Section 4.1) or by mail (Section 4.2).

Note on the language of the application – Applicants may submit their application in the official language of their choice, English or French. As stipulated, preselected applications will be submitted to NASA for its final selection. Therefore, preselected applications that were submitted in French will have to be translated to English with very short notice to allow NASA to proceed with the final evaluation. This translation is only required for the purposes of NASA. Failure to comply with this requirement within the prescribed deadline may result in the applicant being rejected.

4.1. How to submit an application electronically (recommended)

  1. Download and complete the Application Form;
  2. Combine the following documents into a single PDF-formatted file, in the same order as is presented below. A complete application must contain the following:
    • A completed Application Form signed by the applicant. Electronic, scanned or typed signatures will be accepted for the time being, however applicants must keep a hard copy of the original application form signed by hand (in ink), as the CSA may require the documents with the original signature later in the process;
    • A copy of the applicant's proof of Canadian citizenship (such as a Canadian passport);
    • A single official document from the student's current university, such as an official attestation letter, that includes:
      • A confirmation of the student's full-time enrolment at a Canadian university, at the time of application, in a graduate program in STEM. The confirmation of full-time registration at the time of the internship will have to be submitted later in the preselection process, as indicated in Section 5.5;
      • The applicant's program of study (must be in a topic of interest to the CSA and relevant to NASA's mission priorities, as reflected in the available internship projects;
    • The applicant's up-to-date official transcript for the degree in progress (if at least one transcript has already been released for this degree). The applicant's official transcript must be issued and dated by the university during the semester in which the application is submitted and must include the name of the institution, the program in which the applicant is enrolled, the applicant's complete list of courses, including their mark in each course, and the legend explaining acronyms. The university's grading scale equivalencies between letter grades, percentages and grade point averages must also be provided;
    • The applicant's transcripts for all other undergraduate and graduate studies in STEM previously completed. Universities' grading scale equivalencies between letter grades, percentages and grade point averages must also be provided. If the previous studies were completed in a university abroad, the applicant must provide a proof of degree equivalency, such as an educational credential assessment, confirming that the completed degree is valid and equal to a Canadian one;
    • One (1) copy of a publication in a journal or in conference proceedings for which the applicant is the first author or co-author. This publication will be used to assess the relevance of the applicant's experience to their first choice of internship project;
    • A reference letter from a professor that holds a faculty position at a university and who supervised the applicant during their research work (refer to Section 5.2 of this AO and Section G of the Application Form for elements that must be covered in the reference letter). The reference letter must either be included in the PDF file submitted by the applicant, or be sent electronically by the professor to the CSA at stim-stem@asc-csa.gc.ca (the email subject must respect the following formatting standard: "NASA I2_APPLICANT LAST NAME_APPLICANT FIRST NAME");
    • The applicant's curriculum vitae.

    The documents requested must be combined into a single PDF-formatted file, in the same order in which they were presented above (with the only exception being the reference letter, which may be e-mailed separately by the professor at his or her discretion).

    The applicant must keep one hard copy of all the original documents above with the only exception being the reference letter. The CSA may require applicants who successfully passed the stages described in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 to send a hard copy of their complete application with the original documents (as stipulated in Section 5.5).

  3. Submit your completed application electronically:
    • Submit an account creation request using the Electronic Proposal Portal. Please note that Google Chrome is the browser of choice for submissions. Supported browsers are Google Chrome and Internet Explorer with some restrictions.
    • In the "Proposal title" field of the Electronic Proposal Portal, please use the following formatting standard: LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_NASA I2 2022-2023.
    • In the "Organization" section, under "Type", make sure to select "I don't represent an organization (individual)".
    • Allow approximately 72 hours for the CSA to send you an email confirming your account creation as well as instructions (user guide) on how to access the platform. It is strongly recommended that you submit your account creation request no later than .
    • Using the temporary password assigned to you by the CSA, login to the secured portal to upload protected documents.
    • Please refer to the user guide for instructions on how to securely upload your documents.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • Applicants using the electronic portal are encouraged to create their account no later than as technical difficulties may arise. If technical issues cannot be resolved, applicants can submit their application by mail (see below). Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload their complete application well before the submission deadline;
  • Applications must be submitted (successfully uploaded) by the applicants no later than , at 1:00 PM (ET). A late application is considered to be one that has an electronic timestamp on the CSA system later than the deadline above;
  • The onus is on the applicant to ensure that their application is complete and that all documents, including the reference letter, are uploaded or received by the CSA within the prescribed deadline;
  • The CSA is not responsible for electronic delivery delays under any circumstances, and will refuse applications that are received after the prescribed deadline;
  • Hand-delivered applications will not be accepted;
  • Applications sent by e-mail will not be accepted;
  • Applicants are asked to not send their application both electronically and by mail or courier service. If multiple applications are submitted, only the latest valid version received will be considered;
  • Incomplete applications may not be considered.

4.2. How to submit an application by mail or using a recognized courier service

  1. Download and complete the Application Form;
  2. Assemble the application package. A complete application must contain the following:
    • A completed application form signed by hand (in ink) by the applicant (electronic, scanned and typed signatures will not be accepted);
    • A copy of the applicant's proof of Canadian citizenship (such as a Canadian passport);
    • A single official document from the student's current university, such as an official attestation letter, that includes:
      • A confirmation of the student's full-time enrolment at a Canadian university, at the time of application, in a graduate program in STEM. The confirmation of full-time registration at the time of the internship will have to be submitted later in the preselection process, as indicated in Section 5.5;
      • The applicant's program of study (must be in a topic of interest to the CSA and relevant to NASA's mission priorities, as reflected in the available internship projects;
    • The applicant's up-to-date official transcript for the degree in progress (if at least one transcript has already been released for this degree). The applicant's official transcript must be issued and dated by the university during the semester in which the application is submitted and must include the name of the institution, the program in which the applicant is enrolled, the applicant's complete list of courses, including their mark in each course, and the legend explaining acronyms. The university's grading scale equivalencies between letter grades, percentages and grade point averages must also be provided;
    • The applicant's transcriptsfor all other undergraduate and graduate studies in STEM previously completed. Universities' grading scale equivalencies between letter grades, percentages and grade point averages must also be provided. If the previous studies were completed in a university abroad, the applicant must provide a proof of degree equivalency, such as an educational credential assessment, confirming that the completed degree is valid and equal to a Canadian one;
    • One (1) copy of a publication in a journal or in conference proceedings for which the applicant is the first author or co-author. This publication will be used to assess the relevance of the applicant's experience to their first choice of internship project;
    • A reference letter from a professor that holds a faculty position at a university and who supervised the applicant during their research work (refer to Section 5.2 of this AO and Section G of the Application Form for elements that must be covered in the reference letter). The reference letter is the only document that does not have to be on the USB memory key requested below. It must either be part of the documents that the applicant will mail with his or her complete application (in a sealed envelope or not), or be sent electronically by the professor to the CSA (details below);
    • The applicant's curriculum vitae;
    • A single PDF-formatted file containing copies (identical to the paper copies) of all the above-requested documents placed in the same order in which they were presented above (with the only exception being the reference letter, which can be sealed in an envelope or be sent electronically by the professor to the CSA at stim-stem@asc-csa.gc.ca; the email subject must respect the following formatting standard: "NASA I2_APPLICANT LAST NAME_APPLICANT FIRST NAME"). The PDF-formatted file must be saved on a USB memory key with all security features disabled. If there is any discrepancy between the hard copy and the electronic version, the hard copy takes precedence;
    • The hard copies of all of the documents listed in Section 4 must be placed in the same order in which they were presented above (see notes below).

  3. Send your application by mail or using a recognized courier service, to the following address:

    NASA I² Project
    c/o Emilie de La Haye Duponsel
    Senior Program Officer, Academic Development
    Canadian Space Agency
    6767 Route de l'Aéroport
    Saint-Hubert, Quebec J3Y 8Y9

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • Applications sent by mail or courier must be received at the CSA no later than , at 1:00 PM (ET);
  • The onus is on the applicant to ensure that their application is complete and that all documents, including the reference letter, are received at the CSA within the prescribed deadline;
  • The CSA is not responsible for mail delivery delays under any circumstances, and will refuse applications that are received after the stipulated deadline;
  • Hand-delivered applications will not be accepted;
  • Applications sent by e-mail will not be accepted;
  • Applicants are asked to not send their application both electronically and by mail or courier service. If multiple applications are submitted, only the latest valid version received will be considered;
  • Incomplete applications may not be considered.

5. Evaluation Process

In this section

5.1 Eligibility

Applications will first be submitted to an eligibility assessment by the CSA to verify whether they comply with the eligibility criteria listed in Section 3. Only applications that have passed the eligibility assessment will be given further consideration.

5.2 Evaluation by the CSA

Once the eligibility criteria are confirmed, the CSA's evaluators will assess the screened applications according to the criteria presented in Table 1 below. Applicants shall provide the appropriate documents, as indicated in the "Evidence" column and requested in Section 4, to demonstrate how each evaluation criterion is met. Only applications that obtain a total minimum score of 75% will be given further consideration.

Table 1. Definition and Breakdown of Evaluation Criteria
Criteria
(weighting %)		 Indicators Evidence
Academic excellence
(30%)
  • Academic record;
  • Scholarships, awards and other distinctions held;
  • Previously completed studies;
  • Type of program and courses pursued.
  • Past academic results (transcripts);
  • List of scholarships, awards and distinctions (Section D of Application Form).
Relevance of the applicant's experience to their first choice of internship project
(40%)
  • Demonstration that the applicant meets the NASA requirements for their first choice of internship project;
  • Applicant's potential contribution to the advancement of the project;
  • Judgment and ability to apply skills and knowledge to a project;
  • Relevance of the applicant's training and hands-on research experience related to the project;
  • Quality and relevance of the applicant's publication(s) in journals and/or in conference proceedings;
  • Other relevant achievements.
  • Answers and factual examples provided in Section E of Application Form;
  • Factual examples provided in reference letter in clearly identified sections;
  • Publication or conference proceeding provided;
  • List of publications in journals and/or in conference proceedings (Section B of Application Form);
  • Curriculum vitae.
Personal characteristics, leadership and interpersonal skills
(15%)
  • Professional, academic and/or other relevant extracurricular activities that demonstrate the applicant's leadership skills and ability to network;
  • Initiative and autonomy;
  • Description of how the applicant's work as a student stands out.
  • Factual examples provided in Section D of Application Form;
  • Factual examples provided in reference letter in clearly identified sections.
Motivation to contribute to the Canadian space sector
(15%)
  • Applicant's expectations for participating in the internship, and how their participation could positively impact their future contribution to the Canadian space sector;
  • Applicant's motivation in pursuing studies or a career in Canada upon their return from the internship in a space-related discipline or a discipline the space sector could benefit from.
  • Answer provided in Section F of Application Form;
  • Factual examples provided in reference letter in clearly identified sections.

Notes:

  • The overall score, which is the total of the scores for each of the criteria, will be used to establish a ranking of applications.
  • The CSA may, at its sole discretion, reject any application that fails the evaluation.

5.3 Evaluation by Mitacs and Fulbright Canada

As funding organizations, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada will assess the applications of the applicants preselected by the CSA. Only applications deemed eligible by Mitacs and Fulbright Canada will be given further consideration.

5.4 Security Screening

Applicants who successfully passed the stages described in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 above will be contacted by the CSA with instructions for authorizing the CSA's Security Services to run a security screening (reliability status), which is mandatory for this process. Applicants will be asked to complete a Screening, consent and authorization form and to submit their fingerprints within a very short timeframe. Only applicants that have obtained a reliability status will be given further consideration.

5.5 Other mandatory information

To complete the preselection process, the CSA may require applicants who successfully passed the stages described in Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 above, and who submitted their application electronically, to send a hard copy of their complete application with the original documents (as stipulated in Section 4). All applicants who successfully pass the stages described in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 will also be required by the CSA to provide additional information, such as an official confirmation of their full-time registration at a Canadian university at the time of the internship. Only applicants who provide the required additional information within the prescribed deadline will be given further consideration.

5.6 Final Preselection by the CSA

The CSA will rank the applicants who have successfully completed the security screening based on the score obtained in the evaluation conducted by the CSA (Section 5.2). The CSA may conduct a final evaluation of the applicants who obtained the highest final scores to only retain the applications of up to ten (10) applicants per internship session (summer , fall and spring ).

Priority may be given to applicants participating in the NASA I² Project for the first time or who have not previously interned at NASA. The CSA could also take into consideration factors such as a balanced representation across Canada as well as a diversified representativeness of the four designated groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. Please visit Employment Equity website for a complete definition of each group. We encourage you to indicate on a voluntary basis if you belong to one or more of these groups.

As stipulated in Section 4, preselected applications submitted in French will have to be translated to English by the applicants in a timely manner. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the application being rejected.

5.7 Final Selection by NASA

The applications of up to ten (10) applicants who have successfully passed all the above-mentioned stages will be submitted to NASA for each internship session (summer , fall and spring ) for its final selection. NASA security processing takes time, and delays are possible.

NASA may, at its sole discretion, reject any application and is under no obligation to select any applicant. NASA may also require additional information to evaluate applications.

The number of applicants who will participate depends on the quality of the applications received, NASA's final selection and available funding.

6. Service Standards

Applicants will be notified by email of decisions regarding their application. The CSA has set the following service standards for application processing times, including acknowledgements of receipt, funding decisions and payment procedures.

Applicants must submit all required documentation within the prescribed deadline.

7. Available Funding

The CSA, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada intend to award grants to the applicants who successfully complete the selection process and participate in the NASA I² Project. The total grant amounts that could be awarded to each grantee are the following:

The CSA's share of these amounts is $2,000 for a 10-week internship and $3,000 for a 16-week internship.

Each grant received from the CSA must only be used to cover, for the purposes of the internship, the following eligible expenses:

  1. Round trip transportation to the NASA research centre where the internship will take place;
  2. Accommodations during his/her internship; and
  3. Meals for the duration of his/her internship.

Eligible expenses exceeding the total grant amount as well as any other types of expenses, such as car rentals, are entirely the beneficiary's responsibility.

The CSA will provide grant recipients with the necessary personal income tax slips in a timely manner.

Notes:

  • Grant terms and conditions specific to Mitacs and Fulbright Canada may apply;
  • The CSA reserves the right to reject applications or to reduce its share of the total grant amounts at its sole discretion.

8. Grants Agreement

In this section

The signature of a grant agreement is subject to the selected applicants meeting all the eligibility requirements to receive the grant and complying with every obligations that will be described in the grant agreement. The eligibility criteria and the terms and conditions of that grant agreement must be met throughout the duration of the agreement. Each recipient has the obligation to inform the CSA in writing of any change in the conditions used to establish their eligibility for the grant.

8.1. Payment

Grants are to be awarded separately by the CSA, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada. The management of Mitacs and Fulbright Canada's grants is the sole responsibility of these respective organizations. Selected applicants should directly communicate with Mitacs and Fulbright Canada for any concern or question regarding their share of the total grant amount.

For the CSA's share of the total grant amounts:

  • Obtaining the grant is conditional upon the applicant signing a grant agreement with the CSA that includes conditions that the applicant will have to agree to;
  • All terms of payment for the grant will be set out in the grant agreement.

8.2. Intern Obligations

Selected applicants will have to comply with certain obligations that will be provided later in the process to the selected applicants and detailed in the grant agreement, including but not limited to the following:

  • Consent to comply with a participant code of conduct and ethics which outlines the conduct and behaviours expected by NASA and the CSA. This document will be provided to selected applicants with their grant agreement, for their consent and signature;
  • Obtain in a timely manner all the appropriate insurance coverage, including insurance requested by NASA, which must remain in effect for the duration of the travel/internship;
  • Comply with all the requirements in the U.S. related to foreign travelers and any additional requirements from NASA or the participating research centres applicable to foreign travelers;
  • Plan in a timely manner their travel, book their accommodations, and have in their possession all the mandatory documents required to enter the U.S.;
  • Agree to fully participate in the internship experience.

All the requirements from NASA or the research centres will be communicated to the selected applicants as soon as they are received by the CSA.

The selected applicants will have to submit an internship report upon their return that will be shared with Mitacs and Fulbright Canada.

Notes:

  • The CSA reserves the right to reject selected applicants at its sole discretion if a selected applicant does not comply with eligibility requirements or any of the obligations described in this or other documents pertaining to the selection process, or in the grant agreement that will be provided.
  • An additional agreement might have to be signed between the CSA and the recipient to document the indirect financial support provided by the CSA to cover other fees related to the participation of Canadian students to NASA I² internships.

9. Confidentiality and Consent of Personal Information

The CSA manages and protects the information provided by the applicant under the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act. By submitting your personal information, you consent to its collection, use and disclosure in accordance with the following Privacy Statement.

The information is collected under the Personal Information Bank: CSA Class Grants and Contributions Program in Support of Awareness, Research and Learning - Research Component (ASC PPU 045) and Awareness and Learning Component (ASC PPU 040). This information will be used for administration and application evaluation purposes. Failing to provide some of the required personal information may result in your application not being considered by Canadian Space Agency. Personal information will be kept accordingly to the retention schedule described in the above-mentioned information holdings. You may also refer to Info Source for additional information about the functions, programs, activities and related information holdings of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. According to the Privacy Act, any individual may, upon request, have access to their personal data and request correction of the incorrect information. Under this act, you also have the right to file a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada about the Canadian Space Agency's privacy practices.

Applicants should also note that information relating to the Funding Agreement could be disclosed publicly in accordance with the laws, policies and directives of the Government of Canada.

Applicants also agree to the CSA using and disclosing all the information provided in their application package, including any personal information provided, with the funding organizations (Mitacs and Fulbright Canada) and with NASA for the following purposes:

For additional information regarding this statement, please contact:

Office of Access to Information and Privacy
Canadian Space Agency
Email: stim-stem@asc-csa.gc.ca

10. Outreach Activities

Applicants that are selected to participate in the NASA I² Project are encouraged, upon their return, to take part in outreach activities to share their experience with other students. Applicants may refer to Section K of the Application Form to indicate their interest, if they are selected, to participate in outreach activities upon their return. The answer to this question will not influence the assessment of the applications.

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Should the need arise, it is the applicant's responsibility to obtain clarification regarding the requirements contained in this opportunity before applying.

For all questions, applicants must use this generic e-mail address: stim-stem@asc-csa.gc.ca. Questions and their answers will be posted on the CSA website under the "Frequently Asked Questions" section of this AO. The CSA will answer questions received no later than 5 p.m. (ET) on .

At any point, applicants are welcome to share with the CSA their comments or suggestions regarding the program using the following generic email address (stim-stem@asc-csa.gc.ca) or the generic web-based Comments and Suggestions Box available at www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/resources/gc/comments-form.asp.

List

  • Question 1: Is a Canadian citizen studying abroad eligible to apply for the NASA I² Project?

    Answer 1: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, an eligible applicant must be a Canadian citizen and be enrolled in a Canadian university as a full-time student at the time of application and at the time of the internship.

  • Question 2: The applicant's academic record is required. Should this document be an official transcript issued by the university, or would a print-out of the applicant's academic record from the university's student web services suffice?

    Answer 2: As stipulated in Section 4 of the AO, the applicant must provide an official and up-to-date copy of his or her academic record. The document must include his or her name, the name of his or her institution, the program in which the applicant is enrolled, the applicant's complete list of courses, including his or her marks in each course, and a legend explaining acronyms. The university's grading scale equivalencies between letter grades, percentages and grade point averages must also be provided.

  • Question 3: If a candidate submits their application for more than one internship sessions, could they be selected to participate in several internship sessions?

    Answer 3: As stipulated in Section 3 of the AO, candidates may apply on more than one internship sessions. However, priority may be given to candidates participating in the NASA I² Project for the first time.

  • Question 4: Is a permanent resident eligible to apply for the NASA I² Project?

    Answer 4: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, an eligible applicant must be a Canadian citizen.

  • Question 5: Is a foreign student enrolled in a Canadian university eligible for the NASA I² Project?

    Answer 5: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, an eligible applicant must be a Canadian citizen.

  • Question 6: If a candidate recently started a graduate degree at a different university than where the undergraduate degree was completed, can the reference letter be obtained from a professor from the university where the undergraduate degree was completed?

    Answer 6: Yes. As stipulated in Section 4 of the AO, the reference letter must be provided by a professor that holds a faculty position at a university and who supervised the applicant during their research work.

  • Question 7: Could the reference letter be mailed directly to the CSA by the professor?

    Answer 7: If the application is submitted electronically, the reference letter must either be included in the PDF file submitted by the applicant or be sent electronically by the professor to the CSA.

    If the application is submitted by mail or using a recognized courier service, the reference letter is the only document that does not have to be on the USB memory key. It must either be part of the documents that the candidate will mail with their application (in a sealed envelope or not) or be sent electronically by the professor to the CSA.

    Please refer to Section 4 of the AO for detailed instructions.

  • Question 8: When will the CSA publish the AO for future NASA I² Project internship sessions?

    Answer 8: This AO covers three (3) internship sessions (summer , fall and spring ).

    Any information on future internship opportunities offered through the NASA I² Project will be released on the CSA's website when they become available. Students are encouraged to regularly visit the CSA's website.

  • Question 9: Can the reference letter be provided by an adjunct professor?

    Answer 9: Yes. The reference letter can be provided by an adjunct professor at a university as long as this professor supervised the applicant during their research work.

  • Question 10: Are the offered internships remunerated?

    Answer 10: No, these internships are not remunerated.

  • Question 11: If the university provides the candidate with his or her official transcript in a sealed envelope, can the candidate open the envelop to scan the transcript an include it in the single PDF-formatted file that must be submitted with the application?

    Answer 11: Yes. Academic records (transcripts) are part of the documents that must be included in the single PDF-formatted file that must be submitted.

  • Question 12: Is there a possibility of extending the internship length?

    Answer 12: No. As indicated in Section 1 of the AO, NASA offers internships in three sessions during the calendar year. The length of each internship session is predetermined: the spring and fall sessions last 16 weeks each, and the summer session lasts 10 weeks.

  • Question 13: Is this a one-time opportunity for Canadian students to apply to the NASA I² Project or will there be other opportunities?

    Answer 13: The CSA has previously opened similar preselection processes to Canadian students and intends on offering other opportunities. Any information on future opportunities will be released on the CSA's website. Students are encouraged to regularly visit the CSA's website.

  • Question 14: Is a candidate who is enrolled in a university program at the time of applying still eligible if he or she is no longer enrolled at the time that the internship will begin?

    Answer 14: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, a candidate must be enrolled in a Canadian university as a full-time student at the time of application and at the time of the internship to be eligible.

  • Question 15: Is a candidate permitted to apply for additional grants awarded by other organizations to assist with the expenses associated with this internship?

    Answer 15: Yes. Although the CSA, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada intend to award grants to the candidates who successfully complete the selection process and participate in the NASA I² Project, it is the candidate's responsibility to apply for other sources of funding if desired.

  • Question 16: Should the reference letter be divided into subsections corresponding to the evaluation criteria?

    Answer 16: As stipulated in Sections G of the Application form, the reference letter must include factual examples presented by the professor in clearly identified separate sections that correspond to the evaluation criteria. It is the applicant's responsibility to clarify this aspect with their professor and to ensure that the letter clearly demonstrates how each evaluation criterion is met.

  • Question 17: Must a graduate student's reference letter come from his or her research supervisor?

    Answer 17: No. The professor who provides the reference letter does not have to be the applicant's supervisor. However, the professor must hold a faculty position at a university and must have supervised the applicant's research work in the past.

  • Question 18: Section G of the Application form indicates that the professor is encouraged to accept to provide the candidate with guidance throughout the course of their internship should it be necessary. What does this entail for the professor?

    Answer 18: The scope and frequency of the guidance provided is dependent on the needs of the student and is left to the discretion of the professor. Although it is encouraged that the professor accepts to provide guidance to the candidate throughout the course of their internship, if he or she is selected and if this is authorized by NASA, this commitment from the professor is not a requirement.

  • Question 19: Is a candidate who is enrolled as a full-time student in a university program at the time of applying still eligible if he or she will be enrolled as a part-time student next semester or at the time that the internship will begin?

    Answer 19: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, a candidate must be enrolled in a Canadian university as a full-time student at the time of application and at the time of the internship to be eligible.

  • Question 20: Can the candidate submit more than one reference letter with his or her application?

    Answer 20: No. To enable an effective assessment of all the applications, candidates must submit a single reference letter with their application.

  • Question 21: Is a candidate who is enrolled as a part-time student at the time of application, because he or she is currently doing an internship, eligible to apply?

    Answer 21: As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, a candidate must be enrolled in a Canadian university as a full-time student at the time of application and at the time of the internship to be eligible.

  • Question 22: Could an applicant still be eligible if the GPA requirement is not met, although by a very small gap?

    Answer 22: No. This is a competitive process and the eligibility criteria are firm.

  • Question 23: Would it be acceptable for a candidate who submitted an application for a previous NASA I² AO to resubmit their previous application for this process?

    Answer 23: No. Applicants who previously submitted an application under a previous NASA I² AO must follow the guidelines outlined in Section 4 of the AO and in the Application form, and submit a new application with all the required documents, up to date.

  • Question 24: Can a candidate who applied on a previous NASA I² AO apply again?

    Answer 24: Absolutely. Each selection process is treated distinctly. Candidates are asked to read the new AO thoroughly, including the FAQ Section, before submitting their applications.

  • Question 25: Can a candidate who applied on a previous NASA I² AO use the same reference letter as in the previous application?

    Answer 25: Yes, the same reference letter can be submitted as long as the professor who wrote the previous letter still holds a faculty position at a university and supervised the candidate's research work in the past. Candidates should make sure that the reference letter includes the elements that are described in Section G of the Application form.

  • Question 26: If a candidate is interested in applying for more than one internship sessions available through this AO (summer , fall and spring ), may the candidate submit only one application?

    Answer 26: Yes. Candidates interested in submitting an application for more than one internship sessions must submit only one application and indicate their interest to be considered for each applicable session in Section A of the Application form.

  • Question 27: Is a candidate who will graduate during the NASA internship period still considered eligible?

    Answer 27: As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, university enrollment as a full-time student must be effective at the time of application and at the time of the internship. To assess this eligibility criterion, the CSA will require that the preselected candidates submit an official confirmation of their full-time registration at a Canadian university for the semester that corresponds to the internship session.

  • Question 28: Should the candidates submit a dedicated curriculum vitae (long format) or a résumé?

    Answer 28: Either document will be accepted, as long as it provides all the information required to demonstrate how the evaluation criteria (see Section 5.2 of the AO) are met.

  • Question 29: The eligibility criteria outlined on the NASA I² webpage of the NASA website are less restrictive than those outlined by the CSA in this AO. Can I apply if I meet all of the requirements indicated on the NASA I² webpage?

    Answer 29: No. Due to the very high level of competition generated by this opportunity, the CSA decided to restrict the access to candidates that stand realistic chances of being preselected by the CSA and submitted to NASA for their final selection. This translates in particular to higher requirements than those stipulated by NASA in terms of completed studies and academic standing.

  • Question 30: Are there other opportunities for interested students that do not meet the eligibility criteria for this AO?

    Answer 30: The CSA encourages interested students to visit its website for information on careers, jobs and internships in the space sector.

  • Question 31: As part of the application, candidates are required to provide one publication in a journal or in conference proceedings for which they are the first author or co-author, and that demonstrates the relevance of their experience to their first choice of internship project. Can a candidate provide a publication which has been submitted to a scientific journal but is currently under review and thus has not yet been accepted?

    Answer 31: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, an eligible applicant must be the first author or co-author of at least one publication in a journal or in conference proceedings. Unapproved publications that have not been published yet will not be considered in this process.

  • Question 32: Can the application of a candidate still be considered if they do not quite meet the eligibility criteria described in Section 3 of this AO, such as being the first author or co-author of at least one publication in a journal or in conference proceedings?

    Answer 32: No. This is a competitive process and the eligibility criteria are firm.

  • Question 33: As per Section 4 of this AO, candidates must provide as part of their application an official transcript for their degree in progress (if at least one transcript has already been issued for this degree), as well as transcripts for all other undergraduate and graduate studies in STEM that they have previously completed. Must the transcripts for previously completed studies also be official documents?

    Answer 33: No. The only official transcript required is for the degree in progress. Transcripts for all other undergraduate and graduate studies in STEM previously completed do not have to be official documents.

  • Question 34: If a candidate began their degree in one institution but continued or completed this degree at another institution, must they still provide the transcripts for the courses completed at the first institution?

    Answer 34: Yes. The candidate must provide their up-to-date official transcript for the degree in progress (if at least one transcript has already been released for this degree) and their transcripts for all other undergraduate and graduate studies in STEM previously completed (do not have to be official documents).

  • Question 35: If a candidate had a first-author or co-author publication accepted for a presentation at a conference, but their participation in the conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would their publication still be admissible under the eligibility requirement related to being the first author or co-author of at least one publication in a journal or in conference proceedings?

    Answer 35: Exceptionally, if the candidate can provide an official confirmation proving that their publication was accepted by the conference for a presentation, then their publication will still be considered regardless of whether the conference was subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Question 36: Does a conference abstract or poster fulfil the eligibility requirement related to being the first author or co-author of at least one publication in a journal or in conference proceedings?

    Answer 36: Yes, a conference abstract or a conference poster are considered admissible publications under this eligibility criterion, provided that these documents were published in conference proceedings.

  • Question 37: One of the eligibility criterion refers to being the author or co-author of a publication. How is a "co-author" defined in this context? Does this refer solely to the second author listed in the publication?

    Answer 37: A co-author refers to someone who has made a significant contribution to the research project that led to the publication. The name of the co-author should appear in the publication's list of authors.

  • Question 38: Can an undergraduate student apply to this AO, and if not, are there similar opportunities open to undergraduate students?

    Answer 38: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of this AO, the applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student in a graduate degree in STEM to be eligible.

    Students interested in finding an internship or a student job in the Canadian space sector can visit this page of the CSA website: How can I find an internship or a student job in the Canadian space sector.

  • Question 39: The "How to Apply" section of the AO requires that the applicant submits a reference letter from a professor that holds a faculty position at a university and who supervised the applicant during their research work. In certain graduate programs of studies, there is no research component. In such cases, can the applicant submit a reference letter from a professor who trained them but did not supervise them on any research work?

    Answer 39: No. As stipulated in Section 3 of the AO, the applicant must be the first author or co-author of at least on publication. As such, it is expected that the applicant has undertaken research work in the past. The applicant should therefore be able to solicit a reference letter from the professor who supervised their research work at that time.

  • Question 40: Can a candidate registered as a part-time student in a Canadian university due to a disability still apply?

    Answer 40: To submit an application under this AO, applicants must meet all the eligibility criteria outlined in the AO. With regards to the criterion that requests that applicants be enrolled in a Canadian university as a full-time student in a graduate degree, students with disabilities deemed to have full-time status by their academic institution may apply. Applicants must include in their application an official attestation from their current university to this effect.

    As indicated in section 9 of the AO, applicants consent to the CSA using and disclosing all the information provided in their application package, including any personal information provided, with the funding organizations (Mitacs and Fulbright Canada) and with NASA who must also analyse the applications submitted under this AO.

    In addition, as stipulated in section 5.5 of this AO, the CSA will require that applicants who successfully passed the stages described in sections 5.1 and 5.2 subsequently provide additional information, such as an official confirmation of their full-time registration at a Canadian university at the time of the internship. Additional information could therefore be requested subsequently, on a case-by-case basis, to confirm the student's status.

  • Question 41: Will the grants awarded to selected applicants be provided to the university to hold in trust, or directly to the students?

    Answer 41: The CSA, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada intend to award grants to the applicants who successfully complete the selection process and participate in the NASA I² Project. Grants will be awarded separately by the CSA, Mitacs and Fulbright Canada. The CSA's share of the total grant amount will be awarded by the CSA directly to selected applicants once they will have fulfilled all the requirements outlined in the grant agreement that they will receive from the CSA. The management of Mitacs' and Fulbright Canada's grants is the sole responsibility of these respective organizations. Questions on their share of the total grant amount should be addressed to Mitacs and Fulbright Canada directly.

  • Question 42: Would it be possible to connect with Canadian university students who have participated in this initiative in the past to have their impressions and to learn from their experience?

    Answer 42: Unfortunately, that is not possible as the CSA has yet to support the participation of Canadian students in the NASA I² Project.

  • Question 43: Section 4 of the AO stipulates that the applicant must provide an up-to-date official transcript for their degree in progress. However, my university only provides e-transcripts through MyCreds which can be shared securely with third parties. Will my application be accepted if I include the downloaded official e-transcript?

    Answer 43: In this particular situation, the CSA will accept official transcripts only available through MyCreds as long as the applicant shares their transcript with the CSA by sending the link provided by MyCreds to stim-stem@asc-csa.gc.ca (the email subject must respect the following formatting standard: "NASA I2_APPLICANT LAST NAME_APPLICANT FIRST NAME_TRANSCRIPT"). This link must allow the CSA to access the applicant's official transcript for review and verification.

  • Question 44: The official transcript issued by my university does not include the legend explaining acronyms nor the grading scale equivalencies between letter grades, percentages and grade point averages. However, the university refers to a web page for this information. Is it acceptable, as part of this application process, to provide the link to this web page?

    Answer 44: In this particular situation, it is acceptable for the applicant to download these reference documents from their university's website and to include this documentation along with their complete application (in the single PDF-formatted file). The applicant must clearly indicate the link of the web page from which these documents were downloaded.

  • Question 45: If a candidate completed two post-secondary programs at two different institutions simultaneously prior to their current graduate studies (a bachelor's degree and a college program), should they include in their application their transcripts from both programs? Should the calculation of the applicant's GPA from the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent) include their grades from both their college program and bachelor's program?

    Answer 45: As stipulated in Section 3 of the AO, applicants must have previously completed an undergraduate or graduate program in STEM in order to be eligible. The applicant must include in their application their transcripts for all undergraduate (and graduate) studies in STEM previously completed. Transcripts from college programs are not required, and the calculation of the applicant's GPA from the last two completed years of study should not include grades from college programs.

  • Question 46: Section D of the Application Form includes questions on the applicant's involvement in associations and networks. What does the CSA qualify as an association or network, and could it include a network of student groups participating in a project or competition? Also, must the applicant still be involved in the association(s) or network(s)?

    Answer 46: The applicant's answers to the questions included in Section D of the Application Form will be used by the CSA to assess the "Personal characteristics, leadership and interpersonal skills" evaluation criterion (as per section 5.2 of the AO). All associations, networks and student groups could be acceptable. It is the responsibility of the applicant to explain the nature of the latter and to describe their involvement. The applicant must answer questions c. and d. of Section D according to their current involvement in associations and networks. Any information on previous involvement in associations and networks can be provided in the applicant's CV, or under question b. of Section D of the Application Form, as long as it contributes to the response for that specific question.

  • Question 47: If a candidate is currently enrolled as a full-time graduate student in a Canadian university but will be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at a different university at the time of the internship, should they include any specific details to this effect in their application?

    Answer 47: No, there are no specific details that need to be addressed in that situation as long as the candidate meets the eligibility criteria outlined in Section 3, and provides the CSA with the documentation required throughout the evaluation process within the prescribed deadline (refer to Sections 4 and 5 for details).

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