Carnegie Observatories is seeking undergraduate students interested in focused astronomical research projects, to be conducted over summer 2026. Prior research experience is not required to apply for/participate in the Carnegie program.
Carnegie Observatories is one of the top astronomical research institutions in the world with experts in observational and theoretical astronomy and a world-class instrumentation group. Students will have the chance to work with senior researchers on topics such as the first galaxies in the Universe, accreting black holes, dark matter, exoplanets, and the life and death of stars. Interested students can also work with Carnegie scientists and engineers on the next generation of cameras and spectrographs for our telescopes.
Students will work for 10 weeks in the summer from June 15 - August 21, 2026 with scientists at Carnegie Observatories on projects spanning the field of astronomy. Selected students will receive a $7000 stipend for the full 10 weeks. Housing will be provided as well as travel assistance up to $300 for travel from home or campus to southern California. Upon successful completion of the program, all students will also be given the opportunity to attend the American Astronomical Society meeting the following January to present their research. In addition to research, Carnegie Summer Interns will participate in a coding bootcamp during the first week of the program as well as the educational program designed to teach crucial scientific communication skills.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Those accepted into the program will be paid a stipend and will be required to provide legal identity documentation to be set up into Carnegie's finance pay system. Applicants must be enrolled at a university or college in California at the time of their application or be from California and attending college elsewhere. Participants may not have graduated from their 4-year institution before the beginning of the summer internship, but community college students may be in the process of transferring to a 4-year institution. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact Program Director, Dr. Gwen Rudie
If you currently attend a California community college or one of the Cal-State schools, you may also be eligible to apply to our summer program through the Cal-Bridge Summer program website We encourage you to consider this option that allows you to apply to our program at Carnegie as well as 14 other institutions, all using a single application.
Carnegie Institution for Science has a long-standing commitment to equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Carnegie scientists are leaders in the fields of plant biology, developmental biology, Earth & planetary science, astronomy, and global ecology. They seek answers to questions about the structure of the universe; the formation of our Solar System and other planetary systems; the behavior and transformation of matter when subjected to extreme conditions; the origin of life; the effects of climate change on forests, oceans, and other habitats; the function of plant, animal, and microbial genomes; and the development of organisms from single-celled eggs to adults.
Andrew Carnegie founded our organization in 1902 as a place for scientific discovery. His intention was for the institution to be home to exceptional individuals—men and women with imagination and extraordinary dedication capable of working at the cutting edge of their fields.
We are headquartered in Washington, D.C. and have three scientific divisions split between the coasts, as well as observatories in Chile. We are an endowed, independent, nonprofit institution. Significant additional support comes from federal grants and private donations. A board of trustees, consisting of leaders in business, the sciences, education, and public service, oversees Carnegie’s operations. Each of division has its own scientific director who manages under the leadership of President Eric Isaacs.
