Internships

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Hands-On Learning in Aerospace

Are you a kamaʻāina college student who is interested in aerospace research, development, or space exploration? We offer paid and credit-based internship opportunities to help you get hands-on research and technical experience. We also have volunteer opportunities in applied research for high school and college students. Our internship projects fall into two learning tracks: Robotics and Materials Science. Students work to complete specific project tasks that align with PISCES’s goals. Students also have the option of proposing their own project ideas for consideration. Interested in interning with us? Contact us using the form below to learn about current opportunities. 

To be eligible to apply, students are required to be:

  • Undergraduate majoring in a STEM-related field
  • Originally from the State of Hawaiʻi or attending a University of Hawaiʻi school
  • Maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher

 

Internship Tracks

Helelani Planetary Rover

Robotics

Students in the Robotics track work with our planetary rover, Helelani, to continually develop its software and hardware systems. Interns practice skills in coding, mechanics, electronics technology, and engineering.

Helelani Planetary Rover

Materials Science

Our Materials Science track offers applied research experience in planetary geology, geopolymer concrete, additive manufacturing, and In-Situ Resource Utilization. Students help develop and refine novel ways of creating durable construction materials with applications for Earth and space. 

Interns mix geopolymer concrete using Hawaiian basalt.
Intern Zak Tamimi working on the rover's wiring.
A PISCES team member and student intern pour molten rock into a sand-casting mold using tongs and a steel pole.
Intern Cory Aukai shows his CAD design model on a large monitor.
Three computer science students working on the Helelani planetary rover upgrades pose for a photo.
pisces intern lily leyva

Intern Spotlight - Summer 2025

Meet the high school and college interns who are working on materials science and robotics projects with us this summer.

Intern Zak Tamimi working on the rover's wiring.

Zak Tamimi

Robotics & Engineering

Zak Tamimi is a Waiākea High School alumnus who is joining our team to work on robotics and engineering projects. Zak is currently tackling the complex task of rewiring and organizing the spaghetti bowl of wires connecting our Helelani rover’s hardware systems. He says working in the tight spaces of the rover frame can be a challenge, but he enjoys seeing how all the system components are connected and working together. In the fall, Zak is headed to UH Mānoa to study Mechanical Engineering with the goal of landing a career in HVAC systems.

Intern Za-Ting Huang at her laptop.

Za-Ting Huang

GEOPOLYMER RESEARCH

Za-Ting Huang is an incoming senior at Keaʻau High School who is helping us research and create a durable geopolymer concrete using Hawaiian basalt. She has been studying the chemical properties of geopolymers together with her project partner Raiyan, and will mix three samples to test their durability in humid conditions. Geopolymer research is an emerging field and Za-Ting says she is excited to be contributing to cutting-edge science.

Intern Joseph Winkie at his laptop.

Joseph Winkie

ROBOTICS SOFTWARE

Joseph Winkie is a fourth-year Computer Science major at UH Hilo. His PISCES project involves a large task: redesigning the software architecture for the Helelani rover from scratch. Joseph says he’s not used to working with hardware, so this project is challenging him to understand how software interacts with physical components. He loves to build things and hopes to one day use his skills and education to make a meaningful contribution to society—whether through open-source coding or public service.
Intern Cory Aukai

Cory Aukai

CAD DESIGN

Cory Aukai is a sophomore at Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi who is returning for his second year as a STEMworks intern. Cory loves design work and is helping improve our rover by creating a sleek new housing for the CPU components. The housing will be constructed with a 3D printer and, once installed, save space and give our rover a facelift. Cory says his project is helping him learn how to use Blender, a CAD program that he’ll be using in college and his future dream job in architecture. He plans to attend Washington State University to pave the way.
Interns mix geopolymer concrete using Hawaiian basalt.

Raiyan Rahman

GEOPOLYMER RESEARCH

Raiyan Rahman is a Waiākea High School senior who loves learning about space and science. Together with his partner Za-Ting, he’s studying geopolymer concrete to create a durable prototype of his own using Hawaiian basalt. A long-term goal of the project is to create a local, sustainable building material and he hopes to continue the project after his internship. Raiyan loves seeing how his classroom learning applies in the real world and says our work inspired him to pursue Earth and Planetary Science.

Apply for an Internship

Interested in working with us to gain hands-on experience? Contact us with details about your academic background and interests to learn about our current internship and volunteer opportunities.