Internships

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Hands-on Aerospace Education

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 700-lb. planetary rover, Helelani, to develop its software,  hardware, and instrument systems. Participating interns learn and practice a variety of skills including coding and programming languages, 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 - Fall 2025

Meet the high school and college students who are working with us to develop aerospace research and technology at UH Hilo.

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.
Minami Torikoe profile photo

Minami Torikoe

MATERIALS SCIENCE

Minami Torikoe is a UH Hilo freshman from Japan who is majoring in Computer Science. With a keen interest in astronomy and space science, she is working with PISCES on a NASA-funded project to develop basalt-based polymers with applications for space. The project will help develop an extruder system for additive manufacturing on the Moon and Mars in partnership with Astrobotic.

Interns mix geopolymer concrete using Hawaiian basalt.

Raiyan Rahman

MATERIALS SCIENCE

Raiyan Rahman is a Waiākea High School senior who loves learning about space and science. Together with his partner Minami, he’s studying the physical properties and ideal composition of basalt-based polymers as part of a NASA-funded PISCES project in partnership with Astrobotic. Raiyan loves seeing how his classroom learning applies in the real world and says PISCES’ work inspired him to pursue Earth and Planetary Science when he enters college. 

Atlas Syncatto

TECH DEVELOPMENT & OUTREACH

Atlas Syncatto is a UH Hilo senior dual majoring in Astronomy & Physics and Philosophy. During her studies, she has been observing supernovae using the UH88 telescope but recently became interested in engineering. She hopes to gain more hands-on technical knowledge and experience in engineering during her internship with PISCES. Atlas has been helping out with setting up a soon-to-open Maker Space at UH Hilo, as well as various outreach activities including Journey Through The Universe week. After college, she aspires to work at a Maunakea observatory as a telescope operator.  

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.