Internships
Internship Tracks

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. This track is commonly pursued by Computer Science and Engineering students.

Materials Science
Our Materials Science track offers applied research experience in planetary geology, 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. This track is commonly pursued by Geology students.
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.
Intern Spotlight
Meet some of the outstanding alumni whose experiences at PISCES have helped further their education and career paths.

Kyla Edison
Kyla is a UH Hilo alumna and Kauaʻi native who worked on a number of PISCES projects over the course of three years. As an intern, she learned how to conduct field surveys, analyze the geological makeup of other planets, and develop techniques for basalt sintering. Her dedication and hard work earned her a full-time position as our resident geology and materials science technician. In 2021, Kyla left Hawaiʻi to pursue a doctorate at the Colorado School of Mines.

Aaron Roth
Aaron is a Waiākea High School graduate who studied computer science at Arizona State University. During his internship, he successfully created a stereoscopic (3D) imaging system for the Helelani rover. After interning as an undergraduate at Jim Bell’s rover imaging lab at ASU and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he landed a position on one of the Mars rover teams at JPL.

Lily Leyva
Lily Leyva is a Keaʻau High School graduate who attended our STARS program and was inspired to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. As a materials science intern, she created a new planetary building block design for basalt sintering. She also programmed our Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Heʻe Manu, for a County of Hawaiʻi R&D project. Lily is now studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder.