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JOIN EarthRISE Developers Academy

The summer 2026 application window closed on Friday, March 6th 2026 at 11:59pm ET. Late applications will not be accepted.

interested CANDIDATES, please take the following steps: 

1. Read through this page and our Application Guidelines in full.
2. Learn about the different EarthRISE Developers Academy location and project information for the summer 2026 term. EarthRISE Developers Academy offers both in-person and virtual project opportunities. Additional information about the project offerings may be added throughout the application window.
3. Questions? First read our FAQs. If you are not able to find the answer you're looking for, contact us at NASA-DL-ERDA@mail.nasa.gov
4. Apply! Use the EarthRISE Developers Academy application portal linked below to apply. Please note the time and time zone for the application deadline. Applications cannot be submitted after 11:59p ET on Friday, March 6th - no exceptions! NOTE: EarthRISE Developers Academy prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI- assisted tools, to include but not limited to ChatGPT, in drafting application responses. Any application found to have used AI or AI- assisted tools will be automatically disqualified.

Click here for the EarthRISE Developers Academy online application

Term Calendar

Participant eligibility

General Eligibility Requirements:

• At least 18 years of age by the start of the term for which you are applying
• Demonstrated experience and skills in Earth and environmental sciences, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and/or computer science
• U.S. citizenship or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status is required to apply to any in-person or virtual EarthRISE Developers Academy opportunities
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (either cumulative or most recent) from the current or most recent institution of higher learning
• Ability to work 25-29 hours per week during the 10-week term during regular business hours for each location (typically 9am - 5pm Monday through Thursday)
• For in-person opportunities: Participants must have the ability to provide personal transportation to and from the EarthRISE Developers Academy location
• For virtual opportunities: Participants must reside and work within the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. for the entire term; remote work from U.S. territories or outside the U.S. is not permitted

Note: In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements stated above, each applicant must meet the following requirements specific to their applicant classification (as outlined below).

participant classifications

Currently Enrolled Students: Students who are currently enrolled at a U.S. accredited community college, undergraduate or graduate college or university. Open to all majors. Must provide evidence of enrollment at an accredited U.S. school (acceptance letter or current unofficial transcripts).

Recent Graduates: Individuals who have graduated with an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. accredited college or university within the past two years. Must provide evidence of successful graduation from a college or university (diploma or transcript showing graduation).

Early/Transitioning Career Professionals: Individuals who are pursuing further experience in the Earth sciences and remote sensing, transitioning to a new career field, and/or have at least two years of work experience in a professional environment (including transitioning/recently transitioned veterans from the U.S. Armed Forces).

Location & Project Information

Summer 2026

NOTE: The EarthRISE Developers Academy projects listed below are subject to change.

NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, Virginia): NASA Langley Research Center is one of the earliest aeronautics research centers of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics founded in 1915, the precursor to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Today, Langley is known for its supersonic flight programs, fabrication research and machines, and its heavy focus on scientific research through airborne and atmospheric science. The EarthRISE Developers Academy is managed on-site by the Langley EarthRISE Office.

Tentative summer 2026 project themes include monitoring land use change to inform the conservation of prime agricultural land, quantifying urban heat hazards and drivers, atmospheric pollutants and air quality monitoring, and disasters.

• The agriculture project will identify changes in agricultural production practices throughout Maryland in response to anthropogenic variables such as population increase and solar panel installation, along with environmental variables such as soil salinization and droughts. The team will use Landsat thermal and surface reflectance data, along with United States Department of Agriculture ancillary datasets to produce land use land cover change maps. Economic impact of these changes will also be assessed in partnership with NASA Acres.
• The disasters project will work with FEMA's Federal Disaster Recovery Office to identify areas with increased fuel loading at the highest risk of potential wildfire post Hurricane Helene. Satellite data can provide a more comprehensive analysis of biomass and debris that can be utilized to target monitoring and support faster evacuation alerts.

• The air quality project aims to develops an understanding of the relationship between ambient concentrations of ozone precursors (NOx and VOCs) and their sources is needed to inform decision makers about contemporary emissions forcers of air pollution across the Great Lakes region. Recent innovations in high spatial and temporal resolution observational platforms offer the potential to bridge the gap between emission sources and ambient concentrations.  

   

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, Alabama): NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has played a key role at the agency, from the earliest space launch vehicles and scientific satellites to the groundbreaking Apollo lunar missions and today’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. The Academy is co-located with the Marshall EarthRISE Project Office, housed within the National Space and Science Technology Center (NSSTC) at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The NSSTC conducts a variety of research, including Earth and atmospheric sciences, space science, and engineering. 

Tentative summer 2026 project themes include ecological conservation and identifying lunar regolith and surface characteristics using radar data.

• The ecological conservation project will partner with the Haleakalā National Park and Mālama Haleakalā Foundation to assess changes in ecosystem structure in the highland country of Maui, Hawaii. The project will assess changes in ground cover and forest ecosystems through detection modeling and phonological time series to map changes in bare ground and species composition to inform land management decisions.
• The Lunar pilot project will use multiple exsisting radar sounding and synthetic aperture radar datasets of the moon to create a three-dimensional map of the shallow lunar interior. Understanding the depth of large boulders or bedrock buried beneath regolith and the variability of rock sizes of regolith is useful for designing machinery to process regolith for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and for plume-surface interaction (PSI) from landed assets. This information can be used to support the Artemis programs, to include NASA and commercial partners to promote the Lunar economy.

Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colorado): Academy projects at Colorado State University are hosted by the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL). NREL began in 1968 as a world leader in grassland research. Science Advisors hold a broad array of ecological research interests examined in the context of space and time through a suite of integrative spatial modeling techniques that combine field data, traditional and expert knowledge, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and spatial statistics.

Tentative summer 2026 project themes include rangelands and grazing management, and post-fire aspen expansion.

• The wildland fires project will assess changes in aspen forests to identify patterns post-wildfire using Landsat time series. Ancillary data products including LANDFIRE and burn severity maps will also be used, along with machine learning and other statistical models to determine recovery patterns. Colorado Parks and Wildlife are hoping to understand these changes and implications for wildlife habitat, such as moose and birds.

EarthRISE Developers Academy Virtual Opportunities: A limited number of projects are available for virtual participation each term. Participants must reside and work within the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. for the entire term; remote work from U.S. territories or outside the U.S. is not permitted.

Tentative summer 2026 project themes include invasive species distribution and monitoring, harmful algal blooms and water quality indicators to support coastal aquaculture and food security, and water scarcity and drought.

• The ecological conservation project will use spectral signature analysis and habitat suitability modeling to Inform biological control planning on Santa Cruz Island. Leverage hyperspectral and multispectral data, the team will aim to identify annual and perennial invasive species to better inform land management practices for the National Park Service at Channel Islands National Park.
• The water quality project  will support the development and evaluation of satellite-derived water quality and HAB severity indicators relevant to aquaculture stakeholders by mapping conditions associated with HAB risk and post-disturbance water quality changes and comparing these patterns with available in situ monitoring data. The project will focus on translating satellite observations into analysis-ready map products that highlight potential exposure and timing risks for aquaculture operations, supporting integration into regional and state-level decision-support tools.

Application guidelines overview

Important information regarding the application process:

• Applications must be submitted within the set application window.
• Applications can be started, saved as a draft, and then returned to for completion.
• Recommendation forms are filled out and submitted online. Recommenders will receive an email with the link and instructions to complete the form once the applicant has added and saved their recommenders’ information.
• Applications that are submitted, but not complete (missing recommendation forms) may not be considered.
• Applications are reviewed by the National Program Office and the locations to which the candidate applied.
• Interviews may be conducted over video conference, phone, or in-person at the discretion of EarthRISE Developers Academy.
• After the selection process is complete, each applicant will receive notification regarding their status.

Do you have questions regarding an opportunity with EarthRISE Developers Academy? Please refer to the FAQ Section. For answers not available there, contact the Langley EarthRISE Office for additional information.

Logistics

The EarthRISE Developers Academy application and selection processes are managed on behalf of NASA by contractors. EarthRISE Developers Academy participants are classified as contract employees. Applicants who accept an in-person opportunity must participate onsite at their selected location. Participants are responsible for their own housing, living expenses and transportation to and from the EarthRISE Developers Academy location. The program does not fund or reimburse travel and/or living expenses.