Women in STEM – Interstellar Experiences of NASA Interns

A Lakota Perspective on STEM: Caitlin Bordeaux’s Journey to NASA and Beyond

Caitlin Bordeaux’s journey in education began with a strong commitment to both her heritage and her students. Bordeaux is a Sicangu Lakota educator from the Rosebud reservation, now living on Oglala lands in Thunder Valley, South Dakota. She’s been teaching high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and computer science for eight years, creating culturally relevant curricula that honor Indigenous perspectives.

Alt Text: Caitlin Bordeaux and her team sit together at a large table admiring the comic book pages they collaborated on. Caitlin wears business casual attire and smiles at the camera.

“My work blends education, culture, and STEM, aiming to elevate Indigenous voices and knowledge systems in classrooms and beyond,” said Bordeaux.

With degrees from Black Hills State University and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Bordeaux is now pursuing a Ph.D. in STEM education, furthering her mission to make STEM more inclusive and accessible to underrepresented communities.

Bordeaux’s internship with NASA was a pivotal experience in her career that deepened her dedication to integrating Indigenous perspectives into STEM. Working virtually alongside her mentor, she focused on building partnerships between NASA, local Indigenous organizations, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s education department.

Her role at NASA also reinforced her belief in a holistic approach to STEM. “Being Indigenous has shaped my approach to STEM work, grounded in respect for Unci Maka (Mother Earth). My perspective is focused on cultural connections and holistic learning,” Bordeaux explained. This outlook encourages the integration of Indigenous values into STEM spaces, making them more inclusive and reflective of diverse knowledge systems. By connecting science with culture, Bordeaux believes we can create more accessible and equitable STEM education environments for all students.

Alt Text: A page of a comic book featuring multiple Indigenous women who work at NASA, including Caitlin Bordeaux. The comic page highlighting the different ways in which NASA collaborates with Indigenous communities to blend their knowledge with western sciences. — Alt Text: A page of a comic book featuring multiple Indigenous women who work at NASA, including Caitlin Bordeaux. The comic page highlights the different ways in which NASA collaborates with Indigenous communities to blend their knowledge with Western sciences.

One such effort of Bordeaux’s is her dedication to developing cross-curricular lessons that integrate Indigenous star knowledge with STEM concepts, with a strong commitment to supporting the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and NASA’s Star Knowledge Partnership Program allowing her students to connect with science from their own perspectives.

Bordeaux’s experience also serves as a message to other aspiring Indigenous students: there are opportunities to grow, contribute, and make a lasting impact. “Apply! NASA offers various internships, including virtual ones like I did, which are flexible and accessible,” said Bordeaux. Her experience has influenced her academic pursuits, helping to push her to gain her Ph.D., while also providing her the opportunity to connect with others, including her mentor, who have the same goal for the future of education and STEM.

In her own words, the work is just beginning: “Philamayaye! (Thank you!),” she says, reflecting on the support and opportunities that have shaped her path. Her internship has been a catalyst for her continued work in education and research, to create a more inclusive and culturally relevant STEM education landscape.

Tara Roanhorse/NASA Headquarters

Making Her Own Place in Space: Caitlyn McClanahan’s HBCU Journey

“My mom always told me she believed that whatever you wanted to do when you were a child is your destiny—what you’re destined to do in life. And when I was a kid, I had every STEM interest.”

Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan as a young student posing with her younger sister Erin in front of a science fair project, a recreation of the solar system. The two smile holding paper cutouts of stars. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan

Meet Caitlyn McClanahan, a Weather Data Processing intern at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Growing up, McClanahan always loved studying the sciences. “I had a robotics phase. I had an astronaut phase. I had a weather phase. I had a paleontology phase. I had a chemistry phase,” she said.

Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan as a young student sitting on a table in a book store smiling with a large history book open upon her lap. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan — Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan as a young student sitting on a table in a book store smiling with a large history book on her lap. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan

However, as a young Black woman living in a Midwestern small town, she often found herself being the only Black woman in predominantly white spaces. “It causes a lot of people to have anxiety, coming into a space and noticing that this is a very white space, a very male space. I’ve found myself throughout life kind of minimizing myself to try to fit into this space that I believe is too big for me.”

After graduating from high school, McClanahan continued her education at Hampton University. Founded in 1868, it is the oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Virginia. Recounting her first days at Hampton, she was surprised to find that her science courses were predominantly attended by women.

“In fact, our teacher told us there were four men majoring in chemistry that year, which was considered a lot more than usual,” McClanahan said. “It was such a stark difference to see so many women, especially so many Black women, who looked like me and had the same interest as me. And it was just such an awesome environment to regain that confidence in myself.”

Alt Text: NASA interns including Caitlyn McClanahan meet with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at NASA's Langley Research Center. Bill Nelson smiles as he shakes an intern hand the other looking on smiling at him. Credit: NASA — Alt Text: NASA interns including Caitlyn McClanahan meet with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Bill Nelson smiles as he shakes an intern hand the other looking on smiling at him. Credit: NASA

Located just 15 minutes away from NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton University has long had a rich history supporting the space agency. McClanahan quickly noticed how NASA celebrates Black experts, including Black scientists, such as “Hidden Figures” Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary W. Jackson.

Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan poses with NASA's LOFTID (Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator) within a large hangar at NASA's Langley Research Center. She smiles and wears business casual attire. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan — Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan poses with NASA’s LOFTID (Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator) within a large hangar at NASA’s Langley Research Center. She smiles and wears business casual attire. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan

“I feel welcome here,” McClanahan said. “I remember on my first day on-site I was nervous and walking along and a woman came up to me, stopped me, and chatted with me. Her being a Black woman, and one of the first people I talked to here, really made my anxiety crumble away. Since then, I’ve truly felt that NASA is working to reflect the diversity of America, and I am really excited to get to be a part of that.”

Asked to share advice for others who may follow in her footsteps, she said, “It’s easy to feel self-conscious, but remember that a lot of people have doubts and anxiety. They still fight through it and figure it out. Everyone doesn’t do great their first time. In fact, it took me about six applications to land my internship!”

She Speaks for the Trees: Intern Helps Communicate Earth Science

NASA studies our own planet more than any other. We observe Earth’s oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere, and measure how a change in one drives change in others. It is critical that the data and science collected through these studies are communicated with the public, as we all have a role to play in preserving our planet.

That is exactly where Julia Tilton comes in. Tilton, an Earth and environmental sciences major, is interning at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland as a member of the Earth Science news team. She plays an instrumental role in conveying the stories behind NASA’s Earth science missions to the broader public.

In fact, earlier this year, NASA released findings that 2023 was Earth’s warmest year since modern record-keeping began around 1880, and the past 10 consecutive years have been the warmest 10 on record. In her first day interning at NASA, she worked in the control room to confirm upcoming interviews with news stations across the globe as this alarming data was shared publicly.

Alt Text: NASA intern Julia Tilton poses in the Earth Information Center at NASA Headquarters in DC. Tilton wears business casual attire and a blue NASA polo shirt. The background of the image is dominated by a large computer display of live visualizations of Earth data sourced from satellites in orbit. Credit: NASA

Tilton’s experiences on the Earth Science news team have ranged from writing engaging stories for platforms like NASA’s Earth Observatory and NASA.gov to contributing to the interactive Earth Information Center exhibit at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and even interviewing astronauts!

Alt Text: NASA intern Julia Tilton interviews UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi. al-Neyadi wears the iconic blue jumpsuit of an astronaut and gestures with his hands. Tilton is facing away from the camera and speaks with al-Neyadi in business professional attire. In the background a large model of the Hubble Space Telescope is on display. Credit: NASA

Moving forward, Tilton aims to branch out from science writing.

“Print is just one way in which our society consumes information, ” she said. “I feel it is essential that I gain experience in other media.”

To that end, she aims to continue to support NASA as member of the agency’s audio team contributing to NASA’s portfolio of podcasts.

For others seeking to follow in her footsteps, Tilton shares “A common misconception about interning at NASA is that you have to be extremely knowledgeable about space in order to be a competitive candidate. Instead, I think arriving ready to pursue what you are passionate about and being hungry to hone your craft are what will propel you the farthest. Regardless of your field of interest, I think if you approach an internship striving to explore and grow, you will find space for yourself at NASA.”

Gabriela Carr/NASA Headquarters

NASA Intern Studies the Stars

Anna Taylor standing next to a poster called “The Effect of Wind Speed and Roche Lobe Geometrics on the Wind Dynamics of Vela X-1" from NC State University.

Anna Taylor standing next to a poster called “The Effect of Wind Speed and Roche Lobe Geometrics on the Wind Dynamics of Vela X-1″ from NC State University.Anna Taylor, a former NASA intern from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, wanted to know as much as she could about the sky full of stars she saw every night. In the 9^th grade, Taylor competed in her first Science Olympiad, a premier team STEM competition, and realized that physics and astronomy was her ultimate passion.

The Stars are Aligning

“I believe in NASA’s initiative, and I want to contribute to our understanding of the universe,” Taylor said.

Currently, Anna Taylor is a senior at North Carolina State University where she is majoring in Physics and double minoring in Mathematics and Computer Science.

During her internship, she worked on a project where she modeled photospheres and chromospheres. A photosphere is a star’s outer shell where the light is radiating while a chromosphere is a red and gaseous layer above the photosphere.

She worked with the Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Lab which studies the formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems using advanced telescopes and theoretical techniques.

By identifying statistical trends linking stars to emissions, she would determine factors for the stars in the samples that she is given. Given this project, she would further NASA’s mission by researching these stars and help everyone understand how the universe is made, what else is out there, and how we all fit in.

Internship Takeaway

Taylor is grateful to take part in the astrophysics and astronomy field and is proud to be a part of the young female representation in such a male-dominated area

“This internship not only means I get to do research in coding and astrophysics which are my passions but also gives me an opportunity to meet so many smart and interesting people and learn all about what they do at NASA,” Taylor said.

Take the next step in becoming a NASA intern like Anna and learn more about the opportunities NASA has. Additionally, feel free to find out more about other NASA interns, such as Shalya Wilhelm’s experience of learning how to create oxygen on the moon for astronauts using lunar soil!

Grace Pham/ NASA Johnson Space Center

Lunar Soil: The Key to Breathing in Space- Shayla Wilhelm

Shayla Wilhelm standing in front of the Launch Crawler — Shayla Wilhelm standing in front of the Crawler Transporter.

If you can dream it, you can do it. Shayla Wilhelm saw the frothy sea of the Milky Way as she grew up in a small town in New York. Using a telescope, Wilhelm saw stars and planets shining everywhere across the sky. After realizing how much she loved what she saw in the sky, she ended up seeing a future in aerospace engineering.

Oxygen in Space

“If astronauts on the moon can harness the oxygen under their feet, sustaining a human presence on the moon may not be so difficult after all,” Wilhelm said. Currently, Wilhelm is a junior at the Florida Institute of Technology where she is majoring in Aerospace Engineering. As a former NASA intern at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, she worked on the Molten Regolith Electrolysis (MRE) Project.

The purpose of the MRE Project is to create oxygen on the Moon and to use it in astronaut tanks. By taking the soil on the Moon, Wilhelm would then melt it and run an electric current through it. This would split apart the metal oxides into molten metal and oxygen. After this process, the metal would then sink, allowing the oxygen to be separated, harvested, and eventually purified and distributed.

This process is potentially an important step in setting up long-term research centers on the moon and beyond.

Internship Takeaway

As an intern, Wilhelm had a very hard time to describe an “average” day while at NASA. While she spent every single day differently, she is grateful that her days as an intern was always a unique experience. From staying in the lab and analyzing data, to working in the machine shop and getting her hands dirty, Wilhelm would always be excited and feel lucky enough to take on these new and innovative tasks every single day. Wilhelm also got the opportunity to expand upon her software skills, improve her technical writing, and more.

Have you ever dreamed of working with NASA? Check out our website for more opportunities and information. Also, feel free to read more exciting stories such as Andrew Hoang, another former NASA intern who worked on parachute landings!

Grace Pham/ NASA Johnson Space Center

Persistence is Key – Bianca Ortega

A former NASA intern at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, inside the NASA Center for Climate Simulation.

Commitment is the foundation of great accomplishments. With dreams to be a pilot, Bianca Ortega flew remote-controlled airplanes in the sky when she was younger. When high school came around, her dreams started to expand, and she instead started to program and send her work into space. It was her first physics class in high school that guided her to find a new purpose for a newer mindset. Ortega wanted her work to mean something and so her skills were put to the test.

Data Visualization and Machine Learning Involvement

“It is one thing to be great at something, but it is an entirely different thing to use that skill not for your own, but for the pursuit of knowledge.” Ortega said. Currently, Ortega is a Senior at Kean University in New Jersey. She is double majoring in Computational Science and Mathematics, and minoring in Applied Physics. Ortega is also a former NASA intern at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where she worked on a project titled “Applications of Data Visualization and Machine Learning to HPC Logs.” Her project took place at NASA’s Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS). The NCCS uses supercomputers, the main one being called “Discover,” which examined and used machine learning and different data visualization techniques through recorded performance .

Ortega’s experiment was made possible with the use of The ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana) Stack. The NCCS and NASA rely heavily on Discover to tackle some of their most challenging computational projects for the Science Mission Directorate to date. The purpose of her project was to find ways to correct user error behavior and detect —or ideally, predict system failures before they can happen. With that goal, this project would allow NASA scientists the best experience while using NASA’s NCCS Supercomputers.

Hard Work Pays Off

Ortega says that this internship is “a testament that hard work does pay off.” She hopes that everyone knows that their story is different from anyone else. Ortega came from a long line of Puerto Rican women, and she never really saw a lot of Women in STEM growing up, so she felt alone. “For any and all the young women out there, just know that you are not and will never be alone,” Ortega said.

If you are looking to write your own story, check out our website for opportunities regarding internships and more! You can also read other cool and empowering stories such as Rama Diop, a former intern that contributed to laser welding in

Grace Pham/ NASA Johnson Space Center

Navajo Intern Engineer Hopes to Inspire Native American STEM Students

As an American Indian College Fund ambassador and a Navajo engineer, Nylana Murphy aims to demonstrate to native students that the ‘world is for [them].’

Murphy first gained interest in NASA while learning about internships during the American Indian Science Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference: ‘a three-day event focused on educational, professional, and workforce development for Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands.’

Following the AISES conference, MAIANSE, which seeks to increase American Indian and Alaska Native engagement in STEM through authentic NASA experiences, helped Murphy with a summer internship offer.

Murphy used her networking skills to secure two additional NASA internships in the additive manufacturing research lab at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

‘An internship isn’t just a job — it’s a foundation. A foundation built for one’s success. My internships have helped me get to where I am. Without the great opportunity of hands-on communication, I wouldn’t be in the direction of aerospace,’ Murphy said.

While working on the additive manufacturing project, Murphy gained hands-on technical experience within a team at the agency. During her internship, she also used three-dimensional printing for Inconel 625 powder, which plays a significant role in aerospace utility tasks.

Along with her part-time internship, Murphy juggled life as a full-time student at Navajo Technical University, pursuing her degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in additive manufacturing.

Murphy hopes to use her degree and skill set to continue exploration and to inspire more Native American students in the world of STEM and NASA.

‘There is a career for everyone, where their dreams can become reality. With a focus on education and the help of other technologically inquisitive Native students, those dreams WILL become a reality,’ Murphy said.

Do YOU want to be on the NASA team? Check out our website to find information on eligibility and application steps. Or, for more inspirational stories about our interns, such as Mallory Carbon, check out some of our other intern features on our blog.

Carolina Rodriguez, STEM Engagement Communications Intern 
Claire O’Shea, STEM Engagement Communications Intern, Editor 
NASA Johnson Space Center

Research on Plants in Space Leads to Law Degree

‘Not only did I feel supported at all times, but I also felt encouraged to pursue my passions.’ Josie Pechous worked at NASA Kennedy Space Center as a Bioinformatics for Space Crop Production intern. Photo credit: (NASA /Josie Pechous).

‘As spaceflight exploration ventures deeper into our solar system, astronauts will need a fresh, sustainable food source to maintain health and wellness. Understanding how plants are affected in spaceflight enables researchers to optimize growing conditions for peak nutritional value and harvest index,’ Josie Pechous said.

While at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Josie worked as a Bioinformatics for Space Crop Production Intern. She compared transcriptomes of previous plant spaceflight missions to identify any genes or signaling pathways that may be useful for future successful space crop production. She began her internship researching spaceflight-induced stressors on the human body. With an interest in plants and nutrition, Josie sought information on how the right diet can boost astronaut health, performance, and wellbeing.

Josie also composed a literature review on microgreens: small, nutrient-dense plants requiring little horticultural demands. She highlighted their nutritional composition, growing conditions, and potential for sustaining life on long-range spaceflight missions to supplement the pre-packaged spaceflight diet.

Mentorship was integral in making Josie’s internship a rewarding experience. Christina M. Johnson assigned a project that worked with Josie’s career goals and encouraged her to direct research to areas that matched her interests.

‘Focusing on a subject that I was passionate about while supporting NASA objectives was such a gratifying experience. Further gratifying has been the continued connection between me and my mentor post-internship. Although over a year has passed . . . my mentor continues to support me,’ Josie said.

The first growth test of crops in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) aboard the International Space Station. The APH is a growth chamber on station for plant research. It uses LED lights and a porous clay substrate with controlled release fertilizer to deliver water, nutrients and oxygen to the plant roots. Photo credit: (NASA/International Space Station).

After Josie’s internship, her research was incorporated into a scientific article, ‘Large-Scale Crop Production for the Moon and Mars: Current Gaps and Future Perspectives.’ She recently attended the American Society for Gravitation and Space Research annual conference and presented on the advantages of microgreen carotenoid composition for space travel.

Josie completed her degree at Drake University in biochemistry and cell and molecular biology. She now studies at Vermont Law School, pursuing food and agriculture law and policy for a sustainable future.

Interested in becoming a member of the team? Check out our website to learn more about the Artemis Generation and find information on eligibility and application steps. Want more content? Check out ten things you can do now to prepare for a NASA Internship.

Claire A. O’Shea / NASA Johnson Space Center

Intern Hopes to Research the Neurological Health of Astronauts During Missions

‘It has been unlike any other time in my life. I wish I had known before my internship that every chance you don’t take is an opportunity lost. I could never have anticipated what I experienced this summer.’’ Sewall interns at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Photo credit: (NASA/Michaela Sewall).

As a freshly graduated high school senior with little technical experience in the field, Michaela Sewall contacted Chad Stephens and Dr. Alan Pope, research scientists at NASA’s Langley Research Center (LRC), after reading their published paper on bio-cybernetic adaptation strategies for human operators interacting with machines or computers.

Curiosity

Michaela was curious about engineering, brain function, physics, space, and medicine — but she was uncertain on how to piece together these areas of study. After landing an internship at NASA’s LRC, she began working on psycho-physiological research for autonomous aviation in the In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance as part of NASA’s Aeronautics Airspace Operations and Safety Program.

Interning virtually this past summer, Michaela drove to her father’s office in the morning and worked from his conference room. She would set up her Raspberry Pi, a small computer used to learn programming, and biosensors to conduct her research throughout each day.

The Study

‘Everyone is so willing to help and answer any questions you have.’ Michaela studies electrical engineering and neurobiology at Washington University in St. Louis as an undergraduate sophomore. Photo credit: (NASA / Michaela Sewall).

She directed a study, ‘Investigating the Effects of Passive and Adaptive Bio-Cybernetic Two Dimensional and Virtual Reality Stimulus on Psychophysiological and Cognitive State Reactions,’ and coordinated a team of advocates to communicate complex engineering concepts to non-engineers.

‘It has been unlike any other time in my life. I wish I had known before my internship that every chance you don’t take is an opportunity lost.’

Goals

With goals to become a neuroengineer with a background in electrical engineering, neuroscience, and medicine, Michaela’s career aspirations involve researching the neurological, psychophysiological, and biological health of the astronauts before, during, and after their missions.

‘I have had the opportunity to speak to flight surgeons and center directors all because I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and asked for a few minutes of their time. Everyone is so willing to help and answer any questions you have.’

Do YOU want to be on the NASA team? Check out our website to learn more about the Artemis Generation and find information on eligibility and application steps.

Claire A. O’Shea / NASA Johnson Space Center

From Star Ceiling Stickers to Mission Design- Lauren Daniels

A picture of NASA Intern Lauren Daniels — ‘Boulder is my favorite town on the planet.’ Lauren Daniels pictured on the Lost Gulch Park overlook in Boulder, Colorado. Lauren attends the University of Colorado Boulder as an engineering student. ‘I was determined that a career in STEM would be the right fit for me so I decided on aerospace engineering. This made the University of Colorado Boulder the obvious choice when it came time to pick a school. I couldn’t have made a better decision.’ Photo credit: (NASA/Lauren Daniels).

Lauren Daniels’ interest in space first started when she was a child. In elementary school, her bedroom was adorned with themes of space, complete with ‘glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling’ and posters from a neighbor that had presented about space to her entire first grade class. At the age of 6, Lauren attended a space camp and was selected as commander for the mock base in a simulation mission of ‘lunar explorers.’

Fast forward to high school, she was captivated by math, science, and astronomy, and was third in her class upon graduation. Lauren decided to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering.

NASA Intern Laruen Daniels in front of the flag of the United States and NASA's flag. — ‘From the moment I heard the word, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut.’ Lauren Daniels at her NASA Pathways internship headshot photoshoot. Photo credit: (NASA/ Lauren Daniels).

Her intern journey began when she first worked on Orion Spacecraft with Lockheed Martin: the exploration vehicle that will carry human crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities.

‘This experience strengthened my love of all things NASA, and encouraged me to apply for the Pathways Internship Program. I didn’t get in the first time I applied, but I kept applying as often as I could, and eventually I was accepted.’

As an intern at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Lauren works on mission design insight for the Human Landing System (HLS). She runs a trade study that analyzes different times and places that humans could land on the moon, updates the flight plan to match the latest designs, and creates a tool to analyze lighting and communication availability on various landing trajectories.

A concept illustration of SpaceX Starship Human Landing System (HLS). — Illustration of SpaceX Starship Human Landing System (HLS) design that will carry the first NASA astronauts to the surface of the Moon under the Artemis program. Illustration credit: (SpaceX/NASA).

Many students still have some misconceptions when it comes to applying for a NASA internship. We’re here to change that. Take a look at the article to read five common myths debunked from our interns. Do YOU want to be on the NASA team? Check out our website to learn more about the Artemis Generation and find information on eligibility and application steps.