CASSI 2026

Carnegie Observatories is seeking undergraduate students interested in focused astronomical research projects, to be conducted over summer 2026. Prior research experience is not required to apply for/participate in the Carnegie program.

Carnegie Observatories is one of the top astronomical research institutions in the world with experts in observational and theoretical astronomy and a world-class instrumentation group. Students will have the chance to work with senior researchers on topics such as the first galaxies in the Universe, accreting black holes, dark matter, exoplanets, and the life and death of stars. Interested students can also work with Carnegie scientists and engineers on the next generation of cameras and spectrographs for our telescopes.

Students will work for 10 weeks in the summer from June 15 - August 21, 2026 with scientists at Carnegie Observatories on projects spanning the field of astronomy. Selected students will receive a $7000 stipend for the full 10 weeks. Housing will be provided as well as travel assistance up to $300 for travel from home or campus to southern California. Upon successful completion of the program, all students will also be given the opportunity to attend the American Astronomical Society meeting the following January to present their research. In addition to research, Carnegie Summer Interns will participate in a coding bootcamp during the first week of the program as well as the educational program designed to teach crucial scientific communication skills.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Those accepted into the program will be paid a stipend and will be required to provide legal identity documentation to be set up into Carnegie's finance pay system. Applicants must be enrolled at a university or college in California at the time of their application or be from California and attending college elsewhere. Participants may not have graduated from their 4-year institution before the beginning of the summer internship, but community college students may be in the process of transferring to a 4-year institution. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact Program Director, Dr. Gwen Rudie.

If you currently attend a California community college or one of the Cal-State schools, you may also be eligible to apply to our summer program through the Cal-Bridge Summer program website. We encourage you to consider this option that allows you to apply to our program at Carnegie as well as 14 other institutions, all using a single application.