Carnegie Science offers a range of prestigious and highly sought-after undergraduate internship programs that provide students with exceptional research opportunities and a chance to work alongside leading scientists. Two prominent examples of these programs are the Carnegie Astrophysics Summer Student Internship (CASSI) program in Pasadena and the Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (SURI) program in Washington, D.C. Both programs are making an active effort to create opportunities for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds and contribute to changing the face of their respective fields.

CASSI

CASSI is a competitive internship program designed to give undergraduates who are interested in astronomy and astrophysics the skills and confidence to pursue careers in and adjacent to scientific research. This immersive experience takes place at the Carnegie Observatories, which are renowned for their cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art facilities.

Under the guidance of experienced mentors, CASSI students engage in groundbreaking original research projects across a variety of exciting topics including, galaxy formation, exoplanets, cosmology, and dark matter. In addition to their investigative endeavors, students participate in a rigorous series of workshops to build their technical and communication skills. Professional development discussions cover topics such as impostor syndrome and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the scientific community. They also have opportunities to engage with other local scientific organizations, including Mt. Wilson Observatory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

SURI

SURI program provides undergraduate students with an immersive research experience across multiple scientific disciplines at Carnegie’s Earth and Planets Laboratory. Open to students from diverse backgrounds, SURI offers research opportunities in fields such as astronomy, planetary science, and geophysics. Under the mentorship of leading Carnegie scientists, SURI interns gain hands-on research skills and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge in topics ranging from exoplanet atmospheres to planetary evolution and meteorites to deep Earth diamonds.

The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing interns to attend seminars and workshops delivered by distinguished researchers across all of the fields represented at Carnegie’s Washington, D.C., campus. The SURI program not only prepares students for future scientific endeavors, but also offers valuable networking opportunities and mentorship that can shape their careers.

Graduates of Carnegie’s internship programs have achieved remarkable success, with many advancing to prestigious graduate programs or pursuing thriving careers in academia, industry, and various scientific fields. They exemplify the institution's commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists and provide undergraduate students with the mentorship, skills, and network necessary to make significant contributions to their chosen disciplines.

The CASSI Program is funded in part by The Rose Hills Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and other private philanthropic support and SURI is funded in part by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The New York Community Trust’s Fund for Astrophysical Research; and the Marilyn Fogel Endowed Fund for Internships.

In the city of Washington, D.C., science lovers from middle school, all the way through high school and beyond, are empowered through the Carnegie Academy for Science Education's (CASE) transformative outreach programs. CASE was founded in 1989 by Carnegie’s President Emerita Maxine Singer, and since then has served more than 800 students and 1,000 teachers in the nation’s capital—bringing fun and accessible science education to classrooms. 

FIRST LIGHT

Saturday mornings at Carnegie’s Broad Branch Road campus are bustling with eager students, who are ready to dive into a world of scientific wonders. This year, middle school students participating in CASE’s flagship program, First Light,  embarked on a cosmic journey, discovering a world of exoplanets beyond our own Solar System; studied jet propulsion, examining the barriers to space travel and the innovative methods required to overcome them; and embarked on an extraordinary adventure inspired by the James Webb Space Telescope, gazing up at the night sky, mapping constellations and studying awe-inspiring nebulae and galaxies.

SUMMER STARS

During the summer months, talented young students gather five days a week at Carnegie’s Broad Branch Road campus for the Summer STARS program. Supported by the Washington, D.C., Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, these participants embarked on a journey of scientific discovery and career exploration. During the 2022 program, they gained real-world college and workplace readiness skills while also learning biotechnology and laboratory research techniques. Their interactions with Carnegie scientists and STEM professionals provided invaluable insights and inspiration for their future endeavors.

CASE INTERNSHIPS 

CASE Internships offer high school students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of science and science education. In the summer of 2022, student interns spent hours conducting lab experiments, preparing biotech kits, and assisting with First Light and other programs. Through their dedication, they learned essential skills, interacted with younger students, and gained insights into potential STEM careers. 

CASE's commitment to excellence extends to teachers as well. In the summer of 2022, the MUSICA Outstanding Teacher Leadership program selected six passionate middle and high school teachers from Arizona, D.C., and Texas to participate in a week of geoscience fieldwork and laboratory experiences around Arizona. The intensive program supplied participants with hands-on knowledge and lesson plan development in the Earth sciences. 

CASE continues to light the path for D.C. students, nurturing their curiosity, and igniting their passion for scientific exploration. For more information about CASE and its outreach programs, please visit https://case.carnegiescience.edu/.

Carnegie is where the next generation of big ideas are born. Our research breakthroughs have fundamentally changed how we understand biology, our planet, and the universe. We are one of few organizations worldwide where dedicated scientists can choose to explore new research directions that could redefine our collective future.

Andrew Carnegie founded this institution in 1902 as a home for world-transforming scientific discoveries. Today, Carnegie Science’s mission—to advance investigation, research, and discovery, and apply that knowledge to the improvement of humankind—is more urgent than ever.

An independent research institution, we provide our scientists with the flexibility to follow their discoveries, seize opportunities, and define new fields of investigation. Our researchers continue to ask and answer compelling questions where we have the expertise, the leadership to mobilize the international research community, and the vision to transform our understanding.

An inspiring philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie founded our Institution in 1902 as part of his dedication to giving away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. To further this goal, he established the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) in 1911 to help disperse the remainder of his assets and to manage his legacy after his death. Today, CCNY’s work focuses on international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy—issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance. He also strongly believed in unfettered scientific exploration for the betterment of humankind—in this way the longstanding partnership between our two organizations represents a shared commitment to improving the world around us.

Carnegie Corporation’s Chief of Staff, Jeanne D’Onofrio, said, “Our mission is to advance your mission,” which is evident in the projects and people they have supported over the years. For example, Carnegie Corporation has funded close to a dozen postdoctoral fellowships at Carnegie Science. Andrew Carnegie had a strong passion to advance education for all and so, CCNY’s gifts to our Institution’s fellowships directly support his legacy. And, in turn, an important part of our mission is to promote education in the sciences and to help early career investigators achieve success. 

Our Carnegie connection has deep roots. During his lifetime, Andrew Carnegie was a great humanitarian—giving generously of his own personal funds when natural or human disasters occurred. After a devastating earthquake in Chile in 1922 Andrew Carnegie gave $5,000—which would be close to $90,000 today—in humanitarian aid. Around the same time, CCNY also funded research at Carnegie Science that surveyed the origins and effects of the same earthquake—a multi-pronged approach to the disaster response.   

In 2001 to mark the centennial of Andrew Carnegie’s commitment to philanthropy, former CCNY President, Vartan Gregorian, brought all the different Carnegie entities together in celebration and remembrance of our founder’s legacy. Though CCNY had been a longtime supporter of Carnegie Science and other Carnegie institutions, until this point, the various Carnegie-founded organizations were not directly connected with each other. The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy was born out of this celebration and it continues to bring together Carnegie-established institutions to celebrate his legacy of philanthropy and recognize those who continue in his footsteps. 

We are proud of our joint history and look forward to continuing to advance Andrew Carnegie’s aspirations for making the world a better place.

Michael Wilson has been an avid supporter of the arts and sciences for much of his life. A successful movie producer and screenwriter, he feels a sense of responsibility to give back to organizations that are having an impact on the lives of people in communities across the world. “I find it very satisfying to be able to help these institutions to achieve their goals and it is an honor to be part of their work,” said Mr. Wilson during a recent conversation.

Before starting his career as a movie producer, Wilson received an engineering degree from Harvey Mudd College and a juris doctor from Stanford Law School, where he then went on to work for the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. It was there that he met Carnegie Science’s board member John Crawford who introduced him to the Institution’s work. 

“I always wanted to explore astronomy,” said Wilson, “For the past 100 years, Carnegie has been at the forefront of astronomical discovery—without Hubble and the research he did while at Carnegie, without Vera Rubin and her exploration into dark matter we would be living in a very different world.” Over his many years of involvement with Carnegie Science, he has become intimately aware of the many facets of our scientists' research having served on the Board of Trustees since 2010. 

In 2019, he generously endowed three postdoctoral positions in honor of his three granddaughters. “I want my granddaughters to have role models that they can emulate and to have people who inspire them. I thought I would lead the way by starting a scholarship for women in astronomy. My granddaughters may be a little young now, but I hope, eventually, they will be inspired by what these women do,” said Wilson. 

Wilson went on to say of Carnegie’s work, “Science is structured of small discoveries that are built upon one another and that is what Carnegie does so well. Carnegie has long been known as a launching pad for budding scientists because we give them the opportunity to work freely on the things they want to pursue—and that gives them the next leg up on their careers.” 

We are very grateful for Wilson’s dedication to Carnegie Science through the giving of his time, expertise, and philanthropy.