JOIN DEVELOP: The fall 2025 Term Application are Now Open – DEVELOP Program: Bridging Science and Society!!

The DEVELOP Program, part of NASA’s Capacity Building initiative, performs a significant function in connecting slicing-edge Earth science with actual-world environmental determination-making. Since its launch in 1998, DEVELOP has created a singular platform the place early profession professionals, college students, and transitioning professionals collaborate on fast feasibility tasks utilizing NASA’s Earth remark information. With over 6,000 participant alternatives provided globally, this system continues to develop its attain and impression throughout numerous communities and sectors. DEVELOP is not only about analysis—it’s about cultivating the subsequent technology of Earth science leaders via arms-on expertise, interdisciplinary teamwork, and significant partnerships with organizations in search of modern, information-pushed options.

About DEVELOP

The DEVELOP Program bridges the hole between NASA Earth Science info and potential customers via fast feasibility research that apply Earth observations to environmental determination-making wants.

Part of the Capacity Building program space, DEVELOP started in 1998. It has since grown right into a nationwide program that engages over 250 members and 100 companion organizations yearly. While the identify DEVELOP is written in uppercase letters, it’s not an acronym. It’s a correct identify that showcases its goal in creating new scientists. Since its founding, we’ve supplied almost 6,000 participant alternatives globally. DEVELOP is at all times on the lookout for alternatives to achieve new communities and exhibit the advantages of NASA’s Earth Science analysis.

DEVELOP hosts each in-individual and digital workplaces. The National Program Office (NPO), DEVELOP’s Headquarters, resides at NASA Langley Research Center and oversees exercise throughout our community of workplaces. A DEVELOP Fellow leads every workplace. Fellows are early profession professionals who handle the tasks and members for his or her workplace. They interact with potential companions to develop undertaking concepts, which the DEVELOP NPO and NASA Headquarters evaluation, and accredited tasks are performed in an upcoming time period.

Term Calendar

Term & Dates	Application Window	Recommendations Due	Notification Timeline
Summer 2025 (June 2 – Aug 8, 2025)	Jan 13 – Feb 28, 2025	Mar 14, 2025	April – May 2025
Fall 2025 (Sept 15 – Nov 21, 2025)	May 5 – Jun 13, 2025	June 27, 2025	Aug – Sept 2025
Spring 2026 (Jan 26 – April 3, 2026)	Aug 25 – Oct 3, 2025	Oct seventeenth, 2025	Dec 2025 – Jan 2026
Summer 2026 (June 1 – Aug 7, 2026)	Jan 12 – Feb 27, 2026	Mar 13, 2026	April – May 2026

Participants & the Participant Experience

Who? 

There isn’t any normal DEVELOP participant. As an interdisciplinary program:

• anybody with an curiosity in Earth science is welcome to apply.
• DEVELOP accepts members with abilities in a number of fields, in addition to from completely different phases of their careers. This contains at the moment enrolled college students, current graduates, early profession professionals and transitioning profession professionals.
• Applicants with a robust curiosity in Earth sciences, distant sensing, environmental science, laptop science, geographic info techniques (GIS), know-how and environmental coverage are inspired to apply.
• No earlier expertise is required in these areas — simply an eagerness to study. Review this page and the FAQ part for extra details about eligibility.

What?

If chosen, you’ll conduct

• a literature evaluation on the scope, methodologies, and kinds of NASA distant-sensing information relevant to your undertaking.
• You may also companion with organizations in search of enhanced determination-making help. To assist present this, you’ll use GIS and distant-sensing information to conduct application tasks.
• By the undertaking’s finish, your workforce will create a presentation, technical report, and inventive communications deliverables. The program goals to construct the abilities wanted to elucidate undertaking outcomes to quite a lot of audiences.
• DEVELOP additionally gives private growth actions like persona typing, workforce constructing, and networking with scientists and companion organizations.

How? 

Interdisciplinary groups, ranging in dimension from 4 to 5 members, conduct every undertaking. The workforce works underneath the steerage of a DEVELOP Fellow, science advisors and mentors, and the DEVELOP National Program Office.

Why? 

DEVELOP is a singular alternative and every participant advantages otherwise. Generally, you’ll be able to anticipate to reinforce your private and skilled growth. This contains enhancing abilities in communication, presentation, analysis, collaboration, technical capabilities, and networking.

Participant eligibility

General Eligibility Requirements:

• At least 18 years of age by the beginning of the time period for which you are making use of.
• Strong curiosity in Earth science and distant sensing.
• U.S. citizenship is required to apply to DEVELOP in-individual alternatives at NASA and NOAA places.
• U.S. residents and non-U.S. residents are eligible to apply to DEVELOP in-individual alternatives at regional places and all digital alternatives.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (both cumulative or most up-to-date) from the present or most up-to-date establishment of upper studying.
• Ability to work 20-29 hours per week through the 10-week time period throughout common enterprise hours for every location (sometimes 9am – 5pm Monday via Thursday).
• For in-individual alternatives: Participants should have the flexibility to supply private transportation to and from the DEVELOP location.
• For digital alternatives: Participants are required to be positioned and work from throughout the 50 U.S. states and/or Washington, DC in the course of the 10-week time period. Virtual members are not approved to work remotely from U.S. territories or outdoors the U.S.

Note: In addition to assembly the overall eligibility necessities said above, every applicant should meet the next necessities particular to their applicant classification (as outlined under).

Participant Classifications

Currently Enrolled Students: Students who are at the moment enrolled at a U.S. accredited neighborhood school, undergraduate or graduate school or college. Open to all majors. Must present proof of enrollment at an accredited U.S. college (acceptance letter or present unofficial transcripts).

Recent Graduates: Individuals who’ve graduated with an undergraduate or graduate diploma from a U.S. accredited school or college throughout the previous two years. Must present proof of profitable commencement from a university or college (diploma or transcript displaying commencement).

Early/Transitioning Career Professionals: Individuals who are pursuing additional expertise within the Earth sciences and distant sensing, transitioning to a brand new profession discipline, and/or have a minimum of two years of labor expertise in knowledgeable surroundings (together with transitioning/just lately transitioned veterans from the U.S. Armed Forces).

Application Guidelines Overview

Important info relating to the application course of:

• Applications should be submitted throughout the set application window.
• Applications could be began, saved as a draft, and then returned to for completion.
• For new participant functions, advice varieties are stuffed out and submitted on-line. Recommenders will obtain an e-mail with the hyperlink and directions to finish the shape as soon as the applicant has added and saved their recommenders’ info.
• Applications that are submitted, however not full (lacking advice varieties) might not be thought-about.
• Applications are reviewed by the National Program Office and the places to which the candidate utilized.
• Interviews could also be performed over video convention, telephone, or in-individual on the discretion of DEVELOP.
• After the choice course of is full, every applicant will obtain notification relating to their standing.

Do you’ve questions relating to a possibility with DEVELOP? Please discuss with the FAQ Section. For solutions not obtainable there, contact the National Program Office for added info.

Eligible Regions

Non-U.S. Citizen candidates: Non-U.S. citizen candidates thinking about working with the DEVELOP Program are welcome to apply! International candidates should be at the moment positioned within the U.S. and registered at, or just lately graduated from, an accredited U.S. college. If chosen, members shall be required to work from throughout the 50 U.S. states and/or Washington D.C. in the course of the ten-week time period. Virtual members are not approved to work remotely from U.S. territories or worldwide places.

Selected non-U.S. residents should fulfill the necessities relating to U.S. employment authorization documentation. International candidates on an F-1 or J-1 visa are approved to take part in DEVELOP as a at the moment enrolled or current graduate from a U.S. accredited establishment underneath a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). CPTs and OPTs are acquired from an International Student Services Office (ISSO) positioned on the applicant’s college and are processed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). DEVELOP doesn’t sponsor visa functions or file petitions with U.S. Immigration. Applicants who don’t meet these necessities are not eligible to take part within the DEVELOP Program.

• For extra info relating to CPT and OPT work authorization paperwork, please go to the USCIS Exchange Visitors and Student info here.
• International candidates who are in a position to set up each id and employment authorization offered as acceptable List A I-9 paperwork, are additionally eligible to take part in DEVELOP. For extra info relating to acceptable I-9 employment authorization paperwork, please go to the USCIS Form I-9 Acceptable Documents web site here.

Non-U.S. citizen candidates are eligible to apply to DEVELOP in-individual alternatives at regional places and all digital alternatives, which are listed under:

• In-person Opportunities:
  • CO – Fort Collins
  • GA – Athens
  • ID – Pocatello
  • MA – Boston
• Virtual Opportunities:
  • CA – Ames
  • CA – JPL
  • CO – Fort Collins
  • GA – Athens
  • ID – Pocatello
  • MA – Boston
  • MD – Goddard
  • NC – NCEI
  • VA – Langley

Logistics

The DEVELOP application and choice processes are managed on behalf of NASA by contractors. DEVELOP members are categorized as contract staff. Applicants who settle for an in-individual alternative should take part onsite at their chosen location. Participants are answerable for their very own housing, dwelling bills and transportation to and from the DEVELOP location. The program doesn’t fund or reimburse journey and/or dwelling bills.

How To Apply

Interested candidates, please take the next steps:

1. Read via this web page and our Online Application Guidelines in full.
2. Browse the Proposed Project List (up to date 5/4/25) to know the tentative checklist of alternatives. This checklist identifies which tasks shall be performed in-individual or nearly.
3. Learn in regards to the completely different undertaking places on the Inside DEVELOP page. DEVELOP gives each in-individual and digital alternatives, relying on the undertaking. The Proposed Project List will checklist the placement of every undertaking. Be certain to check whether or not a location is providing in-individual or digital tasks.
4. Questions? First learn our FAQs. If you are not capable of finding the reply you’re on the lookout for, contact us at NASA-DL-DEVELOP@mail.nasa.gov
5. Apply! Use the DEVELOP Application portal linked under to apply. Please be aware the time and time zone for the application deadline. Applications can’t be submitted after 11:59pm EST on June thirteenth – no exceptions!

DEVELOP APPLICATION PORTAL – QUick ACCESS

NOTE: NASA DEVELOP prohibits using synthetic intelligence (AI) or AI- assisted instruments, to incorporate however not restricted to ChatGPT, in drafting application responses. Any application discovered to have used AI or AI- assisted instruments shall be robotically disqualified.

Application Deadline

• 11:59pm EST on June thirteenth, 2025

Contact

 

View extra alternatives on the OFY Website!

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