Internship Opportunity at the SETI Institute

The project will involve using models of protoplanetary disks to understand and explain emission lines from different gaseous species seen with the James Webb Space Telescope. The student will look at how different emission lines scale with the water emission seen by JWST and how these relate to the evolutionary state of the disk as it forms planets. The work will involve data analysis and comparison of modeling and simulation results with observational data.

Her work is theoretical in nature, although she does connect her model results to data. For the project to be of any value to the student, the applicant would have to be thinking of pursuing higher degrees (at least a graduate from a 4-year university) in physics, astronomy, mathematics, or computer science. Some programming experience is necessary, either in Python or a higher-level language. A physics or math major is preferred, but anyone interested is encouraged to apply.

The work he envisions for the intern will be fairly computer intensive, but will start with mostly running existing programs and collecting/organizing results. The work will involve reviewing data analysis results to determine the validity of potential planet candidates, so an interest in astronomy and exoplanets is a plus. Hopefully, as the work progresses, the intern will be able to get more into programming/updating the data analysis code and work with a team to apply a machine learning system to review the analysis results. Experience with using the Linux/Unix operating system would be a big plus, but any computer experience and a willingness to learn is good. For programming, Python experience would be a plus but is not required.

This exciting internship offers a unique opportunity to be part of the Unistellar Citizen Science program's global outreach efforts. As an intern, you will assist in connecting with and expanding our network of citizen astronomers worldwide. Your role will be crucial in developing their interests through innovative engagement strategies and by facilitating collaboration with our team of professional astronomers. You will help design and implement a rewarding program and create compelling content for our website and app. This internship is ideal for students eager to contribute to a vibrant international community and gain experience in science communication and program development.