Intern of the Week: Mary Aronne for Environmental Science

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 12:21:27 -0400
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Name: Mary Aronne

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Position Title: Space Weather Forecasting Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Environmental Science and Geography, B.S.

Describe your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I analyze space weather, which means I look at satellite data of the sun and watch for solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other events that could lead to a geomagnetic storm at Earth or impact NASA robotic missions throughout the solar system. My day to day responsibilities include maintaining a log of events, communicating with other space weather analysts, analyzing data, and running simulations if needed. I also have a research project that I work on with my mentor relating to space weather, which I do in conjunction with my regular space weather analysis.

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I found this position through the NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI). In addition, I completed an internship with the same group I am with now as a high school in the summer of 2012.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I enjoy being able to look at the Sun and observe what is happening on it in almost real time. It is exciting to be one of the first observers of an event, such as a big eruption on the Sun or the start of a geomagnetic storm at Earth.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

My work has an impact on NASA robotic missions throughout the solar system and at Earth, because we alert them to space weather activity.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My advice is to apply early for an internship and get strong letters of recommendation that are relevant to the field you want to go into. Internships are competitive and there are often several rounds of the selection process.

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