Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) - Internships

INTERNSHIPS

For high school students

In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Technology, the OeWF offers each year 2-5 internships in summer for teenager attending an Austrian school between 16 and 19 years old; these internships lasts typically one month during the summer and are payed. Tasks include assisting current research projects (for instance data analyses) or scientific outreach activities. The place of work is usually Innsbruck, Austria.

For university students

Within the framework for a bachelor thesis, internships between 2-24 weeks are possible. The precise task will depend on the professional experience of the applicant.  We have had interns with various backgrounds e.g. physics, biology, media sciences, project management, architecture, informatics etc. with the goal of developing an academic thesis (e.g. seminar, bachelor or master thesis). If you are interested in such an internship, please write us a short email with your CV, competence profile, and we will contact you for a nonbinding first interview. These internships are mostly unpayed, die OeWF does not provide accomodation or meals.

Can I do the internship as part of a compulsory element of my academic studies?

Yes – this is in fact a common rational for internships at the OeWF: If your academic thesis is in line with the Austrian Space Forums aims, you are welcome to apply.

Full-time interns are generally working from 09:00-17:00/18:00 from Monday to Thursday, 09:00-16:00 on Fridays (38,5 hrs/week). Austrian labor laws are applicable, typically interns are eligible for 2 days of vacation per month. Also, different working hours can be negotiated.

About the OeWF

The Austrian Space Forum is one of the leading institutions conducting Mars analog missions, thus paving the way for the future human exploration of the Red Planet. Experts from a broad variety of disciplines as well as the spaceflight sector constitute the core of the OeWF’s continued endeavor.
The OeWF in collaboration with national and international institutions from science and industry is working at the cutting edge of scientific research. In addition the OeWF also contributes significantly to inspiring and educating young people in the sectors of science, technology and engineering.

Our organization…

• …conducts cutting-edge interdisciplinary research: We specialize on space sciences, (human) Mars exploration, Earth observation and Astrobiology. Our work is published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at scientific conferences and communicated to both to specialists and the public.
• …provides an interface for the Austrian space sector: The forum builds bridges between the space industry, academia, policy institutions, decision makers and opinion leaders and the public. The OeWF is an independent and competent point of contact within the Austrian or European space sector.
• …initiates, supports, and connects careers: We offer student internship, project involvements, supervise graduates at universities, and enable the participation in research and development projects.
• …builds and flies, we explain and inspire: Hardware, hands-on projects, work in a laboratory or a workshop, and field experiments are the basis of the forum’s programs. Activities for elementary school students, evening events with audiences (sometimes with hundreds of attendees), flying water rockets, street-science and consulting for space sciences – We love to do hands-on activities.