Get Started

Congratulations on earning a stellar internship or fellowship at the leading center for robotic exploration of the solar system. You're about to embark on an out-of-this-world experience. To set you on the right trajectory, we've put together this online resource, where you'll find housing and transportation details, program requirements, project guidelines and policies, and other resources. No matter what your project, every day at JPL is a chance to dare mighty things. So buckle in. It's time to lift off!

Badging

You will be receiving an automated email message from your program coordinator and IDMAX with instructions on how to complete your badging and registration applications. Note: These applications require that you provide personal information. You will need to complete both applications within seven days of receiving those emails.

In accordance with NASA regulations, all participants are required to complete an in-person enrollment and fingerprinting appointment at a NASA center to meet the federal requirement for a minimum background check.

• On-Lab participants: This appointment will take place at JPL on your first day.
• Remote participants: This appointment can take place shortly after the start of your internship at a NASA center closest to your location. If JPL is your closest NASA center, this appointment will be scheduled on Day One of your internship. You will receive more information from the Education Office via email.

Until you receive your official badge, you will be provided with a green temporary badge. Note: The green student badges do not operate the parking lot turnstiles, so you will have to walk to the nearest guard station to enter the laboratory.

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Housing

JPL students and faculty are responsible for making their own housing arrangements. Traffic in the Los Angeles area is notoriously slow and unpredictable, so we recommend that you focus your housing search within about a 10-mile radius of the Laboratory, which is located just north of Pasadena in La Canada Flintridge. Local cities and communities in this region, known as the western San Gabriel Valley, include: Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Burbank, Eagle Rock, Glendale, Highland Park, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Monrovia, Montrose, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Temple City.

Below is a list of resources that previous students and faculty have used to secure housing. Note: JPL does not endorse these resources.

Transportation

Your First Day and Beyond

On-Lab Participants

If your project takes place at the Laboratory, here's what you'll need to prepare, and what you can expect on your first couple of days.

Before You Arrive

• Attend orientation: Orientation is usually held online the Thursday prior to your start date. Note: Some participants with start dates in summer will have orientation on their first day. Please review your pre-arrival material for your orientation date. During orientation, you will receive a general overview of JPL, our student and faculty programs requirements, policies, and guidelines, as well as expectations for your time at the Lab.

Day One

• Bring your identification documents: The following legal identification documents must be presented on your first day at JPL or you will not receive a badge to gain daily access to the Laboratory and will delay the badging process:
  
  
  
  • Foreign Nationals, must provide: an unexpired foreign passport and all visa documents.
  
  
  • U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents must provide either two primary identity source documents (see list below) OR one primary and one secondary identity source documents (see lists below).
    
    
    
    • Primary Identity Source Documents: U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card, U.S. Permanent Resident Card or Registration Receipt I-551, Employment Authorization Document I-766 with photograph, Driver’s License or State ID card with photograph, Government Issued ID card with photograph (Military ID, Native American Tribal documents, PIV, Global Entry card). For persons under 18: School ID with photo.
    
    
    • Secondary Identity Source Documents: U.S. Social Security Card, Voter’s Registration Card, Employment Authorization Document without photo, Original or Certified copy of Birth Certificate, Certification of Birth Abroad (FS-545), Certification or Report of Birth (DS-1350), Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (N-560 or N-561), Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-571), Identity Card issued by U.S. government agency without photograph. For persons under 18: School ID, School Record or Report Card, Clinic, Doctor or hospital record.


• Arrive on time or early: It’s a good idea to arrive early on your first day, especially in the summer when a high volume of students and faculty are starting their internships and fellowships at the Lab. Make sure you arrive on the day assigned by your program coordinator. If your mentor or advisor wishes to change your start date, you must get approval from your program coordinator.


• Meet in the Visitors Center (fall and spring) or Von Karman Auditorium (summer): As you approach JPL, you will come to a security checkpoint. Please show the officer your government-issued ID and let them know this is your first day at JPL. If you arrive by car, the officer will give you directions to and a pass for the Visitor Parking Lot, which is directly across from the Visitors Center. (You may also park in the West Lot). If you arrive by bus or bike, the officer will point you in the direction of the Visitor Center. Summer students and faculty should follow signs for the Von Karman Auditorium.


• Go to your badging appointment: JPL is a secure facility and a badge is required for access to certain buildings and the Lab as a whole. Be sure to bring your required identification documents on your first day to avoid delays in the badging process.


• Foreign nationals, attend a security briefing: The JPL security office will provide an overview of the security guidelines for foreign nationals on lab.


• Meet your mentor: Your mentor will pick you up at the designated location and bring you to your new office space where you can meet your fellow team members.

Day Two

• IT provisioning: Pick up and set up your JPL issued devises (laptops, RSA token, etc.).


• Pick up your badge: Your badge will be processed the same day you arrive (as long as you provide the necessary identification). Once your badge is processed, you will need to go to the Badging Office in the Visitors Center to pick it up.

Remote Participants

If you are participating in a remote project, here's what you'll need to prepare, and what you can expect on your first couple of days.

Day One

• Schedule an enrollment appointment: Follow the instructions you receive via email to schedule an enrollment appointment at the NASA center nearest to you. If JPL is the NASA center closest to you, then your enrollment appointment will be scheduled for you on Day One of your internship.


• Receive JPL login credentials: You will receive an email with information about your JPL username, password, and email. You should also receive contact information for your JPL hosting organization.


• Meet your mentor: Attend a virtual kick-off meeting organized by your mentor to get to know them and your project.

Day Two

• Complete these steps in order:
  1. Reset your JPL password.
  2. Call JPL IT to set up an RSA soft-token on your smartphone and a personal pin number.
  3. Call the IT Coordination Desk to schedule an appointment to set up VDI or JPL laptop.

Day Three

• Complete the mandatory safety trainings: Once you have access to VPN, visit the Learning Management System Dashboard to complete your assigned safety trainings. You will have 10 days to complete the trainings.


• Attend your enrollment appointment: Be sure to bring the required documents to your appointment to avoid delays.