Finding Her Place Among the Stars: Emily Bridges’ Journey to NASA
A faculty email helped set CSUSB student Emily Bridges on a path to NASA — but it was her preparation, persistence and passion for geology that ultimately set her apart in a highly competitive applicant pool.
“I first heard about the internship from my professor,” she said, noting that the application process was straightforward — requiring only a resume and a short essay.
Selected as one of just 33 interns from 3,500 applicants nationwide, Bridges received the news while on campus. Overcome with excitement and disbelief, she called her family — including her grandmother, a CSUSB alumna — to share the moment.
“I was so excited when I saw that email, even though I didn't believe it at first,” said Bridges. “I called my family, especially my grandma, and was on the phone with them for probably two hours outside of the library.”
That moment marked the start of her summer internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., where she contributed to research supporting the Europa Clipper mission, which aims to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa and assess its potential habitability.
Supporting a mission to Europa
Bridges, a geology senior, participated in the 10-week Europa Clipper: Opportunities for Next-Generation Scientists (ICONS) internship, where she was paired with planetary geologist Cynthia Phillips, the mission’s project staff scientist and science communications lead.
Throughout the summer, Bridges conducted original research analyzing high-resolution imagery of Jupiter’s moons, Europa and Io, studying tectonic and surface features and comparing images over time to detect geological change — work that supports the Europa Clipper mission, NASA’s first dedicated to a detailed investigation of Europa, where scientists believe a vast salty ocean lies beneath its icy crust.
Bridges engaged with the broader scientific community at JPL through seminars, collaborative meetings and behind-the-scenes tours of NASA facilities — experiences that deepened her understanding of space exploration and the people driving it forward.
As part of the experience, she also presented her research at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, with the internship providing a $12,000 stipend along with travel, relocation support and housing covered by NASA.
Cynthia Phillips, the mission’s project staff scientist and science communications lead
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Finding confidence and community
At JPL, Bridges joined a cohort of interns from across the country — including another CSUSB student selected for the same internship in a different research area — highlighting the university’s growing presence in competitive research spaces.
Still, the experience came with challenges. Surrounded by students from Ivy League and research-intensive institutions, Bridges initially questioned where she fit and had to overcome imposter syndrome.
“I felt a little bit out of place there, but I recognized that the pool of people that they got, they picked me … I realized quickly that I was definitely capable of the work that I was doing,” she said.
Bridges credits her academic experience at CSUSB for preparing her to step into planetary science research through hands-on coursework, field studies and a multi-semester thesis.
“All of the knowledge that I had learned from geology, I just transferred it over to different surfaces, different bodies in the solar system … So it transfers very well,” she said.
Looking ahead
As she prepares for graduation, Bridges plans to pursue a Ph.D. and continue her work in planetary science, with the goal of returning to NASA to continue her work with the Europa Clipper mission. She is also passionate about outreach and teaching the public about science.
She encourages other CSUSB students to be proactive in their academic careers, reaching out to professors, building a network of support, and getting involved on campus.
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The support Bridges received from faculty mentors Codi Lazar, associate professor; Tandis Bidgoli, professor; and Clair Todd, chair and professor, in the Department of Geological Sciences helped shape her academic and professional journey.
“All of the professors here are very personable with you, and it feels very much like a family in this department,” said Bridges.
From San Bernardino to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Bridges’ journey reflects how CSUSB students are turning classroom learning into real-world impact — and extending their reach far beyond Earth.
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