Lauren Coffman, a current biomedical engineering student at Wichita State University (WSU), has always been fascinated by space. Her childhood interest turned into a reality when she secured a NASA Pathways Internship in Human Health and Performance at Johnson Space Center (JSC). From an early love of space exploration to landing an internship with NASA, Lauren’s journey has been filled with determination, hard work, and guidance from her mentors at WSU.
This past summer, Lauren completed her first NASA Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (O-STEM) internship at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH). During her time there, she developed procedures for biomedical equipment used in commercial spaceflight, tested these procedures with her team, managed biosample collections from astronauts, and organized biomedical hardware as it moved across institutions. Now, in her current Pathways role, Lauren focuses on ensuring astronaut safety through the development of supplemental materials for biomedical equipment, certifying medical devices, and analyzing countermeasures for spaceflight. "A majority of my day is spent analyzing problems with equipment and designing solutions for efficient spaceflight," she explains.
Lauren’s space journey began early, sparked by a childhood tour of Johnson Space Center. Years later, a connection with a NASA employee led her to discover internship opportunities at the agency. NASA offers two types of internships: O-STEM, which is a non-renewable program open to a wider variety of majors, and Pathways, a multi-semester internship that provides engineering and business students with in-depth experience and a direct pathway to full-time employment. The application process for Pathways was more involved than O-STEM, requiring a detailed resume using the Challenge, Action, and Result (CAR) method and the completion of a workplace assessment. "Creating a profile and resume on USA Jobs was time-consuming, but not impossible," Lauren recalls.
She credits WSU for playing a significant role in preparing her for this opportunity. Before enrolling at WSU, Dr. Anil Mahapatro, the associate dean of undergraduate and graduate programs, professor and certificate coordinator for biomedical engineering, gave her a personal tour of the labs, showcasing the potential opportunities she would have as a WSU student. Once on campus, Lauren connected with Dr. Yongkuk Lee Ph.D., department chair and associate professor of biomedical engineering. Under Dr. Lee’s mentorship she worked on a NASA space grant project for cardiovascular health monitoring. That project, in her sophomore year, set her apart from other applicants and proved to be a key experience in landing her NASA internships.
As a Pathways intern, Lauren rotates through different sectors at Johnson Space Center (JSC), which has expanded her understanding of NASA’s diverse operations. Despite having to push back her graduation date, she sees the extended experience as a valuable investment in her future. "Getting more experience at JSC is the most valuable thing for my career right now," she says, highlighting how working on projects that impact real space missions has been an unparalleled learning opportunity.
Looking ahead, Lauren plans to complete three more rotations at JSC before graduating, exploring different areas within NASA to find her ideal role. She’s especially excited about flight operations, astronaut crew training, and working alongside flight surgeons. "There are so many areas of interest to me!" she shares.
Lauren’s advice for fellow WSU students is clear: gain as much hands-on experience as possible. "Internships help you figure out if a career is the right fit for you," she says. For those interested in NASA internships, she emphasizes persistence: "Don’t give up if you get denied; keep trying." She recalls a coworker who emailed a mentor at NASA after being rejected, offering to shadow the team without pay. His initiative impressed the mentor, and he was eventually offered a position. "Small efforts can leave a big impression," Lauren advises.
She also encourages students to start preparing early for the application process, using resources like WSU’s Shocker Career Accelerator for resume and cover letter help. "Get involved in extracurriculars that make you stand out, and always practice your interview responses," she adds.
Lauren Coffman’s journey from Wichita State to NASA demonstrates the power of persistence, hard work, and support from a dedicated community. As she continues her internship at NASA, she serves as an inspiration for other Shockers looking to turn their dreams into reality.
Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.
For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus.