R&D Intern — Martian Regolith Research

Duration: 3–4 monthsWorkload: 20–25 hours/weekLocation: Hybrid (remote for research/documentation; onsite for lab work)Compensation: €500/month stipendStart date: Flexible (February/March)About the roleWe are a technical startup developing advanced regolith simulants and related products for research and industry. This internship is primarily focused on Martian regolith research and translating scientific literature into practical engineering requirements to support the future development of a Martian regolith simulant. As an early-stage startup, priorities may shift week to week. While the main focus will remain on the Martian regolith project, the intern should be comfortable supporting adjacent activities such as lab assistance, logistics, and customer inquiries as needed and always with clear guidance.

Main responsibilities (primary focus — ~70–80%):Conduct a structured literature review on Martian regolith (mineralogy, geotechnical properties, particle size distribution, ISRU relevance, known simulants, and limitations). Synthesize findings into clear internal documentation and presentations. Translate research into practical requirements for a future simulant (composition targets, proxy minerals, particle size ranges, process constraints, safety considerations). Benchmark existing Mars regolith simulants and summarize gaps/opportunities.

Build and maintain an annotated bibliography and internal knowledge base. Secondary responsibilities (startup support — ~20–30%):Depending on weekly priorities, the intern may also support:Lab work and small-scale production tasks under supervision (e.g., mixing, sieving, packaging, labeling, basic QC checks). Logistics and administrative tasks (inventory, sample dispatch, supplier tracking). Drafting replies to inbound product inquiries and supporting a FAQ/response template library (with team review).

What we’re looking for:Current student (ideally master student) in a relevant field: geology, planetary science, materials science, chemistry, physics, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or similar. Strong research and writing skills: ability to read technical literature and synthesize it into actionable outputs. Organized and reliable; comfortable working independently with periodic check-ins. Interest in space materials, regolith, granular media, ISRU, or analog materials.

Comfortable in a startup environment where tasks can be adaptive. Any lab experience is a plus (but not required). A strong willingness to learn and follow procedures is essential.

What we offer

Flexible schedule compatible with classes and exam periods. Hybrid work model: remote for research/documentation; onsite for lab tasks. Though onsite work is encouraged in general. Direct mentorship and frequent feedback in a small technical team.

High learning velocity and real ownership: your work directly informs product development. A 500 €/month stipendium. Planned conference attendance in Luxembourg (travel and accommodation covered; subject to timing and internship progress).

How to apply

Please send:Your CVA short motivation paragraph (or email) describing your interest in this internship. (Optional) We would love to see some of your previous work (projects, etc). To info@hispansion.io