SUNBURY -- Katherine Pazamickas, 21, a Lycoming College student from Sunbury, dreams that someday her work will aid in the exploration of space.

Her dream is not out of this world. After all, for the last four summers Pazamickas has been interning at NASA's Greenbelt, Md.-based Goddard Space Flight Center in their elite student internship program.

Pazamickas, who majors in astronomy and physics, intends to pursue a career with one of the space agencies after she earns a graduate degree.

"I'd like to get an advanced degree in space physics," Pazamickas said. "I want to work here when I grow up."

The Goddard student intern program is designed for exceptional students majoring in engineering, science or other related aerospace studies, and whose primary interest is in space-related research. It's a 10-week summer research program for undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in aerospace-related fields.

This year, the program brings together this country's best and brightest for cutting edge research. Areas of study include astrophysics, artificial intelligence, earth systems science, interplanetary physics, materials analysis, cryogenics, space communications and more.

"Typically, we work eight hours every day," Pazamickas said. "It's serious stuff, and we work hard. But I love the experience. I like being involved in research. It's very exciting."

Students are expected to complete several hundred hours of research and present a research project before audience of their peers and NASA personnel.

"This is a wonderful experience for a student," said Dr. Vigdor Teplitz, chief of Higher Education for the Space Flight Center. "NASA's space program is just about the greatest show on Earth if you are a technical person and having these young eager people with fresh points of view and questions is good for NASA. It makes a productive summer for all."

But it's not all work. There is some play.

"We stay on the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus," Pazamickas said. "Then we're bused to work every day. I've gotten to know people who live in the Baltimore area, so we do get a chance to get out."

Pazamickas was one of 26 interns chosen for this year's program. It ends on Aug. 8. She joins students from the University of Michigan, Columbia, Temple, the University of Massachusetts, Penn State, Johns Hopkins, Brigham Young and Oregon State.

"One of the best things about the program are the friends you make and the people you meet from around the country," Pazamickas said. "I'm fortunate that over the past few summers I've met some people who have returned to the program and are now close friends."