As NCIA’s internship programme is once again open for applications, we sat down with Jakob to discuss how his internship experience at NCIA enticed him to stay on as part of the Internship Temporary Personnel (ITP) programme.
High performing individuals have the opportunity to continue their experience at NCIA and take part in the ITP. This pathway gives young talent the potential to transition to a fully paid post for up to 24 months, giving the chance to deepen contributions and career development, expand professional networks, and continue to support the NATO mission. Find out more here.
When you picked your degree, did you ever see yourself helping NATO’s mission as your job?
Funnily enough, I actually did hope so. Before joining NCIA, I had some level of experience in military environments through two previous internships: one focused on practical cartographic production for the army and the other being entirely research oriented for my thesis. Despite that background, I could not quite imagine myself working here at the time.
In the final weeks of my bachelor in Geography and Data Visualization, I happened to spot an NCIA geospatial internship, so I wrote it down and hoped it would reappear when I could apply. Two years later, during my master’s degree in Geographical Information Management and Applications, NCIA’s internship programme reopened and there was a role for a geospatial intern, so I applied immediately and here we are now.
How has your internship at NCIA influenced the direction you hope to take next?
The internship itself actually already set the next chapter in motion for me, as I was able to stay on in a temporary capacity. It allowed me to seamlessly transition into my new role, where I continue working on the same project, now with even more room to explore and more responsibility.
Looking ahead, I would love to keep growing in this intersection of geospatial and AI, especially within the civilian and military setting, where the environment is very encouraging for this type of research.
What has been the highlight from your internship experience so far?
One of the highlights of my internship has been getting out of the office to visit stakeholders and industry partners, as well as an operational NATO facility in the field. Simply seeing how things work in the real world makes the projects and daily work feel far more meaningful and real. Visiting these locations, meeting new people, and having both great but challenging conversations pushed me out of my comfort zone, which looking back, absolutely had one of the most positive impacts on my experience.
What advice would you give to people starting their internship at NCIA?
My advice would be to stay curious, walk around the office, network with colleagues and never be afraid to ask questions. It is an international environment, and everyone has different skills and experiences that they are more than happy to share with you. From the start, you are trusted and encouraged to contribute, and you are given a real role, so make the most of every opportunity to learn and try new things, even things that might be completely unrelated to your degree.
Applications to join the next cohort of interns at NCIA are now open until 8 March 2026. Find out more and apply here.