The Young Nebraska Scientists (YNS) program provides exciting STEM enrichment activities for middle and high school students, including summer science camps and summer research internships for high school students.
Summer science camps
This summer YNS will offer a variety of camps for middle and high school students. Some camps are offered exclusively to those able to commute to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Innovation Campus, and others provide housing on site.
To learn more about 2026 camp offerings and to register, visit the YNS website.
Summer research internship
YNS High School Researchers is an eight-week paid internship working inside faculty labs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Participating students will gain valuable skills such as coding, creating research posters and science communication. This is a perfect chance for students to gain a mentor in their collegiate field of study and work on a real scientific project, which is good for college applications/resumes.
This opportunity is mainly for high school juniors or seniors, and applicants must be at least 16 years old by June 1. These jobs are part time (<40 hours per week) and will generally begin in early June, lasting until early August. When the student researcher is chosen, they will coordinate a schedule and location with the faculty member.
The fields of study involved in this year’s internships are chemistry, nanoscience, and quantum materials. Students will use their skills to revolutionize quantum computing. Some researchers will get the opportunity to build and use new technology such as Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) microscopy to find better ways to characterize materials and determine applications. Students should use this opportunity to find their place in the quantum revolution!
Learn more and apply today!