About

The Nanoscience Lab Summer Institute at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA is a intensive, one-week hands-on workshop for high school students with a strong foundation in chemistry. For 2026, the program offers two sessions: Session A (June 22–26) and Session B (August 3–7). Participants engage in laboratory experiments and seminars designed by UCLA researchers to introduce foundational concepts in nanotechnology. Students explore topics such as photolithography, supercapacitors, and bio-toxicity, gaining practical exposure to the "bottom-up" versus "top-down" fabrication approaches that underlie modern advanced materials.

Eligibility is open to students in grades 10–12 (Spring 2026) who are at least 15 years old by June 23, 2026. Applicants must have a minimum 3.2 GPA and have completed at least one high school chemistry course. The application process opens on February 15, 2026, and operates on a rolling basis. Requirements include an unofficial transcript, a Value Statement, and two short essay responses. The program is commuter-only, with daily in-person attendance required at the CNSI building on the UCLA campus; no residential housing is provided.

Instruction blends brief lectures with practical lab time where students conduct experiments and analyze collected data. Students also practice presenting their findings, gaining conceptual insight into how interdisciplinary research operates at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology. Faculty and instructors are researchers affiliated with CNSI, ensuring the curriculum remains grounded in current scientific inquiry rather than abstract demonstration. Participants leave with a foundational understanding of nanoscale science and improved confidence in laboratory techniques, providing a compact, real-world glimpse into emerging STEM research.