20 students join the Next Generation Triggers

20 students join the Next Generation Triggers project as part of the CERN openlab Summer Student Programme 2026

From almost 6,000 applicants worldwide, 47 students have been selected for the openlab Summer Student Programme 2026 to join CERN this summer. The programme gives undergraduate and graduate students a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in scientific computing, high-performance systems, and software engineering at one of the world’s leading research institutions. 20 students will work directly on the Next Generation Triggers (NGT) project, contributing to a diverse set of topics including software, machine learning, and hardware-accelerated research. The NGT students bring together 17 nationalities across 5 continents. 

The 9-week summer student programme gives students the opportunity to work on exciting projects while gaining valuable research experience. By contributing to technologies that support CERN’s experiments, they become part of the scientific work and collaborate with experts from around the world.

Beyond their day-to-day project work, students will attend lectures and visit experimental sites led by CERN specialists. These sessions explore a wide range of topics, from software and computing to accelerator and detector physics, helping students broaden their understanding of CERN and expose them to key challenges in modern-day scientific research. You can follow the lectures here: Indico 2026 CERN openlab summer student programme lectures.

The programme allows students to gain practical experience while working alongside experts at CERN. It brings together students from around the world, creating an international environment where they can learn from each other and build connections for the future.