*This application is for ADULT SCIENTISTS interested in VIRTUAL programming with the Junior Academy . For further information about our mentorship opportunities please go to https://www.nyas.org/get-involved/mentorship/
If you already have a SurveyMonkeyApply account, log in at the top of the screen, then click the "Apply" button to begin your application. If you don't have an account yet, click the "Register" button, create your account, and then proceed with your application.
Thank you for your interest in being a STEM Mentor!
The deadline to complete this application is July 2nd.
APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN: 2026 - 2027 School Year
The Junior Academy Program is currently recruiting undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and STEM professionals to mentor middle school and high school students with the goal of inspiring a lifelong interest in STEM. Accepted applicants will mentor student teams in the Junior Academy through virtual 10 week Innovation Challenges held in the Fall and Spring semesters, during which students teams design innovative, research-driven solutions to pressing global problems. Mentors encourage and support the students as they move through the different phases of the scientific process, from researching to designing and testing, to communicating their solution to the world.
Participating Mentors receive onboarding training in design thinking curriculum and youth development, and participate in semester check-ins with program staff.
Fall: September 21st- November 23rd, 2026
Spring: February 17th - April 26th, 2027
For more information about this program, please visit our Junior Academy mentor tab.
Junior Academy Mentors gain:
- Science communication and leadership skills
- Mentoring and teaching experience
- Opportunities to network and participate in professional development events
- A stronger connection to their community
- One year complimentary membership to NYAS provided at the end of the Academic Year (June 2027)
Please feel free to email education@nyas.org about mentoring with the Junior Academy our any of our STEM mentorship programs. We look forward to connecting with you for the future of STEM!
Mentor Application and Program Timeline
- July 2nd: Applications for the Fall term close.
- July 15th-29th: Phone Interviews.
- August 14th: Mentor preliminary decisions sent (application acceptance/rejection)
- August 20th-27th: Onboarding next steps instructions
Fall Program Timeline:
- September 1st: Mentor onboarding begins (virtual)
- September 21st: Fall Kick-Off Week Begins and Team Formation Begins (Launchpad)
- September 21st-September 25th: Mentor Training - 2 repeated sessions (virtual)
- October 1st: Team Formation Ends (Launchpad)
- October 21st-October 31st: Asynchronous Check-in (Launchpad)
- November 9th- November 13th: Synchronous Check-in (virtual)
- November 23rd-December 9th: Offboarding and Post Program Survey (virtual)
Spring Program Timeline:
- February 1st: Mentor onboarding begins (virtual)
- February 22nd-26th: Spring Kick-Off Week Begins and Team Formation Begins (Launchpad)
- February 22nd-26th: Mentor Training - 2 repeated sessions (virtual)
- March 4th: Team Formation Ends (Launchpad)
- March 24th-April 2nd: Asynchronous Check-in (Launchpad)
- April 12th- April 16th: Synchronous Check-in (virtual)
- April 25th-May 12th: Offboarding and Post Program Survey (virtual)
Virtual Mentor Application Junior Academy
*This application is for ADULT SCIENTISTS interested in VIRTUAL programming with the Junior Academy . For further information about our mentorship opportunities please go to https://www.nyas.org/get-involved/mentorship/
If you already have a SurveyMonkeyApply account, log in at the top of the screen, then click the "Apply" button to begin your application. If you don't have an account yet, click the "Register" button, create your account, and then proceed with your application.
Thank you for your interest in being a STEM Mentor!
The deadline to complete this application is July 2nd.
APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN: 2026 - 2027 School Year
The Junior Academy Program is currently recruiting undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and STEM professionals to mentor middle school and high school students with the goal of inspiring a lifelong interest in STEM. Accepted applicants will mentor student teams in the Junior Academy through virtual 10 week Innovation Challenges held in the Fall and Spring semesters, during which students teams design innovative, research-driven solutions to pressing global problems. Mentors encourage and support the students as they move through the different phases of the scientific process, from researching to designing and testing, to communicating their solution to the world.
Participating Mentors receive onboarding training in design thinking curriculum and youth development, and participate in semester check-ins with program staff.
Fall: September 21st- November 23rd, 2026
Spring: February 17th - April 26th, 2027
For more information about this program, please visit our Junior Academy mentor tab.
Junior Academy Mentors gain:
- Science communication and leadership skills
- Mentoring and teaching experience
- Opportunities to network and participate in professional development events
- A stronger connection to their community
- One year complimentary membership to NYAS provided at the end of the Academic Year (June 2027)
Please feel free to email education@nyas.org about mentoring with the Junior Academy our any of our STEM mentorship programs. We look forward to connecting with you for the future of STEM!
Mentor Application and Program Timeline
- July 2nd: Applications for the Fall term close.
- July 15th-29th: Phone Interviews.
- August 14th: Mentor preliminary decisions sent (application acceptance/rejection)
- August 20th-27th: Onboarding next steps instructions
Fall Program Timeline:
- September 1st: Mentor onboarding begins (virtual)
- September 21st: Fall Kick-Off Week Begins and Team Formation Begins (Launchpad)
- September 21st-September 25th: Mentor Training - 2 repeated sessions (virtual)
- October 1st: Team Formation Ends (Launchpad)
- October 21st-October 31st: Asynchronous Check-in (Launchpad)
- November 9th- November 13th: Synchronous Check-in (virtual)
- November 23rd-December 9th: Offboarding and Post Program Survey (virtual)
Spring Program Timeline:
- February 1st: Mentor onboarding begins (virtual)
- February 22nd-26th: Spring Kick-Off Week Begins and Team Formation Begins (Launchpad)
- February 22nd-26th: Mentor Training - 2 repeated sessions (virtual)
- March 4th: Team Formation Ends (Launchpad)
- March 24th-April 2nd: Asynchronous Check-in (Launchpad)
- April 12th- April 16th: Synchronous Check-in (virtual)
- April 25th-May 12th: Offboarding and Post Program Survey (virtual)