Call for applications is open! Apply now to the 2026 edition of the CERN openlab summer student programme

Are you a Bachelor’s or Master’s student in computer science, mathematics, engineering or physics? Do you have a strong computing profile, and would you be interested in working on advanced computing projects at CERN during the summer of 2026? If so, we have just the solution for you: the CERN openlab summer student programme!

CERN openlab is a unique public-private partnership that accelerates the development of cutting-edge computing technologies for the worldwide LHC community and the wider scientific research field. Through CERN openlab, CERN collaborates with leading technology companies and research institutes.

Over nine weeks (June-August 2026), the CERN openlab summer students will work with some of the latest hardware and software technologies, and see how advanced IT solutions are used in particle physics. The students will also participate in a series of lectures prepared for them by computing experts at CERN, in addition to the main lecture series for CERN summer students. Visits to the accelerators and experimental areas are also included in the programme.

CERN is a place where dizzying IT challenges abound. The CERN openlab summer student programme may lead to follow-on projects in your home institute, or may even inspire you to become an entrepreneur in cutting-edge computing technologies.

The applications for the 2026 edition of the CERN openlab summer student programme are now open until the 26th of January 2026 at 23h59 (CET, Geneva timezone). Discover how to apply on the CERN openlab summer student programme page. 

You can find more information on the CERN careers website and the FAQs page.

You can find out all about the work carried out by previous CERN openlab summer students on the CERN openlab Zenodo community.

Follow us on our LinkedIn to watch some testimonials from previous CERN openlab summer students that will be shared throughout the next few months.