The NC Youth Institute

The North Carolina Youth Institute is open to all high school students. Students are expected to attend both days of the NC Youth Institute at NC State on April 15-16 2027. During the institute, youth will dig into labs and activities, shadow graduate student mentors in the lab, and present both a scientific poster and a research paper to leading experts in agriculture and science.

Research Mentorship

The NC Youth Institute is thrilled to offer a research mentorship for youth during the research and writing process. Each high school student is paired with a graduate student at NCSU and a cohort of students across NC interested in similar research topics. Cohorts meet virtually for research support, and then come together in the spring at the Institute!

Students may participate in either a fall (September-December) or spring (January-March) research mentorship cohort. Students from both cohorts are invited to participate in the event in April.

Borlaug Scholars – Opportunities Abound!

All students who successfully participate in the institute are recognized as Borlaug Scholars, a globally recognized honor. This recognition allows students to apply for various internships and opportunities through the World Food Prize. Students are also eligible to attend the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, to present their research ideas on the global stage!