The 2026 STEM Academy is now accepting applications!
The Mid-America Transportation Center’s STEM Academy is a free multi-day summer program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for high school students interested in STEM. Participants explore hands-on activities and learn about education and career pathways from faculty, students, and professionals. This program is open to all high school students regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, or tribal affiliation and at no cost to the student.
Applications Due: April 14th
Admission Notification: April 21
Participant Limit: 35
Our Mission
The Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) drives advancements in U.S. transportation technology and expertise across a range of disciplines through education, solutions-oriented research, and the exploration and sharing of innovative ideas and approaches. MATC remains dedicated to enhancing and transforming the transportation system, ensuring it aligns with the nation’s economic and societal objectives.
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About MATC
Established in 1995 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, the Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) first won the United States Department of Transportation Region VII University Transportation Center (UTC) competition in 1995 followed by success in 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2023. Region VII is composed of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The UTC program is a federal program for transportation research and education improvement in the United States and to strengthen the country's competitiveness in the global transportation industry. The 2023 Region VII UTC consortium consists of nine universities within the region: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Nebraska Indian Community College, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln serves as the lead institution of the consortium.
The 2016 MATC UTC’s research priority is promoting safety with an emphasis on reducing the number of incidents involving hazardous material transport, mitigating the negative effects of crashes, and improving emergency response to unexpected events. The implementation of MATC research increases the safety of surface transportation system users and workers in Region VII and across the United States.
MATC’s education priority includes increasing the number of students in STEM education and transportation-related careers. To achieve this objective, MATC has implemented the Roads, Rails, and Racecars After-School Program, the Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy, the Scholars Program, and the Intern Program.
