All of us at Yerkes are proud to announce the 2026 cohort of undergraduate summer interns! Our interns will be joining us in Williams Bay for 9 weeks this summer starting in June. During this immersive, hands-on experience, our interns will engage with research focused on digitizing and utilizing the Yerkes glass plate collection and collecting data with our on-site suite of research telescopes, support observatory outreach, education, and public programs, and explore the amazing science and outreach being done across Wisconsin and Illinois through seminars and excursions. 

Whether it is by participating in our public programming or making a donation, your support of the observatory is what makes our internship program possible. Thank you for your continued support, and congratulations to our three incoming interns!

Hello, my name is Rami Antoine! I am a second-year undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Astrophysics and minoring in Environmental Studies and American Culture Studies with a focus on high-energy astrophysics. I have an interest in observational astronomy and the intersection of environmental and Indigenous issues. 

Hello! My name is Lailyn Borum, and I’m from Detroit, Michigan. I’ve recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Astronomy/Astrophysics, and my interests include both research and outreach in astronomy. My hobbies include reading, knitting, and writing, and I’m excited to be a part of the Yerkes team this summer!

Hi, I’m Ale Perez! I am an undergraduate at University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, majoring in Physics with minors in Astronomy and Data Science. I have research experience analyzing stellar systems and am passionate about exploring the universe. Coming from a small hometown in Mexico, I hope to inspire others from underrepresented communities to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I am excited to work at Yerkes, where I can gain hands-on experience and grow as an astronomer.