Inspiring Workforce

Recruit. Employ. Mentor.

As a trusted agent of the federal government, NSRI supports national interests and strategies by providing the Department of Defense and other federal agencies with evolutionary and revolutionary solutions to the dangerous and emerging threats of today and of the future.

One of the most critical solutions is a knowledgeable, capable and committed workforce equipped to carry forward 21st-century national security missions. NSRI invests its time, talent and resources into developing students from the University of Nebraska and beyond to pursue defense-related careers.

NSRI offers several ways for students to engage:

Internships through NSRI
Contributing to projects through NU faculty researchers
Wargaming experiences hosted by NSRI

Current Hiring Opportunities

NSRI Strategic Deterrence Student Research Contributor for JEMSO: "Catch and Throw"

Directorate: Strategic Deterrence & Nuclear Programs

"Catch & Throw" - Software Defined Radio (SDR) RF Record and Playback

Start date: April 28, 2025
End date: August 15, 2025
Primary Location: NSRI Headquarters, Omaha, NE

Position Summary
This is a summer internship:

25 hours/week April 28-May 27
40 hours/week May 28-August 15 (approximately)
$19/hour for undergrad
$24.60/hour for graduate

“Catch and Throw” aims to create a compact Software Defined Radio (SDR) system capable of capturing specific frequencies for a preset duration and retransmitting them after a preset time. This project will provide a foundational prototype to explore the feasibility of basic frequency capture and retransmission functionalities within a limited timeframe. The SDR will be designed to operate autonomously and serve as a starting point for potential future developments.

Three interns from the University of Nebraska system will work as a team under the guidance of NSRI staff and University of Nebraska faculty member (primarily UNL’s Dr. Andrew Harms), to research this significant Department of Defense (DoD) interest area. Interns can also expect to collaborate with members from the DoD stakeholders to include U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (JEMSO) Enterprise Center (JEC), and the Naval Surface Warfare Center.

The internship will take place at NSRI’s headquarters located in the Scott Technology Center in Omaha, NE (AKSARBEN area). Due to the academic year, Interns can be part time from April 28th through May 27th. Interns are expected to work full time (40 hours/week) from May 28th through August 15th. The bulk of the algorithm development will occur in the summer after May 28. Part-time work April 28-May 27 will provide background on the software and hardware platform. Interns will be expected to travel to the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane Indiana for four days in the July/August timeframe.

Duties & Responsibilities
Specific work will involve developing critical algorithms and software, and then testing and evaluating the algorithms’ performance and effectiveness through research associated with scenarios, real-time capability and hardware integration. Deliverables will include but are not limited to briefings to USSTRATCOM, JEC, Naval Surface Warfare Center, and NSRI
leadership and a comprehensive paper covering algorithm implementation, usage guidelines, and maintenance instructions.

REQUIRED Knowledge, Technical Skills and/or Abilities
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat
• A high level of organization with ability to research and recall information
• Strong time management, prioritization and critical thinking/strategic thinking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge and experience with Python programming language

DESIRED Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• At least one graduate student sought
• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Engineering (Software Engineering, Data Science)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Other related fields or knowledge
• Knowledge of C++

Minimum REQUIREMENTS
• Rising Junior at the University of Nebraska
• Majors and/or coursework aligned to Engineering (i.e., Electrical, Computer, Mechanical, etc.) and/or Computer Science.
• Must be currently enrolled full-time (12 credit hours) at one of the four University of Nebraska System campuses (UNK, UNL, UNMC, UNO)
• Standing GPA of 3.5+
• Due to the nature of the work at NSRI, this position will require U.S. citizenship

Apply

NSRI Strategic Deterrence Student Research Contributor for JEMSO: "Hide and Seek"

Directorate: Strategic Deterrence & Nuclear Programs

"Hide & Seek" - Geo-locating emitters using Software Defined Radios

Start Date: April 28, 2025

End Date: August 15, 2025

Primary Location: Cyber Physical Networking Lab, UNL

Position Summary

This is a summer internship:

25 hours/week April 28-May 27
40 hours/week May 28-August 15 (approximately)
$19/hour for undergrad
$24.60/hour for graduate

The goal of “Hide and Seek” is to develop a system for accurately geo-locating non-cooperative emitters using a network of three or more Software Defined Radio (SDR) receivers. The primary techniques to be employed are Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and Angle of Arrival (AOA) to achieve precise emitter location estimation. This system will have applications in various fields, including spectrum management, security, and disaster response.

Four interns from the University of Nebraska system will work as a team under the guidance of NSRI staff and University of Nebraska faculty member (primarily UNL’s Dr. Can Vuran), to research this significant Department of Defense (DoD) interest area. Interns can also expect to collaborate with members from the DoD stakeholders to include U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (JEMSO) Enterprise Center (JEC), and the Naval Surface Warfare Center.

The internship will primarily take place at the Cyber Physical Networking (CPN) Lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Administrative in-processing as well as some professional development opportunities will take place at NSRI’s headquarters located in the Scott Technology Center in Omaha, NE (AKSARBEN area). Due to the academic year, Interns can be part time from April 28th through May 27th. Interns are expected to work full time (40 hours/week) from May 28th through August 15th. Interns will be expected to travel to the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane Indiana for four days in the July/August timeframe.

Duties & Responsibilities
Specific work will involve developing critical algorithms and software for geolocation and then testing and evaluating the algorithms’ performance and effectiveness through research associated with scenarios, real-time capability and hardware integration. Deliverables will include but are not limited to briefings to USSTRATCOM, JEC, Naval Surface Warfare Center, and NSRI leadership and a comprehensive paper covering algorithm implementation, usage guidelines, and maintenance instructions.

Apply

NSRI Conference Operations Crew Member

Directorate: Strategic Communications & Engagement

Start Date: April 15, 2025

End Date: April 17, 2025

Position Summary:

The National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska is seeking a team of University of Nebraska undergraduate students to bring critical energy, support, and grit to the NSRI Fellows Conference, April 15, 16 & 17, 2025, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Join the NSRI Conference Operations Crew for an immersive behind-the-scenes experience managing a major professional event. As a crew member, you will help ensure smooth operations from set up to tear down and everything in between while gaining exposure to industry leaders and trending topics.

Full access to conference sessions and networking opportunities
Hands-on event management experience
Resume-building professional development
Paid position ($19/hour up to 25 paid hours over three days)

Duties & Responsibilities

Event setup/teardown and room preparation
Staff registration desk and assist attendees
Support sessions with mic and A/V needs
Provide real-time operational support throughout conference
Assist with general administrative tasks

REQUIRED Knowledge, Technical Skills and/or Abilities

Professional demeanor and strong communication skills
High energy and positivity to help create a dynamic event atmosphere
Ability to think quickly and problem-solve
Comfortable with basic technology
Can lift 25 lbs and remain standing/walking throughout shift

REQUIRED Minimums:

Undergraduate status only
Completed at least 12 credit hours with the University of Nebraska
Majoring, minoring and/or course work in political science, STEM or related fields
Currently enrolled full-time (12 credit hours) at one of the four University of Nebraska System campuses (UNK, UNL, UNMC, UNO)
Standing GPA of 3.5+
Due to the nature of the work at NSRI, this position will require U.S. citizenship

DESIRED Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Seriously considering pursuing a career in national security

Apply

Strategic Deterrence Interns

Each summer undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Nebraska System and ROTC cadets from across the country complete research projects within the mission space of U.S. Strategic Command, which sponsors NSRI as a DOD-designated University Affiliated Research Center. The students brief their contributions to USSTRATCOM senior leaders. Following is a video summarizing the 2021 experience.

Meet the 2024 Interns

Students of NSRI

Each year NSRI connects students to DOD-research experiences. Some of these students choose to pursue careers in national security after their time with NSRI.

Grace, mathematics

Grant, computer engineering

Jordan, cyber security

Morgan, public health

Wargaming Exercises

Through roleplaying, wargaming unearths unique insights and variables in complex and competitive situations that wouldn’t necessarily arise in simple discussions or brainstorming. The technique allows participants to gain better insight into decision-making.

Wargames can be applied to any competitive scenario, from global politics to local business to risk management. NSRI uses wargames to bring students together to discover potential solutions to the country’s most perplexing issues.

Connect with us below if you are interested in participating in or creating a wargame for students.

NSRI hosts Army vs Air Force ROTC virtual wargame for WPI

Connect With Us

Have a question about an application or do you want to partner to create a new student opportunity? Let us know!

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