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Explore Our STEM Programs for Middle- and High-school Students. At Nexus STEM Workshop, we are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of INNOVATORS through hands-on learning in STEM-related subjects, including but not limited to physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, math and many more. Our tailored learning materials covered in a variety of interdisciplinary and topic-oriented workshops are designed to make complex STEM concepts accessible and engaging, preparing students for academic success and exciting careers in science and technology.

Our current Nexus STEM Workshop offerings include interactive in-person learning sessions for physics and chemistry (level of difficulties benchmarked above the US High School AP curriculum, but reasonably acceptable to advanced middle- and high-school students), in tandem with in-depth review of math and computer programming techniques to make learning journey a more integrated one.

What Makes Our Programs Unique

Interdisciplinary Learning

Our workshops integrate physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, math, and many other field of studies into one single learning experience. Instead of memorizing concepts without understanding in-depth, students see how these disciplines CONNECT in real-world problems, building not only subject-matter knowledge but also the ability to apply concepts across various STEM fields. This broad foundation fosters creativity and critical thinking.

Topic-Oriented Approach

Students will join sessions that are carefully designed to CONNECT STEM concepts around meaningful topics. Albeit teaching materials are curated from various sources normally covered in college-level curriculums, Nexus STEM Workshop experienced instructors will make those topics relevant to real-world applications, academically intriguing to, easily understandable by, and at the same time, reasonably challenging for middle- and high-school students who show strong interest in the STEM field of studies. We will backfill missing prerequisite knowledge based on students’ actual needs.

Small-Group Workshops

To maximize learning, each workshop is limited to a very small number of students (say five), supported by experienced instructors, sometimes even multiple in one class sitting1.   This setting ensures personal attention, encourages active participation, and provides a supportive environment where students can ask questions freely and learn deeply at their own pace.

High-level of Academic Competence

Our teaching instructors have acquired at least a master’s degree or above from prestigious institutions of higher-education. Many of them have extensive years of teaching experience, and many are PhD industry experts in relevant field of studies. For students, our curriculum and syllabus design is benchmarked above High School AP program, and geared toward preparing students for the level of various national STEM-subject competitions.

Rigorous Learning Experience

Nexus STEM Workshop promotes creativity and innovation by helping students build solid rigorous scientific foundations. We discourage memorizing concepts without understanding their inner mechanisms with depth and in detail. For example, we are not satisfied with explaining to students the displacement formula for the free-fall object is s=1/2 gt^2; but rather, we work with students to understand: 1) how this formula is derived with the concept of gravitational acceleration; 2) how gravitational acceleration is derived and proved to be a constant on Earth; 3) what factors could impact the formula’s validity, etc. By guiding students to ask whys and prove theories or theorems in the due process, Nexus STEM Workshop is to assist students to gradually learn and apply the rigorous scientific methods, and ultimately utilize those methods and benefit from them in their long-term academic/professional endeavors.

Learning Set Structure

Consolidated Learning Hours

Each Learning Set includes eight interactive sessions, each session lasting 2.5 hours, including a 15-minute break within the session, this gives a total of 20 hours of focused instructions and learning for each Learning Set. This structure ensures students have enough time to deeply engage with subject matter concepts, apply cross-disciplinary skills, and explore computer-based problem-solving skills without feeling rushed.

Small Group Advantage

We believe in the power of personalized learning. Each workshop session is limited to a maximum of five students, allowing our instructors to provide individual attention, foster collaboration, and adapt teaching strategies to meet each student’s needs. This close-nit small cohort setting creates a supportive and effective learning environment.

Dedicated Instructor Support

Learning doesn’t stop when class ends. Our instructors provide email support to answer follow-up questions, clarify concepts, or give additional guidance on assignments. This ongoing communication keeps students on track and reinforces continuous learning beyond the classroom.

Inside a Typical Class

Each 2.5-hour session is structured for maximum engagement and learning. We begin with a 15-minute recap and homework review, followed by 1–1.5 hours of interactive presentation featuring at least five worked examples on the newly introduced topic. When applicable, we contribute around 30 minutes to coding applications, reinforcing problem-solving with modern computational tools.

Nexus STEM Workshop Curriculum – An Intriguing Way of Teaching & Learning

Nexus STEM Workshop treats its curriculum and syllabus design very seriously. We don’t directly use existing textbooks for classroom teaching. In order to achieve our inter-disciplinary teaching goals, Nexus STEM Workshop instructors, who have in-depth academic and technical knowledge in respective fields of studies, carefully curate and present to students an array of academically intriguing materials from a wide variety of sources, including but not limited to: College level textbooks, MIT Open Courseware, Questions from past AP exams and STEM subject competitions.

What makes Nexus STEM Workshop curriculum/syllabus so special is the coherent integration of subject matters that are traditionally taught in separate classes of different subjects. For instance, when we discuss the projectile of an object thrown with an initial velocity in the air, we naturally cover force composition with simple vector calculations (analytical geometry); we then mathematically PROVE (not simply tell) that the projectile approximates a parabola (calculus); we might want to further examine what specific velocity will make the projectile reach the furthest horizontal distance by using Python codes (computer science); we might also want to cover the parabolic projectile real world applications (sports, forensic science, etc.).

In addition, our experienced instructors, as students ourselves couple of decades ago, know exactly what young and advanced students are generally good at, and what matters are likely to cause confusion, and sometimes frustrations in the course of learning. We mixed our integrated teaching with our own “secret sauce” and learning philosophy that are not elsewhere seen in the public domain.

Note that we also make our own problem sets to further challenge student’s mastery of covered topics. From time to time, we administer quizzes and tests to test students’ performance over time. We email testing results to parents on a regular basis, unless you opt out of this free communication program.

Current Program Offerings

We carefully curated topics and group them in a logical and coherent manner to comprise the various Learning Set. Each of the Learning Sets shown below (such as Physics I, Physics II, Chemistry I, etc.) consists of Regular Track and Competition Track. Regular Track is for students who have less foundational knowledge but want to excel in school academic setting and get high scores in AP exams. Competition Track is for students who aim to get top scores in AP exams and/or plan to participate in national level competitions. Our teaching methods are exactly the same for both Tracks, but examples and problem sets used in the class might be different.

Physics I: Measurements, Motion and Newton's Law

This is an 8-session Learning Set, totaling 20 learning hours. Perfect for students exploring STEM for the first time or those needing extra support in foundational subjects. This course introduces the essential foundations of physics, focusing on measurement, uncertainty, and the study of simple motion. Students will learn about Measurements and Units, Motion Along a Straight Line, and Basic Python Skills.

$80/per 2.5-hour session*

Contents

  • Basic physics concept, units, measurements
  • Displacements and vector calculations (with trigonometry fundamentals)
  • Motion with constant speed, and constant velocity
  • Limits, derivatives for instantaneous velocity and acceleration
  • Free fall, parabolic curve and motion
  • Circular motion & simple harmonic motion (SHM)
  • Newton’s Three Laws of Motion

Physics II: Work, Energy and Momentum

This is an 8-session Learning Set, totaling 20 learning hours. Designed for students ready to advance beyond basic mechanics, this course explores how forces produce motion and how energy and momentum govern physical systems. Students will build a deep understanding of work, power, and energy transformations; analyze momentum, collisions, and rotational dynamics; and investigate the mechanical properties of materials, including stress, strain, and elasticity.

$80/per 2.5-hour session*

Contents

  • Forces, Work, and Power
  • Kinetic Energy and Work-Energy Theorem
  • Gravitational potential energy & elastic potential energy
  • Force and potential energy
  • Momentum and impulse
  • Momentum conservation and collisions
  • Forces and energy in angular kinematics
  • Torque and angular acceleration
  • Work and power in angular kinematics
  • Conditions of equilibrium
  • Stress, strain and elastic moduli

Physics III: Fluids, Wave & Acoustics

This is an 8-session Learning Set, totaling 20 learning hours. Ideal for students seeking to deepen their understanding of fluids and wave phenomena. This course examines how fluids exert pressure and move, and how waves carry energy through different media. Students will explore basic fluid dynamics, buoyancy, and Bernoulli’s principle, then transition into wave behavior, sound properties, resonance, interference, and the physics behind music, Doppler effects, and shock waves.

$80/per 2.5-hour session*

Contents

  • Pressure in fluids and buoyancy
  • Fluid Flow and Bernoulli’s Equation
  • Waves and mathematical representations
  • Speed and energy of a wave
  • Sound wave and its properties
  • Resonance and sound
  • Sound wave and music theory
  • Doppler Effects and Shock waves

Chemistry I: Periodic table & Atom

This is an 8-session Learning Set, totaling 20 learning hours. Start with what chemistry is and the difference between physical and chemical changes, along with lab safety. Introduce atoms, elements, and compounds, the periodic table, and the structure of the atom (protons, neutrons, electrons). Move into chemical bonding (ionic vs covalent) and the idea of chemical reactions, emphasizing conservation of mass with simple demonstrations.

$80/per 2.5-hour session*

Starter plan includes

  • Coming soon!
*Limited discounted prices are available. Please call our hotline or join our Openhouse sessions for details.

At Nexus STEM Workshop, we’d like to guide students to apply learned math and computer skills in real science applications and ignite students' interest in STEM subjects.

Bradford Chen

Co-founder
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Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators

Nexus STEM Workshop is dedicated to inspiring high school students through hands-on instruction in Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, and other STEM subjects. Our expert-led programs foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, preparing students for future academic and career success in STEM fields. By blending real-world applications with engaging classroom experiences, we make complex concepts accessible and exciting for every learner.

Meet Our Instructors

Instructors are Nexus STEM Workshop’s most valuable assets. Our instructors include PhD professionals working in industry with over five years of experience, as well as education professionals with more than twenty years of teaching expertise. Nexus STEM Workshop sometimes sends two instructors at one class sitting to thoroughly cover multiple subjects from different field of studies. This dual approach allows students to learn in a way that CONNECTS directly with their level of understanding while also gaining perspective on the skills and knowledge valued in STEM careers and by future recruiters. With this unique setup, we ensure that students not only master concepts but also see how they apply to solving real-world problems.

Bradford C.

  • Over 20 years of part-time teaching experience, more than 5,000 students taught.
  • Strong advocate of interdisciplinary teaching of advanced STEM subject matters.
  • Well-versed in the AP Physics curriculum, the F=ma Exam (national physics competition), and AMC exams (national math competition)
  • Held management roles at two major accounting and consulting firms in the US.
  • Held Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame, IN.

Kevin J.

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
  • Nine years of experience as a Principal Engineer, solving real-world engineering problems with advanced simulations.
  • Passionate about teaching Physics, loves inspiring students to explore the world through science.
  • Research expertise in computational fluid mechanics and skilled in high-performance scientific computing (Fortran, CUDA, C++, Python)
  • Curious about everyday phenomena and dedicated to explaining them in simple, engaging ways. Believes in making Physics fun, relatable, and meaningful for everyone.

Rachel M.

  • Ph.D. in Polymer Science
  • Passionate about making chemistry engaging, relatable, and fun.
  • Chief Product Designer in the semiconductor industry, applying chemistry to cutting-edge technology.
  • Focused on helping students move beyond memorization to understanding chemical principles.
  • Uses real-world examples and interactive teaching to bring abstract concepts to life.
  • Excited to inspire the next generation to explore STEM careers and see chemistry as a powerful tool for innovation

Get in Touch with Nexus STEM Workshop

Interested in registering? Have questions about our STEM programs? Call us at: (833) 763-9877 or email us at: info@nexus-stem.org. Our team will be happy to provide more information about our courses.

How to Enroll

Enrollment for our October/November program will open soon. Start by registering a FREE trial session in Physics or Chemistry before signing up.

 

 

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Call: (833) 763-9877
Email: info@nexus-stem.org
Location: 2203 Spartina Rd, Naperville, IL 60564

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ABOUT OUR TEACHING LOCATION

We are a start-up company established in August 2025. We have a big dream in serving our community with top-notch teaching services in STEM subjects. Currently, our location is at a residential address. Our business at this location is permitted and approved by the City of Naperville. We are equipped with modern teaching equipment, including conference tables and chairs to provide students with a comfortable learning environment. We are also fully insured with commercial general liability and professional liability coverage. Proof of insurance available upon request.

Gallery - Images of our classroom