10 Research Programs for High School Students in North Dakota
- Stephen Turban
- 7 minutes ago
- 11 min read
If you’re interested in exploring a subject beyond what is typically covered in school, research programs can help you engage with ideas in a more focused and in-depth way. These opportunities introduce you to areas such as biomedical science, engineering, environmental studies, artificial intelligence, and public health while helping you build skills in critical thinking, analysis, and academic writing. They also provide insight into how researchers investigate questions, evaluate evidence, and contribute new knowledge within their fields.
In North Dakota, research opportunities are offered through universities, healthcare institutions, and virtual opportunities. These experiences range from laboratory internships and faculty-mentored projects to residential academic programs and research-focused courses, giving students multiple pathways to explore scholarly work and scientific inquiry.
Why should I do a research program in high school?
Research programs allow you to investigate questions that interest you while learning how academic and scientific studies are designed and conducted. Depending on the program, you might review scholarly literature, analyze data, conduct experiments, develop research papers, contribute to ongoing projects, or present your findings through posters and presentations under the guidance of mentors and researchers. These experiences can help you strengthen analytical and communication skills, explore potential academic interests, and prepare for future study in research-intensive fields.
With that in mind, we’ve gathered 10 research programs for high school students in North Dakota.
If you’re looking for STEM programs in North Dakota, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
Several programs are free or provide stipends, including Sanford Health PROMISE Scholars ($4,000 scholarship plus 3 college credits), Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program ($3,000), ND EPSCoR NATURE (paid), North Dakota Governor's School (free), and American Cancer Society High School Program ($500), making strong research opportunities accessible to North Dakota students.
Programs span a wide range of research fields including biomedical and cancer research (Sanford Health PROMISE, American Cancer Society, UCI School of Medicine), fisheries and aquatic science (Hutton Program), AI in medicine (Stanford AIMI), bioengineering (UCSD Research Scholars), environmental and data science (ND EPSCoR NATURE), and independent research across disciplines (Lumiere, HARP).
Several programs specifically prioritize students from underrepresented backgrounds, including ND EPSCoR NATURE (North Dakota American Indian students), Sanford Health PROMISE (underrepresented and historically marginalized students), and Hutton Program (encourages applications from underrepresented students in fisheries).
Students looking for programs that culminate in a formal research paper or presentation can apply to Lumiere Research Scholar Program, HARP, Sanford Health PROMISE (poster at Sanford Research Symposium), UCI School of Medicine (research report with national abstract submission opportunity), and UCSD Research Scholars, all of which emphasize written scientific communication.
Deadlines for competitive programs fall as early as January, with Sanford Health PROMISE closing January 9 and Hutton Program closing in January, so students should begin identifying programs in the fall and apply to January deadline programs well before the winter break.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies according to program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Current high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Fargo, ND
Stipend: $4,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 4 students per cohort
Dates: May 26 - July 31
Application deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year in the fall of the upcoming academic year (home-schooled students are eligible) who are at least 16 by May 26 and have an interest in a research career; students from underrepresented backgrounds and historically marginalized/excluded groups are encouraged to apply (this opportunity is for regional students, as housing is not provided for this summer experience)
Sanford Health’s PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship places you in an active biomedical research setting where you work alongside scientists on ongoing laboratory projects. As the internship unfolds, you begin to understand how research questions are developed, how experiments are structured, and how evidence is used to support scientific conclusions. Your day-to-day experience can include contributing to lab work, interpreting results, and building familiarity with the research process from start to finish. The program also introduces you to journal clubs, research ethics discussions, and career development opportunities through seminars focused on science, medicine, and future academic pathways. Shortlisted candidates must also attend a day-long science boot camp as part of the application process. The internship concludes with a poster presentation at the Sanford Research Symposium. You also receive 3 undergraduate elective credits from the University of South Dakota and a scholarship.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th- or 11th-graders! A few tracks require prerequisites.
The Horizon Academic Research Program is designed for students who want to study a specialized topic in depth while producing a substantial academic paper. Once you choose a track, you work with a professor or PhD-level scholar who guides you through the process of narrowing your topic and shaping a meaningful research question. Early sessions focus on source selection, conceptual framing, and deciding whether a qualitative or quantitative approach best fits your project. A distinctive feature of Horizon is its flexibility in both subject choice and research methodology. The program also places strong emphasis on feedback, so you regularly revise your work rather than simply submitting a final product at the end. By the conclusion of the program, you will complete a university-style research paper.
Location: NDSU (Fargo) or UND (Grand Forks), ND
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~10–15 students
Dates: Summer opportunity
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: North Dakota American Indian high school students in grades 9-12; must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents
The ND EPSCoR NATURE High School Summer Research Experience connects you with university-based STEM learning through a program that emphasizes mentorship, inquiry, and community relevance. Depending on the site and project, you may work with researchers on topics linked to data science, machine learning, environmental questions, or other STEM areas that address regional challenges. The experience introduces you to technical skills such as coding, data interpretation, and research communication while helping you understand how scientific tools are applied to real problems. You gain exposure to real-world research, developing a stronger sense of how STEM work can serve communities directly. The program typically concludes with a poster or research presentation, allowing you to share your findings in a formal setting.
Location: All 50 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands (placements are usually near your location)
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 students make it to the final cohort each year
Dates: 8 weeks from June to August (exact dates vary by placement)
Application deadline: January (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors aged 16+ years
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program introduces you to fisheries and aquatic science through a mentored summer research placement with a professional scientist. Because each student is matched individually with a mentor, the experience can vary widely, but it often includes a mix of fieldwork, data collection, habitat assessment, specimen analysis, and office-based scientific tasks. You may spend time outdoors surveying aquatic ecosystems, helping with water quality monitoring, or supporting projects related to fish populations and habitat management. The internship can also involve travel, educational outreach, or extended field assignments, depending on the placement, adding variety to the experience. The summer wraps up with the Hutton Scholars Summit, where students come together for professional development, college guidance, and conversations about future careers in fisheries and aquatic science.
Location: NDSU Campus, Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 50 scholars each cycle
Dates: June 8 – July 2
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: North Dakota high school sophomores and juniors
Every alternate summer, the North Dakota Governor’s School gives you the chance to explore advanced academic work in a residential setting while taking part in a pathway that can include substantial research-based learning. In the science pathway, you begin with foundational lab training before joining a faculty-mentored research group connected to disciplines such as biology, chemistry, geoscience, pharmacy, or physics. In the engineering pathway, research takes a more design-oriented form, with students working in teams to prototype solutions to real-world problems while drawing on classroom instruction and lab experimentation. As you collaborate with faculty and peers, you also build experience in data interpretation, problem-solving, and presenting technical ideas clearly. The program culminates in a final presentation or poster showcase, giving you the chance to present the work you developed during the session.
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,400 + $45 application fee (financial aid is available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~50 students per year
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Currently attending a U.S. high school (entering 9th grade through 12th grade in Fall), preference given to students with solid math or computer programming skills, or those who have worked on a healthcare project; interns must be residing in the United States for the full duration of the program.
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Research Internship introduces you to the growing role of AI in medicine through a virtual research experience. Over the course of the program, you explore how machine learning tools are used in medical imaging, clinical decision-making, and health data analysis. The internship combines technical lectures with small-group project work, allowing you to move beyond theory and apply concepts to guided research tasks. You work with Stanford-affiliated mentors and student leads who help frame research questions, interpret data, and think critically about how AI systems are used in healthcare. The speaker series also broadens your experience by introducing you to professionals from across academia, healthcare, industry, and public policy. By the end of the internship, you will have completed a focused health-AI project.
Location: Remote
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Varies by institute
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program starts
The American Cancer Society High School Program gives you an introduction to cancer research through a virtual experience centered on case studies, project work, and career exploration. Working with the eCLOSE Institute, students examine questions in cancer biology and oncology while learning how researchers approach problems related to disease mechanisms, treatment, and patient outcomes. The experience also stands out as a combination of research exposure and year-round career development, which extends learning beyond the summer session itself. Interactions with peers and professionals help broaden your understanding of how oncology research connects with medicine, public health, and the broader health professions.
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,350; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Session One: June 22 – July 10 | Session Two: July 12 – 31
Application deadline: Typically, the end of January or early February
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 – 18 | Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program introduces you to the methods and expectations of medical research through a structured, mentor-supported format. Throughout the program, you learn how researchers evaluate medical evidence, conduct literature reviews, and think critically about topics involving human health and clinical practice. Instruction is delivered through a mix of independent modules, virtual meetings, and written feedback. A central part of the program involves developing a research report, allowing you to practice organizing scientific information into a clear and evidence-based written project. Interactions with faculty and academic coaches also offer helpful exposure to college pathways and research-related fields. An additional advantage is the opportunity to prepare work that can be developed into an abstract for possible submission to a national meeting.
Location: Remote or in-person at UC San Diego, San Diego, CA
Cost: Varies by track
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by semester
Application deadline: Varies by semester
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 | Minimum GPA of 3.0 | At least 14 years old by the start of the course
UCSD Research Scholars in Bioengineering offers a progression of courses that introduce you to bioengineering through experimental work, design-based thinking, and increasingly independent research. The initial coursework focuses on core scientific and engineering principles, using lab kits, pre-lab planning, and guided analysis to build foundational skills. Students who continue into the research-oriented stages of the program work in teams to design and conduct investigations in areas such as biomechanics, tissue engineering, and bioimaging. In the most advanced phase, students may develop and execute their own research proposal in collaboration with a university lab.
Frequently asked questions
What types of research programs are available for high school students in North Dakota?
Options include paid biomedical research internships (Sanford Health PROMISE), paid fisheries and aquatic science internships (Hutton Program), paid university STEM research experiences (ND EPSCoR NATURE), residential academic research programs (North Dakota Governor's School), virtual AI and health research programs (Stanford AIMI, American Cancer Society), virtual independent research programs (Lumiere, HARP), and online bioengineering coursework (UCSD Research Scholars).
Are there free or paid research programs for high school students in North Dakota?
Yes, several programs are free or paid. Sanford Health PROMISE provides a $4,000 scholarship and 3 college credits. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program provides a $3,000 stipend. ND EPSCoR NATURE is a paid program for American Indian students. North Dakota Governor's School is free for selected scholars. American Cancer Society High School Program provides a $500 stipend. Programs like Lumiere, HARP, and Stanford AIMI charge tuition but offer financial aid.
Which North Dakota research programs are best for students interested in biomedical or health sciences?
Sanford Health PROMISE Scholars places students directly in active biomedical research labs at Sanford Health in Fargo for nine weeks, concluding with a poster at the Sanford Research Symposium. UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program introduces students to medical research methods including literature reviews and evidence-based writing. American Cancer Society High School Program focuses on cancer biology and oncology through case studies and virtual career exploration.
Are there research programs in North Dakota specifically for Native American or underrepresented students?
ND EPSCoR NATURE High School Summer Research Experience is specifically designed for North Dakota American Indian high school students, placing them at NDSU or UND for university-based STEM research. Sanford Health PROMISE actively encourages applications from students from underrepresented backgrounds and historically marginalized groups. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program also encourages applications from underrepresented students in fisheries science.
Which programs are best for students interested in AI or data science research?
Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship introduces students to machine learning in healthcare, medical imaging, and clinical decision-making through a virtual two-week program with Stanford mentors. ND EPSCoR NATURE may involve data science and machine learning depending on placement. Lumiere Research Scholar Program and HARP both offer virtual mentor-guided research tracks in data science and computational fields.
When should I apply to research programs for high school students in North Dakota?
Sanford Health PROMISE has the earliest deadline at January 9. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program closes in January. Stanford AIMI closes February 20 and North Dakota Governor's School closes February 15. UCI School of Medicine typically closes at the end of January or early February. American Cancer Society deadlines vary by institute. Students should begin researching in the fall and prioritize January deadline programs well before the winter break.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.