High school students might find that it’s not easy to find research programs in North Dakota, and the same is true just across the border in South Dakota.
Unlike states with a dozen major research universities within an hour’s drive, the Dakotas have a somewhat small pool of options. It has a handful of campus-based programs, a couple of regional non-profits, and a growing number of virtual programs that don’t care where a student lives. That scarcity is part of why the National Science Foundation committed nearly $8 million in 2026 specifically to help North Dakota build out its research capacity for students. That’s a clear acknowledgment that the pipeline here has been thin.
The programs below were evaluated on the same basis: how much genuine research experience does a student walk away with, and how much institutional oversight backs that experience up? Programs that connect students with an accredited university, a research institute, or an established non-profit tend to offer the clearest academic validation. The Pioneer Research Institute, for example, is structured so that a student conceives their own topic and works one-on-one with a university professor for a full semester or summer, rather than joining a fixed curriculum or a shared lab bench. That structure — a student-driven question backed by real academic oversight — is the standard this list applies to every entry, whether it happens on a campus in Rapid City or entirely online.
A student who wants a legitimate research experience can still find one, but it takes real effort: knowing where to look, and how to tell a genuine research opportunity from a lookalike. Whether the search starts with research opportunities for ambitious high school students in North Dakota or research opportunities for high school students in South Dakota, most families land on the same short list of names — this guide expands it.
The highest quality research programs for high school students fall into two categories:
The strongest programs tend to share two qualities: a high degree of student agency in shaping the research direction, and meaningful institutional oversight that ensures academic rigor. Programs run with oversight by universities, government bodies, and established non-profits typically possess these qualities, giving students the closest approximation to what college-level research actually looks like, making the experience valuable college preparation.
To read more about the different types of research programs available, and how they differ from popular “independent mentor-matching” services, read our comprehensive guide on choosing the best research opportunities.
The programs below were selected based on:
The Pioneer Research Institute lets students design and complete an original research paper over a full semester or summer, working one-on-one with a top university professor who guides — rather than assigns — the project. High school students of any grade can apply, and each student’s research area reflects their own stated interests rather than a fixed lab placement.
For a full breakdown of the program’s structure, cost, and admissions process, see Pioneer Academics’ comprehensive guide to the Research Institute.
The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program is a paid, ten-week research fellowship where students join an active genetics or genomics research program, gain exposure to advanced laboratory techniques, develop a mentored project with increasing independence, and present their findings at the end of the summer.
Beyond lab time, the summer program builds in structured training on data visualization, research communication skills such as academic writing, peer review, and professional development, giving students a fuller picture of how research is actually communicated.
Its national applicant pool, $7,500 stipend, and separate coverage of room, board, and round-trip travel make it a realistic reach option for students well outside New England.
PRIMES-USA extends MIT’s math research program to students who live outside the Greater Boston area, connecting participants with academic research mentors for a year-long, fully remote research experience in advanced mathematics.
Students work individually or in small groups on unsolved problems, depending on their grade and project. The program moves through four structured phases, from an initial reading period to a final research write-up, rather than compressing the work into a single summer.
It is designed for students who already have a very advanced mathematics background and want sustained, academically mentored research rather than a short camp. Most accepted students have significant prior experience with proof-based competitions or college-level coursework, displaying exceptional academic achievement in the subject. Please review our comprehensive guide to learn more.
Please review our comprehensive guide to learn more.
The High School Research Scholars Program immerses four regional high school students in full-time laboratory research at Sanford Research, with a minimum 35-hour weekly commitment that rules out summer school or outside jobs.
Selection runs through a bootcamp and interview process before the ten weeks even begin, and students close out the summer program by presenting at the Sanford Research Symposium. Because housing is not provided, participants need to be able to commute to Sanford Research or arrange their own lodging in the Sioux Falls area.
The Summer Science Program immerses students in team-based research across a few tracks including astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics, or cell biology over five intensive, residential weeks, with participants working in teams of three and logging significant research hours with support from scientists, faculty, and teaching assistants.
Because SSP runs on multiple host campuses each year, students receive their campus assignment after admission rather than applying to a specific host site.
Pioneer Academics has also published a guide to the Summer Science Program covering its selectivity and application timeline in more depth.
The Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) places sophomores and juniors into faculty-mentored research across a broad range of University of Iowa research departments for five-and-a-half residential weeks.
Students work full days and present a research poster at the program’s close. Because the program is open to students beyond Iowa, it is worth a look for North Dakota and South Dakota students who want an out-of-state research experience before senior year.
Need-based aid can cover up to 95% of the $7,500 program fee, with additional scholarships also available.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) places students one-on-one with a faculty researcher at George Mason University or a collaborating institution for a full-time, eight-week internship, with remote, hybrid, and in-person placements available depending on the mentor and research project.
Because some mentors offer fully remote internships, the program is a realistic option for North Dakota and South Dakota students who cannot relocate to Virginia for the summer.
Pioneer Academics has published a full guide to ASSIP’s cost, acceptance rate, and application process for students who want more detail before applying.
Research Experiences for High School Students (REHSS) offers at least eight North Dakota high school students annually the opportunity to develop a semester-long research project with their home STEM teacher and a Minot State faculty mentor.
Students take part in every stage of the work, from designing the study to collecting, analyzing, and presenting data, building fundamental research skills, and are paid $15 per hour for up to 100 hours of research. REHSS is a direct example of the kind of student research opportunity the state’s broader SPARK-ND initiative, covered later in this list, is designed to expand.
The Nucor Research Scholars Program gives up to ten high school students two weeks of paid, hands-on research in metallurgical and ceramic engineering at South Dakota Mines, working alongside a faculty mentor and an NSF undergraduate research participant.
Its two-week format makes it a practical option for students who want a genuine introduction to engineering research without committing their entire summer. Applicants submit a one-page interest essay, a transcript showing good academic standing, a one-page resume, and a teacher recommendation as part of the selection process.
PICNICS gives high school students a hands-on introduction to research in chemistry, biochemistry, coatings and polymeric materials, and engineering, working directly in NDSU’s labs. Students join active research teams and work with NDSU mentors, giving them experience with genuine university laboratory research rather than standard classroom instruction or a lecture-based STEM camp.
A basic understanding of high school science concepts is recommended, but participants learn specific laboratory techniques on the job. Participants also have the opportunity to present their work at NDSU’s summer research poster session.
SPARK-ND is a recent program and nearly $8 million National Science Foundation initiative built to expand STEM research capacity across ten North Dakota colleges and universities, including North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, and Minot State University.
Rather than functioning as a single program a student applies to directly, SPARK-ND supports research programs, faculty partnerships, and outreach that expand opportunities for North Dakota high school and undergraduate students to participate in scientific research, including programs like Minot State’s REHSS above.
Students should look for specific SPARK-ND-supported opportunities at participating institutions rather than applying to SPARK-ND itself.
With the research programs and opportunities on this list to choose from, the right fit depends less on prestige than on logistics and goals. Students who want to stay in the region should start with the North Dakota and South Dakota-based options: REHSS, SPARK-ND-supported opportunities, PICNICS, Sanford PROMISE, or the Nucor Research Scholars Program. These options can reduce the need for long-distance summer travel, although students should still check commuting and housing requirements carefully.
Students who are ready to look beyond the region, or whose interests don’t match what’s available locally in a given year, have strong virtual and national options. The Pioneer Research Institute can be completed fully online, while MIT PRIMES-USA offers year-long remote mathematics research to eligible U.S.-resident sophomores and juniors outside Greater Boston. Some ASSIP mentors also offer fully remote placements. The residential programs SSTP, JAX, and SSP are additional options for students willing to apply broadly and travel for the summer.
Subject interest matters too. A student set on a specific field, such as psychology, cancer biology or international relations, should look closely at which programs actually offer research in that area rather than assuming all programs are interchangeable, as this can be pivotal for planning future careers and general career exploration. Pioneer Academics’ guide to the top psychology research programs for high school students is a useful next stop for that kind of search.
For high schoolers in North Dakota, strong research opportunities combine genuine participation in research with meaningful institutional and faculty oversight. In-state options include NDSU’s PICNICS program in Fargo and Minot State’s REHSS. PICNICS places students on active NDSU research teams working directly with laboratory mentors, while REHSS allows students to help design a semester-long project with a high school teacher and Minot State faculty mentor and pays participants $15 per hour for up to 100 hours.
North Dakota also has a statewide science-fair system culminating in the North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair at the University of North Dakota, where top senior-division competitors can advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Students who don’t find a fit close to home, or who want to develop their own original research question, can also consider the Pioneer Research Institute, a fully virtual, accredited research program for high school students.
Yes. Research programs for high school students in South Dakota do exist, though the pool is smaller than the combined selection available across both states. South Dakota has several in-state options, including the Nucor Research Scholars Program at South Dakota Mines in Rapid City, the free Data Science Camp at South Dakota State University which introduces students to statistics and computer science, and the PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship through the High School Research Scholars Program in the Sioux Falls area. PROMISE selects only four students each year.
Students who don’t secure one of those limited spots don’t necessarily need to leave the state. Fully online options such as the Pioneer Research Institute can be completed from South Dakota, while MIT PRIMES-USA is available remotely to eligible U.S.-resident sophomores and juniors outside Greater Boston.
Students near Fargo have direct access to North Dakota State University’s PICNICS program, a summer research experience in chemistry, biochemistry, coatings and polymeric materials, and engineering held in NDSU labs. In Sioux Falls, Sanford Research runs the High School Research Scholars Program, a ten-week laboratory research internship in the biomedical sciences that awards three undergraduate elective credits through the University of South Dakota.
Sanford explicitly limits the opportunity to regional students because housing is not provided. PICNICS is also conducted on the NDSU campus, so students should confirm transportation and current participation requirements before applying.
Yes. Several programs on this list can be completed remotely, although their eligibility and research structures differ. The Pioneer Research Institute lets students complete an original research paper over a spring-to-summer or summer term, working one-on-one with a university professor after an initial seminar phase. MIT’s PRIMES-USA offers year-long, academically mentored mathematics research to U.S.-resident sophomores and juniors outside Greater Boston, with students working individually or in groups depending on grade and project. Some George Mason ASSIP mentors also offer fully remote internships, giving students another option when relocation is not practical.
These programs can also extend well beyond traditional laboratory subject areas: current research opportunities include interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence, environmental science, and public health. Some programs provide formal academic credentials as well, including general college credit, in addition to the research experience itself.
The distance between a small town in North Dakota and a research university doesn’t need to limit a student from genuine research opportunities. What matters is whether a program gives a student meaningful participation in the research process, an appropriate level of ownership, and serious mentorship. Some programs let students develop their own questions, while others place them into active faculty research projects.
Both can provide genuine research experience when students are doing substantive work rather than simply observing, ensuring students benefit directly from the hands-on academic rigor. Some of the strongest options on this list are available within North Dakota or South Dakota; others exist entirely online. Either way, a student willing to put in the search can still find a genuine, well-mentored research experience, whether that turns out to be in state or somewhere else entirely.
High school students interested in conducting the highest level of research available to them should consider joining a Pioneer information session to learn more about the Pioneer Research Institute.
Based on a recent survey, 71 percent of Pioneer Research scholars’ acceptances were to the top 20 US colleges and universities. Additionally, our alumni report acceptances to highly-selective institutions at a rate five times higher than the school’s published acceptance rate.
If you are a 9th or 10th grader, we encourage you to also check out the Global Problem-Solving Institute. You’ll have the rare opportunity to take an interdisciplinary approach to complex world programs, while earning college credits from UNC-Chapel Hill.
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