PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship

The PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship at Sanford Research is a 10-week, hands-on biomedical lab research program for high school students who will be seniors in the fall. The 2027 program runs from June 1 to August 6, 2027. Each scholar joins a Sanford Research mentor's team and works on real laboratory research under that mentor's direct supervision. Scholars work at least 35 hours a week, though they get five discretionary days off. They also attend program workshops and science interest groups, write an essay about their project, and present a poster at the 2027 Sanford Research Symposium. Scholars who finish the program get a $4,000 scholarship and 3 undergraduate elective credits from the University of South Dakota. Because housing is not provided, the program is meant for students who live in the region.

Applicants must be entering senior year in fall 2027 and be at least 16 by June 1, and home-schooled students can apply. Scholars must be available for the whole program and commit to the full 10 weeks (June 1 - August 6, 2027) at 35+ hours per week, attend all workshops, and present at the Sanford Research Symposium. The program is for regional students; housing is not provided. Sanford encourages students from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Applications for summer 2027 opened on October 1, 2026, and they ask for a high school transcript (official or unofficial) and two letters of recommendation, preferably from science or math teachers. The deadline is January 8, 2027, and late applications are not accepted. Finalists must attend a one-day science boot camp on Saturday, January 30, 2027, and final decisions come out in April 2027.