Once in a lifetime opportunity: Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program applications open at America’s Underground Lab
Davis-Bahcall Scholars travel the world for four weeks each summer touring cutting-edge research facilities and meeting scientists who are leading their fields.
The Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program is now accepting applications for the summer of 2025. The annual program takes students around the world of modern scientific research on an all-expense-paid learning opportunity.
Students will visit top-tier research facilities and meet leading scientists working on groundbreaking projects. Along the way, they will learn about research initiatives including the nature of dark matter and neutrinos, engineering, and other STEM-related fields. See photos and updates from past cohorts on the Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program Facebook page. The unique early-career college experience has built a solid track-record of inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.
Huixin Zhang, a 2024 scholar from Vermillion, SD, who is now a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis, reflected on the lasting impact of the program.
“This was a once in a lifetime experience. I would certainly recommend it to any friends going into a STEM career. I had a research internship lined up for this summer in case I was not selected for this scholarship, and I'm glad that I was selected. This experience provides far more information about a career in STEM than a summer of research. I'm lucky to have been a part of this scholarship,” said Zhang.
James Roth, another 2024 Davis-Bahcall Scholar, grew up in Spearfish, SD, and is now a sophomore at Black Hills State University. Roth says the experience helped clarify his career path.
“The program offered me so much insight on what type of job I'd like in the future. I had been thinking of several options but was having difficulty choosing, and the program not only showed me the types of jobs that aren't for me, but also introduced me to several career options I hadn't even considered. It definitely changed my college and life path,” said Roth.
For Mackenzie Hollenbeck, a freshman at South Dakota State University from Edgemont, SD, the underground experience at SURF stood out.
“I thought the most impactful activity was the visit to SURF. Going down into the mine was amazing and it was incredible to see the frontier of science being pushed right here in South Dakota,” said Hollenbeck.
Ashley Tieszen, a 2024 scholar and now a freshman at Colorado State University majoring in chemical and biological engineering, echoed the sentiment of other scholars in the program.
“It has given me a better picture of what working in STEM and pursuing a STEM degree will look like. It has also confirmed my passion for my major and research work in general giving me more confidence heading into university,” said Tieszen.
In 2025, the scholars program will run from Sunday, June 15 through Sunday, July 13, 2025. (Final itinerary is subject to change.) Interested students can now apply here. The application deadline is Friday, January 17, 2025.
Since 2009, more than 100 students have participated in the Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program. The program is offered through a collaboration between Sanford Underground Research Facility and Black Hills State University. Significant financial and in-kind support are provided by South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, Black Hills State University, First PREMIER Bank, and South Dakota Space Grant Consortium.
“I would definitely recommend the program to anyone who has an interest in a STEM career. I found it helped me consolidate my interest in scientific research, and it provided great insight into what a path to a scientific field may look like,” Tieszen added.
