The Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program offers students a rare, once-in-a-lifetime science journey, sparking curiosity and guiding them towards future STEM studies and careers.
The program is for science-curious students who are willing to ask questions, engage with new concepts and connect with other students and mentors should apply for the all-expense-paid Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program at SURF.
Requirements
Current high school seniors or graduates from a South Dakota public, private, or home school
First-year students enrolled in a South Dakota college or university
Must be 18 or older by June 13, 2026
Intent to pursue a degree in STEM
The 2026 Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program will run from June 14, 2026, through July 12, 2026 (Final itinerary is subject to change).
Application deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026.
Scholars excel in STEM careers
Two former Davis-Bahcall scholars reflect on the value of the scholar program in inspiring success in their STEM careers today.
“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.”
— Ashley Tieszen
Davis-Bahcall Scholars explore laboratory spaces where they learn about world leading science experiments, such as investigating dark matter and neutrinos. Students also discover immediately applicable disciplines including engineering product solutions, and agricultural research.
The program closes out with Scholars taking a deeper dive into a subject of their choosing for a final presentation.
Are you curious about where a career in STEM can take you?
This program is designed to help students who are considering STEM fields develop an understanding of where their passion for science, technology, engineering and math can take them. The program demystifies STEM by showing students what professionals do every day in science, engineering and other STEM fields.
A common denominator for Davis-Bahcall Scholars is a shared passion for STEM. Through social gatherings and peer-to-peer work, students create lasting connections.
The 2024 Davis-Bahcall Scholars include: (L-R) Colby Routh, Beck Bruch, Nicolette Dame, Huixin Zhang, James Roth, Mackenzie Hollenbeck, Jing Yan, and Ashley Tieszen - standing on green grass outside dressed up for their presentations.
Photo by Stephen Kenny
The 2024 Davis-Bahcall Scholars include: Mackenzie Hollenbeck, Huixin Zhang, Nicolette Dame, James Roth, Ashley Tiezen, Beck Bruch, Colby Routh, and Jing Yan.
The 2021 Davis-Bahcall Scholars on the 4850 Level of Sanford Underground Research Facility.
Photo courtesy Davis-Bahcall Facebook group
The 2022 Davis-Bahcall Scholars from left to right: Liam Thomassen, Preston Drew, Stirling Wallace, Kaitlyn Gehrels, Ellie Breidenbach, Bailey May, Katie Pedneau, and Brody Leisinger
Photo by Adam Gomez
Davis-Bahcall Scholars picture from left-to-right top-to-bottom: Maycee Wieczorek, Amy Pham, Abby Woodard, Samuel Schleich, Curtis Petersen, Nolan Maher, Grayson Nelson, Ann Madson.
Davis-Bahcall Scholars underground at Sanford Underground Research Facility. Photo by Matthew Kapust
Discovery and Collaboration
The Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program takes its name from two scientists whose collaborative efforts resulted in a major discovery: theorist, Dr. Raymond Davis, and experimentalist, Dr. John Bahcall.
Bahcall and Davis worked in partnership to build a solar neutrino experiment at the 4850 level of the former Homestake Gold Mine. For almost 30 years, data was collected and studied which led to a share of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2002 for Dr. Raymond Davis.
It’s this spirit of discovery and collaboration that drives the program and encourages students to find the scientist, engineer or researcher within.
Since 2009 students have participated in the Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program at SURF. What began as a physics-oriented learning experiences has evolved to include students from a variety of STEM interests.
Beneath the black hills of South Dakota, researchers advance the future of world-leading science. The Institute for Underground Science at SURF will unite today’s research and tomorrow’s discoveries.
