Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences welcomed high school students to campus on Wednesday, July 15, for the orientation of its inaugural Young Scientist Internship program, launching a summer of hands-on research experiences made possible in part through an investment from Microsoft.
High school students from Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota gathered at DMU to meet the faculty members and student mentors who will guide them throughout the program. The orientation introduced participants and their families to the internship’s expectations, timeline, research opportunities and culminating Young Scientist Symposium.
The Young Scientist Internship is a structured, hybrid research program that provides high school students with direct, mentored experience in biomedical research, data science and health care innovation. Unlike traditional internships, it integrates computational and experimental research into a single immersive experience, allowing students to work collaboratively on real-world research projects while gaining exposure to emerging technologies and scientific methodologies.
“The Young Scientist Internship is more than a research program; it’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists, physicians and innovators,” says Pravin Mishra, PhD, MBA, chief research officer at DMU. “By providing students with hands-on experience in biomedical research, data science and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, we are helping them develop the skills and confidence needed to address tomorrow’s health care challenges. Microsoft’s investment enables us to expand access to these transformative experiences and strengthen the pipeline of future leaders in science and medicine.”
The investment from Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Affairs team aligns with the company’s commitment to empowering every person and every organization to achieve more. Through community investments, Microsoft supports organizations and projects that advance educational opportunity, build local leadership, connect local organizations and cultivate sustainable solutions that strengthen communities over the long term.
“At Microsoft, we believe investing in young people is one of the most important investments we can make,” says Sara Hansen, Microsoft senior community affairs manager. “The future depends on developing talent, expanding opportunity and ensuring that every student can see a pathway into careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through programs like this one, we hope to help open doors, spark new interests and create experiences that can shape futures.”
The 2026 program supports 59 high school students through a hybrid model that combines virtual learning with on-campus experiences. As interest continues to grow, the infrastructure is in place to expand participation to more students annually in future years.
Microsoft’s investment reflects a shared commitment to developing the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers while strengthening Iowa’s talent pipeline in science, technology and health care.
For more information about the Young Scientist Internship, visit dmu.edu/research/young-scientist-internship.