Bluestaq Graduate Research Scholar — NDSU Partnership
Full-Ride M.S./Ph.D. Sponsorship + Paid Summer Internship (Colorado Springs, CO)
Bluestaq — a Colorado Springs leader in secure data ecosystems, graph technologies, natural language processing, and AI solutions for national security and defense customers, including the U.S. Space Force — is launching a full-ride graduate research sponsorship in partnership with North Dakota State University (NDSU). We are seeking motivated NDSU graduate students to conduct Bluestaq-defined research beginning Fall 2026, culminating in a paid summer internship at Bluestaq headquarters.
Why This Program Matters
This sponsorship connects academic research directly to national-security mission impact. As a Bluestaq Graduate Research Scholar, your work will:
- Advance real capabilities in LLMs, knowledge graphs, NLP, and agentic AI used by defense and national-security customers.
- Build a direct pipeline from sponsored academic research into hands-on delivery at Bluestaq.
- Position you as part of a select, founding cohort of scholars at the leading edge of applied AI research.
What You'll Do
Fall 2026 Research Project
- Conduct Bluestaq-defined research in one or more of the following focus areas: Large Language Models, Data Sourcing & Tagging, Knowledge Graph / Graph Store, Agentic AI, Natural Language Processing, and Prompt Engineering.
- Work independently and with NDSU faculty advisors, with research direction and technical alignment provided by Bluestaq.
- Bring genuine intellectual curiosity — while projects are Bluestaq-defined, student interest and alignment are valued in shaping the work.
Summer 2027 Internship — Bluestaq HQ, Colorado Springs, CO
- Complete a paid summer internship as a direct continuation of your sponsored research, delivering immediate mission impact.
- Receive hands-on mentorship and real-world application experience in a fast-paced defense-tech environment.
Program Benefits
- Full tuition, fees, stipend, and health insurance — funded for the complete duration of your M.S. or Ph.D. degree.
- Summer internship compensation:
- MS students: $28–35/hr ($1,120–$1,400/week at 40 hrs)
- PhD students: $34–42/hr ($1,360–$1,680/week at 40 hrs)
Qualifications and Requirements
- Currently enrolled, or incoming, M.S. or Ph.D. student at North Dakota State University.
- Target disciplines: Computer Science; Electrical & Computer Engineering; Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Software & Security Engineering (other aligned fields considered).
- Strong academic record and genuine interest in applying AI/data to national-security challenges.
- Selected through a joint Bluestaq/NDSU review process; a Bluestaq technical representative serves on the selection committee alongside NDSU faculty.
Education
- Enrollment in (or admission to) an M.S. or Ph.D. program at NDSU in a qualifying discipline is required.
Clearance Requirement
U.S. citizenship is required, and candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Supervising faculty must also meet citizenship and clearance requirements, as sponsored work involves Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and pre-existing Bluestaq intellectual property.
Location
- Academic-year research is based at NDSU (Fargo, ND); mandatory summer internship placement is on-site at Bluestaq HQ, Colorado Springs, CO.
Program Timeline
- Fall 2026: Research project begins.
- Summer 2027: Paid internship at Bluestaq HQ.
Application deadline: August 31st, 2026
Intellectual Property
This is a standard industry-sponsored research arrangement: Bluestaq retains full ownership of all intellectual property developed under the sponsorship, consistent with students advancing the company's pre-existing IP portfolio.
Clearance Requirement: This position may require the ability to obtain a TS/SCI Clearance. To be eligible for a security clearance, U.S. citizenship is required, and an employee must agree to participate in a background screen and credit check. Eligibility for a TS/SCI Clearance will be assessed as part of the onboarding process or based on programmatic needs.
About Bluestaq
At Bluestaq, we build secure data platforms that matter for space missions, national defense, healthcare systems, and commercial innovation. Founded in 2018, we've become a leader in enterprise software and secure data management by staying focused on what counts: modern architecture, operational excellence, and mission impact.
We're engineers, problem-solvers, and builders who take the mission seriously, but not ourselves. We automate the repeatable, question the status quo, and design systems that are as reliable as they are scalable. Whether we're supporting space, defense systems, or healthcare advancements, we build with the same principles: cloud-native solutions, security by design, and relentless simplicity.
Relocation: This position does not offer relocation. Candidates must live in the immediate area or relocate at their own expense.
Date the Position Closes: Applications will be accepted for 60 days beyond the posting date, or until the position is filled, whichever comes first.
Bluestaq is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by state or local law.
Bluestaq will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities and employees whose work requirements interfere with a religious belief unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to Bluestaq or a direct threat. Employees needing such accommodation are instructed to contact Human Resources immediately at contact.us@bluestaq.com.