Science Education Alliance's PHAGE Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES), allows science students to immerse themselves in research as part of a long-term, collaborative, research partnership between Norhtern State University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), which started in spring 2018. The program involves research surrounding bacteriophage hunting designed to provide undergraduate students with real-world, publishable research opportunities. Northern is the only school in South Dakota accepted into the HHMI, which will provide new and far-reaching collaborative interactions with universities and industries on a global scale. This collaboration has already led to several peer-reviewed publications and is anticipated to provide additional opportunities for undergraduate research every year.