Biomedical engineering is a field that requires theoretical knowledge as well as sound research and engineering skills. Building these skills early as a high school student can help with your college admissions. Admissions officers are looking for students who take the extra step to work on a subject that they are interested in.

Biomedical engineering summer programs are a great way to gain experience in the field. These programs are usually research and theory-focused and include various extracurricular components to provide a holistic summer pre-college experience. You could also consider other research opportunities in biology, engineering programs, and internships in STEM!

Now let's dive into our list of 12 biomedical engineering summer programs for high schoolers! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship

Location: Virtual

Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase 

Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).

Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.

Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest.You can find examples of previous projects here. 

2. Johns Hopkins University’s The Immersive Summer Program for Education, Enrichment, and Distinction (ISPEED) in Biomedical Engineering

Application deadline: March 1

Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors. Students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Program dates: July 3 – July 28

Location: Johns Hopkins University

Stipend: $2,400

If you’re interested in getting project-based experience and improving your practical skills, John Hopkins’ ISPEED program is a solid choice. This is a four-week residential program run by JHU’s School of Medicine where you will learn about biology, life sciences, healthcare design, computer programming, and more. You will build foundational skills for biomedical engineering. The curriculum includes classes, projects, research talks by students and faculty, field trips, and a Final Showcase where you will present your project. During the program, you will also work at the University’s BME Design Studio and the Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab. You can expect to learn about computer programming, machine learning, and scientific computing.

3. Youth Inventa’s Youth In Biomedical Engineering Program

Application deadline: June 5

Eligibility: All students aged 13 – 18

Program dates: July 10 – July 21

Location: Online

Fee: Free

Held by Youth Inventa, a non-profit organization, this online program is fully funded and ideal for students from low-income backgrounds or those who cannot travel. You will attend 1-2 hour sessions every weekday, which include lectures, interactive labs, and activities. You will cover topics like drug engineering, cell biology, and the development of medical devices. The focus of this program is on networking with different professionals from the industry and gaining career insights.

4. Tufts University’s Biomedical Engineering Research (TUBERS) Program

Application deadline: April 28

Eligibility: Students who will be at least 16 years of age at the start of the program. Students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply

Program dates: July 5 – August 18

Location: Tufts University

Fee: Free (Students are expected to organize their own transportation)

Tufts University is known for its strong biomedical engineering programs, making the TUBERS program a valuable opportunity for those interested in the subject. This is a commuter program focused on research. Over six weeks, you will investigate biomedical questions and develop new methods of study while working on a particular field of research. After the program, students are encouraged to use their completed projects to participate in science competitions. Highly selective, TUBERS is designed to improve students' critical thinking and academic research skills. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

5. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program

Application deadline: February 25

Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years of age

Program dates: June 13 – August 4

Location: Stanford University

Stipend: $500 - $1,500

SIMR is an 8-week internship program where students work with a mentor one-on-one and engage in research. You can choose from a number of research areas, one of which is bioengineering. Apart from attending lectures, you will work on a real-world biodesign project that addresses a medical need. As part of the process, you will evaluate technical pros/cons, build prototypes, and eventually present them at the SIMR poster session.

If you’re looking for a shorter program, Stanford also offers this lecture series on biomedical research. To learn more about SIMR, check out our complete guide here. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

6. Columbia Engineering's Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)

Application deadline: April 15

Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors

Program dates: Session 1 from July 5 to July 25 | Session 2 from July 26 to August 15

Location: Columbia University

Fee: $4,900. Limited need-based scholarships available

SHAPE offers you the opportunity to study a college-level engineering course, and one of the available course options is biomedical engineering (you can do one or both sessions). During the program, you will study different areas of the field like biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, and medical imaging. You will also construct your own biomedical device. This project-based program provides other skill-based electives and additional support with college preparation. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

7. Rowan University’s Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering at Rowan (RISER) Program

Application deadline: June 2

Eligibility: Rising seniors from South Jersey

Program dates: June 19 – July 28

Location: Rowan University

Stipend: None

This summer program is a great choice if you want to work on an independent research project. As a RISER scholar, you will be matched with a lab (you can choose between a Biomedical Engineering and a Biomedical Sciences lab) where you will work on your project. This is a non-residential, volunteer program, and you must commit 20 hours of research per week. The program culminates with a symposium on the last day, where you can present your findings.

8. Duke University’s Research in Engineering Program

Application deadline: March 5

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years of age (priority will be given to those from the Durham Public School system). Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply

Program dates: June 12 – July 28

Location: Duke University

Stipend: $2,000 (Daily lunches and a transportation pass are also provided)

As a participant in this program, you will be matched with one of the labs at Duke University, where you will work on a research project under the guidance of a faculty member. The program was launched in the biomedical engineering department but has since expanded to other fields like electrical and mechanical engineering. Aside from the project, the program includes social activities, sessions on college preparation, resume writing workshops, and more.

9. UConn’s Pre-College Summer – Biomedical Engineering

Application deadline: April 1

Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who have a minimum GPA of 2.0

Program dates: July 16 – July 22 (Session 4 of the pre-college program), July 23 – July 29 (Session 5 of the pre-college program)

Location: University of Connecticut

Fee: $2,050 - $2,150. Limited discounts and scholarships are available

This Biomedical Engineering course is part of the University of Connecticut’s pre-college summer program. The residential program is geared towards students who want to explore college-level academics and university life without committing much time. The Biomedical Engineering course will give you an overview of the field and its interconnected sub-fields, including real-life applications and career options. You will design a functional medical device prototype and use computer-aided-design (CAD) software to create physical structures. Another option in this program is the Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering course.

10. Drexel University’s BIOMED Summer Academy for High School Students

Application deadline: May 31

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who have taken at least one year of biology

Program dates: Session I from July 10 – July 14, Session II from July 17 – July 21, Session III from July 24 – July 28

Location: Drexel University

Fee: $1,200. Limited need-based scholarships are available

Ideal for those who do not want to spend all summer at school, this one-week commuter program offers a hands-on experience in biomedical engineering. The program focuses on teaching essential laboratory and research skills through activities like measuring brain waves and making nanoparticles. Previous students have worked on gene editing and tissue engineering. Apart from lab work, the curriculum includes site visits and seminars by experts in the field.

11. New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Biomedical Engineering Program

Application deadline: April 14. However, applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Eligibility: Students who have completed at least 8th grade and maintain a B or better grade average

Program dates: July 5 – August 3

Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology

Fee: $1,450

As one of the tracks in NJIT’s Summer Early College Preparatory Programs, the Biomedical Engineering Program is aimed at high-achieving high school students. The coursework looks at the cross-disciplinary nature of the field, exploring the interconnection between the engineering sciences, biomedical science, and clinical practices. The program also includes modules that prepare you for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.

12. Boston Leadership Institute’s Biomedical Engineering Program

Application deadline: Students are accepted on a rolling basis

Eligibility: All high school students

Program dates: Session 1 from June 26 – July 14, Session 2 from July 17 – August 4

Location: Session 1 at the Greater Wellesley campus and Session 2 at the Longwood Medical Area

Fee: $2,200 (An additional $2,097 for residential students). Limited scholarships available for rising seniors who come from families with a total annual income of $60,000 or less

The Boston Leadership Institute's Biomedical Engineering program offers lectures, projects, and visits to medical facilities. The curriculum explores biochemistry, materials chemistry, and scientific reasoning. Apart from learning the fundamentals, you will also work with DNA extraction, 3D design and printing, and discuss current breakthroughs. Previous students have 3D-printed their own prosthetic devices, researched treatments for glaucoma, and designed a discreet device to deliver insulin. While not as prestigious as the SIMR or ISPEED, this program is a good way to learn the basics of the field. You can read more about our review of the Boston Leadership Institute here.

Bonus - Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you are interested in doing university-level research in biomedical engineering, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image Source: SIMR logo