11 Biology Programs for High School Students
High school is the perfect time to explore your interests before college. If biology is one of the subjects you’d like to pursue, there’s a range of programs to help you explore the field. Whether during the summer or the academic year, these programs can give you a deeper insight into the subject while offering a platform to gain valuable experience!
In this article, we’ve listed 11 biology programs for high school students that include research opportunities, internships, and pre-college programs. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Both residential and commuter options are offered.
Eligibility: Students who are current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors at the time of application, at least 16 years old at the start of the program, and no more than 19 years old by the last day of the program, can apply. Those applying must also not be matriculating into Stanford as a first year.
Application Deadline: December 11 (Early Decision) | January 26 (Regular Decision). See all dates and deadlines here!
Program Dates: June 22 - August 18
Fee: $4,962 (Commuter, minimum 3 units) | $17,328 (Residential, minimum 8 credit-bearing units, which is typically 2-3 courses). Calculate your exact costs here. Merit-based and need-based tuition grants are available
The Stanford Summer Session is an 8-week academic experience for high school students. For students keen on Biology, the program offers a number of courses: Microbiology: Human health & society, Introduction to Biotechnology, Introduction to Cancer Biology, Introduction to Human Physiology, and more. What sets this program apart is its comprehensive curriculum that covers a broad range of topics, from genetics and anatomy to public health. See all the courses available here. Every credit-bearing unit represents approximately three hours of work each week, but your workload might differ based on your course selection.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students.
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine program, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You will get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Location: Students can choose from NIH campuses across the country. The NIH main campus is in Bethesda, MD.
Eligibility: Students who are high school juniors or seniors at the time of application (or have recently graduated) and are 17 years or older on June 15 may apply. Do look through all the eligibility requirements before applying. There are some additional requirements for HiSTEP and HiSTEP 2.0.
Application Deadline: February 1, every year.
Program Dates: Minimum 8 weeks in summer, information on exact dates is not available.
Stipend: $2,300-2,530 (for students currently in high school) | $2,570-2,840 (for students who have graduated high school)
NIH offers a suite of summer internship programs for high school students. HS-SIP is a unique opportunity for students to engage in biomedical research alongside scientists and mentors. You will work on ongoing research projects, analyze data, and acquire essential laboratory skills. The program partners with research institutions to help you explore cutting-edge scientific investigations across disciplines. HiSTEP combines scientific, professional, and personal skill-building with leadership training, wellness programming, and an exploration of STEM-M (science, technology, engineering, math, and medical) careers. Note: Part of the HS-SIP are two programs, High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) and HiSTEP 2.0. We have covered these pieces in detail here!
5. Secondary School Program at Harvard University (Biology Courses)
Location: The 4-week session is residential, conducted at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. The 7-week session has residential, commuter, and online options.
Eligibility: Students who will graduate from high school and enter college this year, next year, or the year after that, will be at least 16 years old by June 22, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31 are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: April 10
Program Dates: 4-week session (July 14 - August 9) | 7-week session (June 22 - August 10)
Fee: $75 application fee + 4-week residential - $7,700 | 7-week residential - $14,250 | 7-week commuter $7,600 | 7-week online $3,900. Need-based and merit-based scholarships are offered.
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program (SSP) is a rigorous academic program for high school students who want to take college courses for credit. While the 4-week program is residential, the 7-week program has residential, commuter, and online options. Among the courses offered in the field of biology are Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology, Introduction to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Biochemical Engineering and Synthetic Life. You can take a look at all the courses offered here. Through lectures, seminars, and discussions, you will gain insight into subjects of your choosing. You can also consider taking 2-week biology courses under Harvard University’s Pre-College Summer School Program. These are non-credit courses and include topics such as Molecular Oncology, Human Physiology, and The Overdose Epidemic.
Location: The residential courses will be held at University of California, San Diego. There are online course options available as well.
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: May-end (residential) | Mid-June 4 (online).
Program dates: The program will be conducted over three weeks in July, tentatively.
Fee: $1,500 (online course tuition) | $1,700 (online course tuition + online SAT prep course) | $5,700 (residential course tuition + housing) | $5,900 (residential course tuition + housing + online SAT prep course). Scholarships are available.
This summer program is designed for students who are keen to explore subjects like biophysics, programming, marine science, health, language, and more at the college level. Through coursework, discussions, and projects, you will explore the subject of your choice, learn the basics, and produce a final project. With this program, you can learn from UC San Diego faculty and engage in intellectual discussions with peers who share your interests. For those keen on biology, the residential course options include: Computers and COVID: An introduction to programming and computational biology, Introduction to Marine Invertebrates and Phylogenetics, and Introduction to Marine Science. Online course options that cover biology include Introduction to Biophysics and Microbiology and Social Justice of Famous and Forgotten Diseases.
Location: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Discovery Center, Livermore, CA
Eligibility: Students who are 16 years or older by the start of the workshop and have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher may apply.
Application deadline: May-end
Program dates: July
Fee: There is no cost to attend this program.
This two-week program is designed for students interested in molecular biology and bioinformatics. This program focuses on the isolation, characterization, and DNA sequence analyses of genes from the freshwater aquatic plant species Landoltia punctata, commonly known as Duckweed. As a participant, you will isolate and purify plasmid DNA and perform PCR (polymerase chain reactions), restriction digests, and gel electrophoresis. You will also analyze gene sequences with the same bioinformatic tools used by scientists worldwide. Your DNA sequences will be submitted for publication in the international DNA repository, Genbank, an opportunity for individual recognition. This is a competitive program since LLNL is a federally funded research and development center.
Location: Mānoa, Hawai’i
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible.
Application Deadline: TBA. Check here for updates! Program Dates: The program is typically held over one week in July.
Fee: $1,000. Students from Hawai’i may be eligible for $500 subsidies.
The Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology offers a great program for high school students. A week-long experience, the program takes advantage of its location, allowing you to explore the subject while on an island in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. Under the guidance of researchers, faculty, and marine biologists, you will engage in field studies, lab experiments, data collection, and other projects. You will study coral reefs, marine ecosystems, and the diverse marine life found in the Pacific. You will also have access to the University of Hawaii's research facilities. This program offers a comprehensive understanding of marine biology.
Location: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine
Eligibility: High school seniors are eligible to apply. At the time of participation in the program, a high school student must have completed Grade 12, be at least 18 years old, and be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Application Deadline: January 29 Program Dates: June 1 - August 10
Stipend: $6500. Housing, travel, and meals will be covered.
The Jackson Laboratory is an established non-profit biomedical research institution. Its Summer Student Program is designed for students interested in genetics and genomics research. Every year, approximately 40 undergraduate and high school students are chosen from across the country. As a part of this group, you will get to connect with other research-focused students from different backgrounds. During the program, you will work on an ongoing research project under the guidance of experienced scientists. You will develop an independent project, implement your plan, analyze the data, and report the results. At the end of the summer, you will present your findings to researchers, other students, and parents. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors are eligible. Students must have completed one year of high school biology by the start of the program.
Application Deadline: Mid-January.
Program Dates: Mid-June to the beginning of July.
Fee: $13,600. Partial need-based scholarships are available. See here.
The University of Chicago’s Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) is a 4-week pre-college summer program designed to introduce you to a range of research techniques in molecular biology, microbiology, and cellular biology. During the program, you will engage with university researchers and learn basic lab techniques for the application of current molecular techniques in developmental biology and microbiology. The program focuses on lab time and projects, though some lectures are included to provide background knowledge and introduce new concepts. Each course ends with students presenting the results of their independent projects.
Location: Most courses are held at Brown University, Providence, RI, with a few conducted in a hybrid mode or online.
Eligibility: Some courses are open to all high school students, while some are open only to rising 9th and 10th graders.
Application deadline: May 12.
Program dates: Courses are conducted as part of a program, and each program has several session dates. Check the dates for your preferred courses.
Fee: Costs vary based on the program and teaching mode, starting at $2,707. Brown Pre-college offers a few need-based scholarships.
Brown University’s Pre-College programs are for students keen to explore the opportunities of college, including academics and social life. While Brown Pre-College currently offers over 300 programs, 77 of them focus on biology, biotechnology, and independent research fields. These include Marine Ecology, Research Techniques in Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology: An Evolving Puzzle, Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Neuroscience in Health and Disease, Introduction to Medicine, and Genetics, Epigenetics and Human Behavior. To see all the available courses, click here. These courses will either be part of the Summer@Brown, Summer@Brown Online, or STEM for Rising 9th and 10th Graders programs. While these are non-credit programs, they offer insight into college academics.
Here’s a few bonus programs you can consider!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.
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