If you’re a high school student interested in bioengineering, joining a summer program can help you explore the subject in-depth without clashing with your school year. Typical summer programs in bioengineering often include topics like tissue engineering, biomechanics, genetics, or biomedical device design. You’ll usually attend classes, conduct research, or attend workshops on university campuses, where you can get early exposure to lab techniques and research tools used in college-level bioengineering.
Many bioengineering summer programs for high school students are hosted by universities, medical schools, or research labs. Some focus on project-based learning, others introduce you to college coursework, and a few may even offer stipends or free tuition. Choosing the right program can give you a better understanding of the field and help you decide if this is something you want to study further.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 bioengineering summer programs for high school students!
15 Bioengineering Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week virtual research experience where you work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor from a top university to design and complete an independent research project. You choose your topic from fields like psychology, physics, economics, computer science, engineering, international relations, and more. You meet with your mentor weekly, attend writing workshops, and build a full-length research paper by the end of the program. You can also opt to receive college credit through UC San Diego Extended Studies. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program.
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: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI runs programs for high school students who want to explore artificial intelligence. If you’re just getting started, the AI Scholars Program is a great place to begin. It’s a short bootcamp where you learn the basics of Python, machine learning, and data science. You’ll also get to work on a small group project that shows how AI is used in the real world.
If you already know some Python and want to dive deeper, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase is a more advanced option. You’ll work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university to build your own AI project. You also get support from Veritas’s publication team to help you submit your work to high school research journals or competitions.
3. Johns Hopkins University – ISPEED in Biomedical Engineering
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: None. A stipend of $2,400
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 30 – July 25
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply
The ISPEED program at Johns Hopkins is a four-week summer experience where you get to explore biomedical engineering through hands-on learning. You’ll live on campus, work in real labs, and build a final project that you present at the end of the program. You’ll learn about biology, healthcare design, scientific computing, and basic programming. You’ll also get to use tools like machine learning while working in places like the BME Design Studio and the Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab. The program is hosted by the School of Medicine and is open to high school students who are motivated to explore science and engineering.
4. Tufts University’s Biomedical Engineering Research (TUBERS) Program
Location: Tufts University, MA
Cost: Free (students arrange their transportation)
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: July 1 – August 15
Eligibility: Students age 16+ by the program start date; students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply
TUBERS is a six-week summer research program at Tufts University where you get to explore biomedical engineering by working directly with faculty on real lab projects. You’ll be matched with a mentor and help with ongoing research, learning how to design experiments, analyze data, and think critically about science. You’ll also have the chance to turn your summer work into a science competition project if you’re interested. Research topics vary, but past students have worked on things like tissue engineering, biomaterials, and medical devices.
5. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, CA
Cost: $40 application fee; stipend, $500
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors, age 16+
SIMR is an eight-week summer research program at Stanford where you get placed in a real lab and work one-on-one with a mentor on a biomedical project. You’ll explore a challenge in medicine or bioengineering, from identifying a clinical need to designing and testing a solution. You’ll also take part in lectures, lab work, and a final poster presentation where you share your research with the Stanford community. One focus area is bioengineering, where past students have worked on wearable devices, medical sensors, and synthetic biology. The program includes a biodesign component, so you’ll also learn how to work in teams and improve your design through feedback.
6. Columbia Engineering’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: Commuter cost; $5,880; Residential cost; $10,705
Application Deadline: March 3
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7–25 | Session 2: July 28–August 15
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
SHAPE is a summer program at Columbia Engineering where you take college-level courses in fields like biomedical engineering, robotics, and data science. In the BME course, you’ll learn about biomechanics, medical imaging, and how the body works, while also designing and building a biomedical device. You’ll get to prototype and improve your design during the session. The program also includes electives in areas like programming and public speaking, plus workshops on college admissions.
7. Rowan University’s RISER (Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering at Rowan) Program
Location: Rowan University, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors from South Jersey
RISER is a six-week summer research program at Rowan, where you’ll work in a biomedical engineering or biomedical sciences lab. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and spend about 20 hours a week helping with real lab research. You’ll learn how to design experiments, write about your findings, and use lab techniques that are common in biomedical research. The program ends with a research symposium where you present your work to faculty, friends, and teachers.
8. Duke University’s Research in Engineering Program
Location: Duke University, NC
Cost: Free; A stipend is provided
Application Deadline: February 16
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (age 16+); priority for students from Durham Public Schools and economically disadvantaged backgrounds
DukeREP is a seven-week summer program where you’ll work in a Duke University engineering lab on a real research project. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and explore topics in biomedical, electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering. The program is designed to give you hands-on lab experience while also helping you build professional skills like writing, presenting, and preparing for college. You’ll take part in group activities, college prep sessions, and a final research showcase.
9. University of Connecticut Pre-College Summer: Biomedical Engineering
Location: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Cost: $2,050–$2,150 (both merit-based and need-based scholarships available)
Application Deadline: Priority deadline of April 1, with rolling admissions continuing until the course fills.
Program Dates: July 20-July 26
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th graders with at least a 2.0 GPA
UConn’s Pre-College Summer program gives you a one-week, hands-on introduction to biomedical engineering. You’ll live on campus, take college-level classes, and work on a project where you design and prototype a medical device using CAD tools and biomedical sensors. You’ll also learn how engineering, computer science, and life sciences come together to solve real healthcare problems. There’s also an option to take a course on artificial intelligence in biomedical engineering if you’re interested in how AI is used in medicine.
10. Drexel University’s BIOMED Summer Academy for High School Students
Location: Drexel University, PA
Cost: $1,200 (need-based scholarships available)
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25, and July 28-August 1.
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who have completed at least one year of biology
Drexel’s BIOMED Academy is a one-week summer program where you explore biomedical engineering through hands-on lab work, lectures, and field trips. You’ll work on projects like measuring brain activity, creating nanoparticles, and learning about gene editing. Each day includes lab sessions and research talks led by Drexel faculty, plus visits to local labs and biomedical companies.
11. Boston Leadership Institute’s Biomedical Engineering Program
Location: Greater Wellesley campus, MA (Session 1), The Newman School, Boston, MA (Session 2)
Cost: $2,500 ( $2,097 for residential students)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Session 1: June 23 – July 11 | Session 2: July 14 – August 1
Eligibility: Open to all high school students; Residential students at the Longwood Medical Area must be rising tenth graders or above
Boston Leadership Institute offers a three-week summer program where you explore biomedical engineering through hands-on labs, classroom learning, and real-world case studies. You’ll study topics like biomaterials, biochemistry, and tissue engineering, and learn how engineers design medical devices and solve healthcare problems. Past students have 3D-printed prosthetic limbs, built wearable insulin pumps, and explored treatments for glaucoma.
You’ll also get experience with DNA extraction, 3D modeling, and CAD tools. Depending on your session, you’ll either be based near Boston’s medical district or at a suburban campus. The program includes field trips to local labs and companies, and ends with a group project where you present your biomedical solution.
12. Research Scholars (Bioengineering) at the University of California, San Diego
Location: UC San Diego campus (some sessions may be online or hybrid)
Cost: $2,600-$2,700, depending on the course; scholarships available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early applications recommended
Program Dates: Offered in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12
UC San Diego’s Research Scholars program gives you the chance to do real bioengineering research with mentorship from university faculty. You’ll attend lectures, run experiments, and build skills in data analysis and research communication. There are three course options, and you can choose one, two, or all three depending on your experience and goals.
BE-BOAT is the introductory track, where you’ll learn core lab techniques and explore topics like biomechanics, sensors, and biological data. BE-ROW is a group research experience where you’ll join an active project and contribute to experimental design and analysis. BE-SHIP is the advanced option, where you’ll design and carry out your independent research project.
13. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) at New York University
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free; students receive a stipend of $1,000
Application Deadline: February 21
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: NYC residents currently in 10th or 11th grade
ARISE is a full-time, seven-week summer research program at NYU Tandon that gives high school students the chance to do real science and engineering in a university lab. You’ll start with two weeks of coursework focused on lab safety, scientific methods, and academic writing. After that, you’ll spend five weeks working in a lab under the guidance of a graduate student or postdoc mentor. One of the research options includes biomedical engineering, where you might study medical imaging or tissue mechanics. You’ll learn how to collect and analyze data, communicate your findings, and contribute to an ongoing faculty-led project.
14. Bioengineering Opportunities and Leadership Training (BOLT) Camp at University of Colorado Denver
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Denver
Cost: $975 (includes supplies and meals); scholarships available
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Program Dates: June 23-26; June 2-5; June 9-12
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
BOLT is a one-week summer camp where you explore biomedical engineering through hands-on lab work, design challenges, and leadership training. Hosted by the Department of Bioengineering, the program includes activities like CRISPR tissue engineering experiments, anatomy sessions with the AHEC cadaver lab, and prototyping solutions to real clinical problems. You’ll learn to solder, 3D print, and build circuits while working with university faculty and students. You will work in teams to design, build, and test a prototype, and end the week with a friendly design competition.
15. Pre-College Summer Programs at Brown University – Biomedical Engineering Tracks
Location: On-campus (Providence, RI) or online
Cost: Check full program cost here
Application Deadline: May 10 (tentative)
Program Dates: Multiple June–July sessions (exact dates vary by course)
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12; course-specific prerequisites apply
Brown offers two ways to explore biomedical engineering over the summer – one in person and one online. If you choose the on-campus course, you’ll study biomedical systems through case studies on prosthetics, artificial organs, and medical pumps. You’ll also work on a group design project where you improve an existing biomedical device.
The online course focuses on smart medical implants. You’ll learn about the materials used in devices like stents and joint replacements, how they interact with the body, and the ethical questions behind medical design. You’ll take part in discussions and complete a design challenge focused on bypass materials.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Brown University