For high school students interested in biotechnology, research programs can provide hands-on experience in genetics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics beyond the usual curriculum you may follow at school. These opportunities will allow you to work with advanced lab techniques, analyze real-world data, collaborate with experienced mentors and explore cutting-edge scientific questions, helping clarify academic and career interests.
Participating in a biotech research program also strengthens your overall portfolio and college applications, demonstrating initiative and analytical skills beyond that of your peers. In this blog, we’ve compiled 10 biotech research programs that can help you develop technical expertise and research experience in the field:
1. Biorocket Research Internship Program at Genspace
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost: None; $2,000 stipend provided
Application Deadline: January 8
Program Dates: June 30 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students attending a NYC Public or Charter school within 45 minutes of Genspace; must be 16
The Genspace Biorocket Research Internship is a six-month paid program for high school students interested in biotechnology and genetic engineering. As an intern, you will work on advanced projects in DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and genetic engineering, gaining hands-on experience in a research lab.
Past projects have explored topics like algal growth in water purification and microbiome comparisons between Red Oak species. If you’re looking for practical research experience in molecular biology and environmental science you can explore this program.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,950. Need-based financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. February 16 for the upcoming spring cohort
Program Dates: The spring cohort starts on March 3. The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 11 with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA).
Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites; details can be found here.
Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. You can choose from subject areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, and more.Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey.
As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. Biotech Research at the Boston Leadership Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,200
Application Deadline: A date has not been specified
Program Dates: June 30 – July 11
Eligibility: Current high school students
Led by Dr. Maria Lazebnik, a Tufts School of Medicine PhD graduate, this program provides high school students with lab-grade equipment for at-home experimentation, eliminating the need for a traditional lab setting. You will explore key topics such as bacterial transformation, protein engineering, genetic modification, and micropipetting techniques—important skills in molecular biology research.
The curriculum also covers antibody-based methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, connecting coursework to real-world applications. You will complete an independent research project on genetic diseases, applying your learning to a topic of personal interest while gaining practical experience in biotechnology.
4. Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internships at the University of Florida Health
Location: Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens, FL + Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL
Cost: No cost; $4,480 stipend issued bi-weekly
Application Deadline: March 2
Program Dates: June 2 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students who have U.S. citizenship or are permanent residents and are rising juniors or seniors in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school; must be 16 by the first day of the program and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute is a nine-week research program for rising juniors and seniors interested in biological and chemical research. You will begin with a one-week intensive training in biomedical research techniques, building foundational skills for lab work.
Over the following weeks, you will collaborate with scientists on experimental design, data analysis, and research planning, contributing to active research projects. Weekly seminars introduce broader scientific concepts and career pathways. The program concludes with a scientific abstract and final research presentation, preparing you for future academic and professional research opportunities.
5. Cell-Science Summer Internship Program
Location: Fremont, FL
Cost: $300
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: 8 weeks from June – July
Eligibility: Students who have completed their junior year of high school
The Rational Drug Design and Discovery Program is an eight-week intensive for high school students interested in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. You explore bioinformatics and therapeutic drug development through research-driven projects.
You will also gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data analysis, and modern drug discovery techniques, working alongside researchers and industry professionals. The program concludes with a comprehensive project report and oral presentation, reinforcing scientific communication and research skills while fostering long-term interest in the field.
6. University of Pennsylvania Summer Academy in Applied Sciences Technology (SAAST) – Biotechnology
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $8,500 program fee + $85 application fee
Application Deadline: Applications open in January and close in April
Program Dates: To be announced
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year’s coursework in Biology and Chemistry
The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) is a three-week intensive program for high school students interested in college-level engineering. You will engage in theoretical and hands-on applications using advanced technologies while earning college credit and working with Penn faculty.
The biotechnology course introduces you to genetic engineering and molecular biology, emphasizing molecular cloning techniques and research-driven problem-solving. You will collaborate on a group research proposal, and analyze current challenges in biotechnology. The program also includes journal club discussions on recent scientific literature and faculty-led sessions on research in the field.
7. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Starts from $2,990. Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. February 9 for the upcoming spring cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The spring cohort starts on March 3
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research program for high school students that offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project.
As a participant, you’ll get to choose research topics from subjects like psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
8. Biotech Summer Experience at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Location: Livermore, CA
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: February 3 – March 14
Program Dates: July 14 – 25
Eligibility: High school students older than 16 with a GPA of at least 3.3
The LLNL Biotech Summer Experience is a two-week program focused on molecular biology and bioinformatics. You will work on projects involving gene isolation, characterization, and sequencing from duckweed species, applying techniques used in professional research labs.
You gain hands-on experience with plasmid DNA purification, PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, and gel electrophoresis while using bioinformatics software for gene sequence analysis. A key feature of the program is the submission of DNA sequence findings to GenBank, providing you with formal recognition for your contributions to genomic research.
9. Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program
Location: Stanford University
Cost: None; stipend of at least $500 provided
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: Students must currently be juniors or seniors at the time of application (as of the spring). Students must be in the graduating class of this or next year. Students must also be 16 years old or older by the start of the program. Students must currently be living in and attending school in the U.S. AND must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card to apply.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an intensive biomedical research program for high school students interested in biotechnology and life sciences. Under the guidance of Stanford faculty and researchers, you will work on active research projects, developing skills in experimental techniques and data analysis.
The program fosters collaborative learning, connecting you with peers and experts in the field. SIMR offers a practical introduction to biomedical research, preparing you for future academic and career pathways in biotechnology and life sciences.
10. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program
Location: Rockefeller University
Cost: None
Application Deadline: January 3
Program Dates: June 23 – August 7
Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors
The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program is an intensive research experience for high school students interested in biotechnology and biomedical science. You will work on hands-on research projects under the mentorship of Rockefeller scientists, gaining practical skills in molecular biology, genetics, and genomics.
The program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, exposing you to diverse biotechnological approaches in biomedical research. Alongside laboratory training, you will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, applying scientific methods to real-world research challenges.
Image source: Genspace