If you’re interested in biology and wish to explore it in depth before joining college, consider joining a research program in the field. These programs let you do hands-on work in labs or in the field, where you’ll learn basic research skills like collecting data, using lab tools, and thinking through problems like a scientist.
You might study genes, bacteria, fish habitats, or how diseases work. You’ll also get to meet professionals, ask questions, and sometimes even help with research projects. Some programs are based in labs, others take place outdoors, and a few mix both. Many also include sessions on writing, science careers, and how to present your findings.
What’s also important is that these programs help you figure out if biology is something you want to keep studying in college or possibly pursue as a career. Also, adding a research program like this to your CV gives you something concrete to show for your interest in science.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 biology summer research programs for high school students!
15 Biology Summer Research Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Cost: Varies (financial aid available)
Location: Remote
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The summer II cohort application deadline is June 22.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA above 3.67 (most are in grades 10–11)
Horizon offers a trimester-long research program where you can explore subjects like neuroscience, biology, chemistry, data science, political theory, and more. What makes Horizon different is that you get to choose between doing quantitative or qualitative research, depending on your interests.
In the neuroscience track, for example, you can study topics like how diseases affect the brain, how CRISPR is used in gene editing, or how machine learning is used in biotech. Horizon has over 50 different neuroscience subfields to pick from, including neurobiology, social neuroscience, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Once you pick your topic, you’ll be matched with a professor or PhD researcher from a top university. Your mentor will guide you as you write a 20-page research paper, which you can submit to academic journals.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: $2,800–$8,900 (full financial aid available)
Location: Remote
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research program where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor. You get to choose a subject area like biology, medicine, psychology, chemistry, or computer science.
If you pick biology, you can explore topics like genetics, evolution, human physiology, neuroscience, or environmental biology. You will design and carry out your research project based on what you choose. Your mentor will guide you through the process, and by the end, you’ll have a full-length research paper with your findings.
This program is remote and does not include lab work. It focuses on academic research, data analysis, and writing. You can use your paper for college applications or submit it to journals.
3. RIBS – University of Chicago
Cost: $13,600 (scholarships available)
Location: Chicago, IL
Program Dates: Mid-June – Early July (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Mid-January
Eligibility: Rising juniors/seniors who’ve completed one year of biology
The Research in Biological Sciences (RIBS) program at the University of Chicago is a four-week summer program focused on molecular biology. You’ll get intensive lab experience starting on the first day. Most of your time is spent doing hands-on experiments like PCR, gel electrophoresis, and growing microbes. There are daily lectures to help you understand the science behind the work. You’ll also complete an independent research project by the end of the program and present it.
4. BioSTAR – Harvard University
Cost: Free
Location: Harvard Science and Engineering Complex, MA
Program Dates: January 21 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 16+ years
The BioSTAR program takes place at the Science and Engineering Complex at Harvard, where you work with mouse cancer cells and learn basic tissue culture techniques. You’ll grow cells in both 2D and 3D formats and explore how researchers develop and test anti-cancer drugs.
The program covers lab skills like microfluidics, fluorescence microscopy, and viability assays. You’ll stain cells, design your experiments, and use fluorescence imaging to study results. Faculty sessions show how biology and engineering are used together to tackle problems in medicine.
5. Brown University Pre-College – Biology Courses
Cost: Starts at $2,707 (based on course/session)
Location: Providence, RI (on-campus and online)
Program Dates: Multiple sessions (May–August)
Application Deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: Open to high school students; some courses restricted to rising 9th/10th graders
Brown’s Pre-College program offers over 70 biology and biomedical courses for high school students. Topics range from marine ecology and neurobiology to bioethics and psychopathology. Some courses also cover introductory medicine and health sciences.
Courses are non-credit but follow the pace of college classes. Most include lab components or case-based work. A few are restricted to rising 9th and 10th graders. The program is available both on campus in Providence and online.
6. Biotech Summer Experience – Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL)
Cost: Free
Location: Livermore, CA
Program Dates: July 14–25
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: 16+ years, GPA ≥ 3.3, students aged 18 must be U.S. citizens
This lab-based summer program introduces you to molecular biology through hands-on work with duckweed genetics. You’ll learn techniques such as plasmid isolation, PCR, and DNA sequencing. You’ll also use bioinformatics tools to align genetic sequences and annotate genes, with final results submitted to GenBank. The program expects active lab participation from the start.
7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Cost: Free. A stipend of $3,000 + summit
Program Dates: June–August (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 19
Location: Local placement (within commuting distance)
Eligibility: 16+ years, U.S./Canada/Mexico residents
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program pairs you with fisheries scientists for hands-on field and lab work. You’ll do electrofishing, stream sampling, and study aquatic plants, and learn about fish population monitoring, habitat assessment, and water quality testing.
You’ll learn how to collect and analyze environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify freshwater species. It supports diversity in environmental science careers. The program finishes with a national summit for all participants.
8. Geosciences Bridge Program – UMES
Cost: Free. Stipend of $500/week + housing and meals
Location: Princess Anne, MD
Program Dates: June–August (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors entering a STEM major
Geosciences Bridge Program – UMES offers a six-week internship focused on marine biology, geoscience, and GIS mapping. You’ll conduct marine ecosystem research, study coastal habitats, and analyze environmental impacts on marine life.
The program uses GIS and remote sensing to assess spatial data and environmental conditions. Field trips include sampling in Chesapeake Bay and other marine sites. You take two college courses for credit, attend faculty lectures, and participate in hands-on activities.
9. Stanford Summer Session – Biology Courses
Cost: $4,962 (commuter, 3 units) to $17,328 (residential, 8 units)
Location: Stanford University, CA
Program Dates: June 21 – August 17
Application Deadline: February 12
Eligibility: 16–19 years
Stanford Summer Session – Biology Courses lets you take college-level classes in microbiology, biotechnology, and cancer biology alongside Stanford undergraduates. You’ll learn lab techniques like microscopy, DNA analysis, and cell culture.
You’ll build skills in experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific writing. The program moves quickly and demands strong time management. If you commute, you’ll take at least 5 units; on campus, at least 8 units.
10. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Cost: Free
Location: New York, NY
Program Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors
The Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a team-based research program for high school juniors and seniors that runs over the summer with a 35-hour weekly commitment. You work in small teams guided by a lead researcher and scientist mentors.
Projects cover areas like immunology, neurobiology, and genetics, all focused on lab work and inquiry. The program starts with training in core lab protocols and safety. By the second week, you will design and carry out a focused research question within your team’s broader topic.
11. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free. A stipend is provided
Program Dates: June 23 – August 15 (7 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school students living in the greater Philadelphia area
Monell Science Apprenticeship Program places you with Monell scientists for projects in biomedical research and sensory biology. You will engage in lab research, science writing, and public speaking workshops.
The program lasts at least seven weeks of paid full-time research. You will present your findings at a final symposium. The program focuses on supporting underrepresented groups in science while providing hands-on lab experience and professional development.
12. SUNY Oneonta Summer Research Internship
Cost: Free. A stipend of $3,000
Location: Oneonta, NY
Program Dates: 9 weeks (Summer)
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: New York residents aged 16+
SUNY Oneonta Summer Research Internship offers 9-week positions for New York State residents, with 1-3 spots available, including one reserved for Otsego County residents. You will work on freshwater biology and water quality research in Otsego Lake and the Susquehanna watershed.
The work involves field sampling, ecological monitoring, and lab data analysis. The program also includes scientific writing and presentations. Applicants need to submit an essay and two references.
13. University of Michigan Aspirnaut Program
Cost: Free. Stipend is provided (amount not specified)
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising seniors in Michigan
University of Michigan Aspirnaut Program offers a six-week internship for Michigan high school students focused on hands-on life sciences research. You will live on campus and work full-time in a biomedical lab.
You’ll learn skills like pipetting, preparing samples, running experiments, analyzing data, and reading scientific papers. The program also includes mentorship and college preparation support. Selection is highly competitive, with only 5 to 10 students chosen each year.
14. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Cost: Free (housing not provided)
Location: Seattle, WA
Program Dates: June 23 – August 15 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising seniors from underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical sciences
SHIP is an eight-week, full-time paid internship for 11th and 12th-graders from underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical science. The first two weeks focus on lab safety and hands-on training in the Fred Hutch Training Labs.
After that, you’ll work on mentored research projects and participate in team activities. You’ll gain skills in lab techniques, data collection, and analysis. Interns also attend lab meetings, learn about biomedical careers, and give a final presentation.
15. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Cost: Free. Stipend: $3,600
Location: Cambridge, MA
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Rising seniors attending Massachusetts high schools
BSSP is a six-week summer research program at the Broad Institute for high school students interested in science. You’ll be matched with a Broad scientist and work on a research project in areas like cancer biology, infectious disease, computational biology, or psychiatric genetics.
Some projects involve wet-lab skills like DNA extraction, PCR, and cell culture. Others use bioinformatics tools and data modeling. You’ll also attend seminars, practice science writing, and present your work at a poster session.
Image source – Broad Institute
