TL;DR
Looking for a marine biology research program this summer? These 15 programs range from fully funded research internships to residential field programs and university-based research experiences. Some let you work directly with marine scientists, while others focus more on field sampling, lab techniques, or oceanographic data. If you want a more independent research experience, Horizon Academic Research Program lets you work one-on-one with a professor or PhD mentor on your own research question and produce a college-level research paper.
If you’ve only encountered marine biology in a classroom, a summer program changes the question from “Do I like this subject?” to “Do I actually like doing this?” You might spend your time collecting water samples, identifying species, studying a coral reef, analyzing marine datasets, or working alongside researchers. You don’t need to know how to do all of that beforehand. The point is to learn. Some programs offer independent research, while others focus on hands-on marine science. Here are 15 options to help you compare them!
If you are still exploring your options, you can also look beyond marine biology, check out this list of free online research programs for high school students that let you explore research from anywhere.
What do you actually do in a marine biology research program?
Marine biology research can look very different across programs. Some programs focus on a specific research project, while others give you a broader introduction to marine science.
Common activities include:
- Collecting and analyzing water or sediment samples
- Identifying marine organisms and species
- Measuring water quality and environmental conditions
- Conducting biodiversity or ecological surveys
- Using microscopes and other laboratory equipment
- Working with datasets and basic statistical tools
- Studying coral reefs, fisheries, marine mammals, or coastal ecosystems
- Designing and presenting an independent research project
If you’re interested in biology research more broadly, you can also explore our guide to biology research programs for high school students.
How much do marine biology summer research programs cost?
The programs on this list range from free opportunities to programs costing several thousand dollars. The biggest price differences usually come from the format: residential programs have to cover housing and meals, while local or online programs can cost much less.
Some programs also offer financial aid or are fully funded. If you’re mainly looking for no-cost opportunities, you can also explore free and online research programs for high school students and other funded STEM opportunities. Before applying, check whether the listed tuition includes housing, meals, equipment, and transportation.
Which Marine Biology Summer Program Is Right for You?
| If you want | Programs to consider |
| A fully online experience | Horizon Academic Research Program; Lumiere Research Scholar Program |
| A free or fully funded program | Keller BLOOM; SMMILE; VIMS Governor’s School |
| To study marine biology from anywhere in the world | Horizon Academic Research Program; Lumiere Research Scholar Program |
| For lab-based research | Horizon Academic Research Program; Lumiere Research Scholar Program ; UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program; VIMS Governor’s School |
| To work directly with marine ecosystems | SEA Expedition; Marine Science Investigations; Shoals Marine Laboratory |
| To complete an independent research project | Horizon Academic Research Program; Lumiere Research Scholar Program; UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program; VIMS Governor’s School |
The right program depends on what you want to do. Some give you an independent research project, while others put you in a lab, on a research vessel, or in the field. The table above can help you narrow down your options before you compare things like cost, duration, eligibility, and application deadlines. You do not necessarily need to travel to a university or coastal research center to get started. If you want to research from home, check out this blog on online research programs for high school students!
How to choose a marine biology summer program
Start with the kind of research experience you want. Here are a few things to look for when comparing programs:
- Want to do independent research? Look for a program where you can develop your own research question and work closely with a mentor. Horizon Academic Research Program and Lumiere Research Scholar Program both follow this model.
- Want to get into the field? Look for programs where you collect samples, study marine ecosystems, or work on a research vessel. SEA Expedition and Marine Science Investigations are good examples.
- Prefer lab work? Check what you’ll actually do in the lab. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program and VIMS Governor’s School give you opportunities to work with research methods and data.
- Need an online option? Look for programs that let you conduct research from anywhere. Horizon Academic Research Program and Lumiere Research Scholar Program are both online.
- Need financial aid? Start by checking programs that are free, fully funded, or offer financial aid. Keller BLOOM, SEA Expedition, and VIMS Governor’s School are options to look into.
The main thing to check is what you’ll actually do during the program. Look at the research project, mentorship, fieldwork, lab work, and what you will produce by the end.
15 Marine Biology Summer Research Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th- or 11th-graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here.
Horizon is an online research program where you work with a professor or PhD scholar on an independent research project. You can choose from different research areas and work with your mentor to develop a research question and produce a college-level research paper. Horizon also offers feedback on your work and support through the research process.
Who is it right for? Students who want to conduct independent marine biology research online with guidance from a professor or PhD scholar.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Vary by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Highly selective
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online research program where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor. You develop an independent research project, review academic literature, build a research question, and work toward a final research paper.
Who is it right for? Students who want one-on-one PhD mentorship to develop an independent marine biology research project and paper remotely.
3. SEA Expedition: Sea Education Association
Location: Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and at sea
Cost: $7,500, with need-based financial aid available upon acceptance.
Program Dates: June 14–25, June 30–July 11, July 16–27, and August 3–14
Application Deadline: Applications open in the fall and are evaluated on a strictly rolling basis until program capacity is reached
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Capacity of 20–25 students
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
SEA Expedition combines sailing and marine science. You live and work aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer while collecting data on ocean temperature, salinity, nutrients, and biodiversity. You’ll also collect sediment samples and use acoustic equipment to record whale activity.
Who is it right for? Students who want to study marine science aboard a research vessel while collecting ocean and biodiversity data at sea.
4. Keller BLOOM Program: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Location: East Boothbay, Maine
Cost: Fully funded
Program Dates: May 17–May 22
Application Deadline: April 10
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Highly selective; 16 students per year
Eligibility: High school juniors in Maine
Keller BLOOM gives Maine high school juniors hands-on experience in ocean science. You will live on Bigelow Laboratory’s East Boothbay campus, work alongside professional researchers, conduct field sampling and laboratory activities, and take part in a research cruise on the Sheepscot River estuary. You will explore topics including phytoplankton, zooplankton, nutrients, bacteria, and marine viruses.
Who is it right for? Students who are Maine high school juniors and want hands-on experience collecting marine samples and conducting laboratory research alongside scientists.
5. Marine Biology Camp: Roger Williams University
Location: Bristol, Rhode Island
Cost: $2,195, including lodging, meals, instruction, materials, and field trips
Program Dates: July 5–11, July 12–18, July 19–25, July 26–August 1, and August 2–8
Application Deadline: First come, first served
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 18 students per session
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; rising sophomores may be admitted if space permits
This residential program gives you access to Roger Williams University’s wet lab and research vessels. You’ll study marine organisms and coastal ecosystems through activities such as plankton sampling, snorkeling, kayaking, and whale watching.
Who is it right for? Students who want to study marine organisms and coastal ecosystems through wet-lab work, snorkeling, kayaking, and research-vessel activities.
6. Marine Biology Program: National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)
Location: Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and the University of California, Berkeley in San Francisco, California
Cost: $4,495 for residential participation
Program Dates: June 12–June 20, at UC Berkeley; July 6–July 14 and July 18–July 26, at Duke University
Application Deadline: Applications remain open while space is available
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 9–12
The NSLC Marine Biology program combines classroom learning with hands-on workshops, simulations, and field experiences. You may develop coral reef conservation strategies, examine marine anatomy, identify fish species, and explore marine protected areas and fisheries management. Depending on the location, you may also visit marine research facilities and coastal environments.
Who is it right for? Students who want to explore marine biology through activities such as coral reef studies, marine invertebrate dissections, shark-tagging simulations, and water-quality testing.
7. Advanced Marine Science Camp: Acadia Institute of Oceanography
Location: Seal Harbor, Maine
Cost: $3,300 for the Advanced program; $3,400 for the Advanced program with college credit, plus an additional $600 University of Maine credit fee
Program Dates: July 12–24 or July 26–August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: College-credit option limited to 22 students per session; non-credit cohort not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, typically ages 15–18, who have completed one year of high school and high school science; a science course with a lab component is preferred.
The Advanced Marine Science Camp is a two-week pre-college course where you explore marine science and oceanography through laboratory and field activities. You’ll study tidal pools, beaches, saltmarshes, and other marine environments while taking part in hands-on activities. Depending on the schedule, you may test water, go whale watching and fishing, study sand dollar embryology, and dissect a dogfish shark.
Who is it right for? Students interested in marine science who want a two-week academic experience combining fieldwork, laboratory activities, and oceanography research.
8. Marine Science Investigations: Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology
Location: Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu, Hawaii
Cost: $750 for residents; $1,500 for non-residents
Program Dates: June 1 – June 5
Application Deadline: April 15
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Selective; cohort of 24 students
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Marine Science Investigations is a hands-on program based at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology. You’ll study marine ecosystems through fieldwork, species identification, snorkeling surveys, transects, and water quality testing. The program also covers coral reef ecology, habitat mapping, and coastal restoration.
Who is it right for? Students ages 15–18 who want hands-on experience studying coral reefs and marine ecosystems through snorkeling surveys, species identification, and water-quality testing.
9. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Cruz, California
Cost: $68 application fee, with remaining program fees to be announced in late 2026; need-based scholarships are available
Program Dates: June 15–August 8, including one week of online research and seven weeks of in person research
Application Deadline: Late February
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 14–17 for the duration of the program
At the UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program, you work with PhD mentors and university faculty in active research labs. Marine biology projects can cover areas such as climate change, kelp forest dynamics, and sea urchin development. You’ll also work with real datasets and learn tools such as R and Python for analysis.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 10–12 who want university research experience involving marine biology, scientific datasets, and computational tools such as R and Python.
10. SMMILE Program: Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology
Location: Moku o Lo’e (Coconut Island), Hawaii
Cost: Fully funded
Program Dates: 10-day summer session
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 12 high school students
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students from Hawaiʻi and American Sāmoa entering grades 9–12
The Summer Marine Mammal Intensive Learning Experience (SMMILE) is a 10-day residential program at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology. You’ll live on Moku o Loʻe and explore marine mammal research through classroom learning and hands-on field training. You’ll learn about whale communication, stranded animals, drones, and other technologies used in marine research.
Who is it right for? Students from Hawaiʻi or American Sāmoa entering grades 9–12 who want hands-on experience exploring marine mammal research and conservation.
11. Research Experiences in Marine Science (REMS): Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology
Location: Moku o Lo’e (Coconut Island), Hawaii
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer session
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Cohort of 22 students
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Local Hawai’i high school students and classes, recent graduates, and early undergraduates
REMS gives you the opportunity to explore marine science at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology. You’ll build research skills and gain experience working in a marine science research environment. The program is intended for local students and recent graduates interested in marine-related STEM fields.
Who is it right for? If you are a local Hawaiian high school student looking for a dedicated summer cohort experience to conduct marine science research.
12. Shoals Marine Laboratory High School Program: Cornell University & UNH
Location: Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals, Maine/New Hampshire.
Cost: Course dependent; tuition, room and board, and a program fee apply
Program Dates: July 13–August 17, depending on the course
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not published, but courses fill swiftly
Application Deadline: Opens in early February
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 10, 11, or 12, and received the equivalent of a B- or above in two year-long high school science courses
At Shoals Marine Laboratory, you can take college-level summer courses designed for advanced high school students. You’ll live on Appledore Island and study topics such as marine environmental science, shark biology, and marine vertebrates through classroom, lab, and field activities. You can also earn Cornell University college credit for your coursework.
Who is it right for? If you want a residential, island-based field laboratory research experience co-hosted by two major universities.
13. Oceans 17: University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) MarineQuest
Location: UNCW Campus, Wilmington, North Carolina
Cost: $6,535, plus mandatory out-of-pocket costs for personal snorkel gear and required Master-level DAN insurance ($80–$100)
Program Dates: 3-week summer session
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Operates with a 1:8 staff-to-student ratio and a strict 1:4 scuba instructor-to-student ratio
Application Deadline: Two weeks prior to the start of the program
Eligibility: Ages 16–17 with an accredited Open Water Diver Certification, Master-level DAN insurance, and a cleared PADI Medical Statement
Oceans 17 is a residential MarineQuest program that combines marine science research training with scuba diving. You’ll work alongside UNCW marine science faculty, staff, and graduate students while learning about experimental design, data collection, research methods, and communicating scientific results. The program also includes Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification.
Who is it right for? Students ages 16–17 who already have Open Water Diver certification and want to combine marine science research training with advanced scuba diving.
14. MarineQuest Scientific Diver: University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
Location: UNCW Campus, Wilmington, North Carolina
Cost: $2,360 for Fish ID or $2,390 for Advanced.
Program Dates: Summer session
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 1:8 staff-to-student ratio and a 1:4 scuba ratio
Application Deadline: Two weeks prior to the start of the program
Eligibility: Ages 15–17 (must complete 9th grade) with an accredited Open Water Diver Certification and DAN insurance
MarineQuest Scientific Diver offers two specialized tracks for students who already have Open Water Diver certification. The Fish ID & Peak Performance Buoyancy track includes fish identification, buoyancy training, PADI specialty certifications, and a visit to the UNCW Ichthyology Lab. The Advanced & Naturalist track focuses on Advanced Open Water certification, underwater navigation, and underwater naturalist training.
Who is it right for? If you are a high school student with a basic SCUBA certification who wants to transition into underwater marine research and data collection.
15. VIMS Governor’s School: Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Location: Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) campus, with housing at Christopher Newport University, Virginia
Cost: Fully funded
Program Dates: July 5–July 25
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Highly selective cohort of up to 6 students
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High-achieving high school juniors and seniors in Virginia who demonstrate an aptitude for marine science
The VIMS Governor’s School is a three-week residential summer program for Virginia high school juniors and seniors. You’ll work with VIMS faculty sponsors on marine research projects, gaining experience with fieldwork, laboratory work, data collection, and analysis. You’ll also present your research findings to the VIMS community.
Who is it right for? If you are a high-achieving Virginia high school student who wants a highly individualized, state-funded apprenticeship in marine science research at a university.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the program. Some accept students throughout high school, while others have specific grade or age requirements. For example, Horizon Academic Research Program accepts high school students, while Keller BLOOM Program is for Maine high school juniors. VIMS Governor’s School is for Virginia high school juniors and seniors.
Yes, and whether it counts depends on what you do, not where you sit. Horizon Academic Research Program and Lumiere Research Scholar Program are online research options. You can work with a research mentor and develop an independent project without travelling to a marine research center.
There is a wide range. Keller BLOOM Program runs for one week, while SEA Expedition runs for two weeks. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program runs for eight weeks, including online and in person research.
Not for every program. Some programs are designed to introduce you to marine science, while others have specific requirements. For example, Acadia Institute of Oceanography expects students to have completed high school science, while Oceans 17 requires an Open Water Diver Certification.
You can learn field sampling, species identification, water quality testing, microscopy, data collection, data analysis, experimental design, and scientific communication. Programs such as UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program also give you experience with tools such as R and Python.
Yes. Keller BLOOM Program, SMMILE, and VIMS Governor’s School are fully funded options in this list. SEA Expedition also offers need based financial aid.
An online research program can be a good option. Horizon Academic Research Program and Lumiere Research Scholar Program let you work on research remotely. You can still develop a research question, work with a mentor, review scientific literature, and produce a research paper.
Several programs on this list include SCUBA. Oceans 17 includes Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification, while MarineQuest Scientific Diver is designed for students who already have Open Water Diver certification.
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If the programs above are too location-specific, expensive, or focused on fieldwork, Horizon offers another route: independent research with a professor or PhD mentor, fully online.
Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs are fully online and give you the chance to work on research that is actually yours. A professor or PhD mentor works with you throughout the program as you choose a topic, develop a research question, conduct your research, and produce a college level research paper. Programs run throughout the year, so you do not have to wait until summer to get started. Financial aid is also available for eligible students. Pick a question you care about, find the right research area, and go start your own project.
Image source: Sea Education Association