If you want to explore biology in an academic setting without spending a ton on in-person programs, online research programs and internships for high school students are a good place to start. These programs allow you to study biology in depth and carry out guided research virtually.
Biology research, in high school, typically includes topics like genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, bioinformatics, and environmental science. You might learn how to ask research questions, analyze biological data, use lab simulations or coding tools like Python or R, and write research papers or abstracts for conferences or journals.
To help you begin, we’ve put together a list of 15 online biology research programs and internships for high school students!
15 Online Biology Research Opportunities (Programs + Internships) for High School Students
1. Horizon Academic Research Program – Biology Track
Horizon offers trimester-long online research programs for high school students in subjects like biology, data science, machine learning, psychology, political theory, chemistry, and neuroscience. You choose a subject, and whether you want to focus on quantitative or qualitative research.
In the Protein Biosynthesis track, you study how proteins work in living systems. You learn how proteins speed up chemical reactions, support photosynthesis, carry out electron transport, and affect antibiotic resistance and viral infections. The course also introduces tools used in biophysics to study protein structure and function.
After selecting your topic, you are matched with a professor or PhD student who mentors you throughout the trimester. You complete a university-level research paper of around 20 pages. You can submit this paper to academic journals or use it in college applications.
Cost/stipend: Unpaid
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.
Cost: $4,900
Eligibility: High school students (mostly 10th–11th graders) with a GPA of 3.67 or above. No formal prerequisites required for most biology tracks.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online research program where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to complete an independent research project. You choose your subject from areas like biology, medicine, psychology, physics, chemistry, engineering, economics, international relations, or computer science.
With guidance from your mentor, you develop a research question, learn how to review academic sources, collect or analyze data, and write a full research paper by the end of the program. You can use this paper for college applications or submit it to journals or competitions.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
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
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
3. Stanford SHTEM Internship – Stanford Compression Forum
Stanford’s SHTEM program is a remote summer research internship for high school juniors and seniors. You work in small groups on projects that combine STEM and humanities, with a focus on fields like biology, neuroscience, psychology, and linguistics. Biology-related projects often involve topics like brain science, sensory systems, and how information is processed.
You’ll use tools for data analysis and modeling, learn how to present research, and build technical writing skills. Each group is mentored by faculty or researchers, and you finish the program by creating a presentation or online report of your work.
Cost: $50 application fee; No participation fee
Dates: Not specified. Check details here.
Application Deadline: Not specified. Check details here.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (must be at least 14 by June 17); international students are eligible.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Track
JHIBS is a five-week online program where you learn the basics of neuroscience and biology research. You study how brain cells send signals, how scientists use brain scans, and how diseases affect the nervous system.
You join live lectures and workshops, where you practice reading biology papers, understanding how lab experiments are designed, and looking at real research data. You finish with a certificate you can include on your resume or college applications.
Cost: Free
Dates: 5 weeks during summer (exact dates not yet announced)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors across the U.S. must be available for the full duration of the virtual program
5. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
This is a two-week online program where you learn how AI is used in biology and medicine. It’s run by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging. You attend lectures on topics like medical imaging and disease detection, and you work in groups on real research projects.
You learn how to read patient data, build simple models, and understand how computers help doctors make decisions. Skills include basic coding, analyzing images, using data tools, and thinking about biology problems in new ways. It’s a good fit if you’re interested in biology, computer science, or math.
Cost: $850 program fee + $40 application fee (full fee waiver available for eligible students)
Dates: June 16–27
Application Deadline: February 28 (Financial aid deadline: February 21)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students entering grades 9–12 in Fall; must be age 14+ by program start and have a valid visa or residency status
6. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Biology Courses
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers two-week online courses where you focus on one advanced biology topic. You join daily live sessions, complete assignments, and take part in discussions with Stanford instructors and students from around the world.
Past biology courses have included genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology, and human physiology. You build skills like reading scientific texts, analyzing experiments, understanding biological systems, and explaining your ideas clearly. The program is modeled on college-level seminars.
Cost: $3,080 (plus up to $100 in course materials); financial aid available
Dates: Session One: June 16 – June 27; Session Two: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: Not specified. Typically opens in winter
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 8–11; international students are eligible
7. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Biomedical Engineering
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers a two-week online course on biomedical engineering. You study how biology and engineering come together to create medical technologies like artificial limbs, neural devices, and diagnostic tools. You learn about genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and AI in medicine.
The course includes hands-on work where you design and build a prototype prosthetic arm. You also complete a final project that solves a real biomedical problem. Classes are live daily, with assignments and office hours to help you learn key skills like designing experiments, applying biology concepts, and presenting your research.
Cost: $3,080 (plus up to $100 for materials); financial aid available
Dates: Session One: June 16 – June 27; Session Two: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: Not specified. Typically opens in winter
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9–11; must have completed a high school biology course
8. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Equity in Medicine
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers a two-week online course on medicine and health equity. You learn how social factors and underrepresentation affect healthcare outcomes. You work with Stanford faculty involved in diversity and inclusion efforts.
You analyze research, explore healthcare systems, and discuss ways to promote fairness in medicine. The course helps you build skills in critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and public health advocacy.
Cost: $3,080 (plus up to $100 for materials); financial aid available
Dates: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: Not specified. Typically opens in winter
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9–11; must have completed a high school biology course
9. UC San Diego Research Scholars – Bioengineering (Online Track)
UC San Diego Research Scholars offers an online bioengineering program with multiple levels. You start with BE-BOAT, learning bioengineering basics through wet-lab simulations using kits and remote instruction.
If selected for BE-ROW or BE-SHIP, you join virtual research teams or work independently. You create project proposals, conduct research, and prepare reports like science fair abstracts or manuscripts. You develop skills in molecular biology, biostatistics, and data analysis.
Cost: Approx. $1,200–$2,000 per course
Dates: Summer (live sessions on weekdays/weekends; access to recordings for flexibility)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application encouraged due to limited seats. Applications are currently open for Summer.
Eligibility: High school students (no grade specified, but prior honors science coursework recommended); open to U.S. and international applicants able to participate virtually. Acceptance into BE-ROW or BE-SHIP may require successful completion of BE-BOAT.
10. UC San Diego Research Scholars – Introduction to Bioinformatics (Online Track)
UC San Diego Research Scholars offers an online bioinformatics course. You learn core computational skills used in molecular biology and genomics research. You use R to perform tasks like sequence alignment, RNA-seq analysis, clustering, and PCA. The course covers statistics and tools like NCBI, UCSC Genome Browser, and STRING. The final project is an independent presentation on a research topic you choose.
Cost: $2,000
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended due to limited seats.
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 10–12. Must have completed AP Biology and Pre-Calculus. Statistics is recommended but not required.
11. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Investigations in Genetics
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers an advanced online course on genetics. You explore how genes affect health, disease, and the microbiome through research-style investigations.
You learn about mutations, gene regulation, and genetic tools used in biology labs. The course covers genetics in evolution and biotechnology. You practice designing experiments and analyzing data with scientific methods.
Cost: $3,080 (plus up to $100 in materials); financial aid available
Dates: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: Typically opens in winter
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 10–11 who have completed a high school biology course
12. EnergyMag Virtual Internship
EnergyMag Virtual Internship gives high school students a chance to research renewable energy, focusing on energy storage technologies related to biology, like bioenergy and microbial fuel cells. You pick a specific topic, research it, contact experts for interviews, and write a professional analysis for publication.
The program helps you build skills in data analysis, scientific writing, interpreting biological data, and professional communication. You work with a mentor throughout. After finishing, you get a Letter of Accomplishment.
Cost: Free
Dates: Half-time internships run 2–8 weeks in summer at about 20 hours per week; quarter-time internships run 1–9 months year-round at about 8 hours per week.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; applications are accepted throughout the year
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least one honors-level science or English course and a GPA of 3.25+
13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Topics in Biochemistry
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers a two-week online course on biochemistry. You study proteins, nucleic acids, and how biochemical processes cause diseases. You learn about CRISPR, antibiotic resistance, and mRNA vaccines.
The course includes live classes, group work, and a final project where you apply biochemical concepts to real medical problems. This course suits students interested in pre-med or life sciences.
Cost: $3,080 (plus up to $100 in materials); financial aid available
Dates: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: Not specified. Typically opens in winter
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9–11 who have completed a high school biology course
14. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Topics in Bioscience
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers an online course on bioscience focused on global health. You study how viruses work, evolve, and how vaccines like mRNA are developed, using COVID-19 as a case example.
You learn key biomedical research skills, including clinical study methods, epidemiological modeling, and data analysis with computational tools. The course has lectures, group work, and a final project. It suits students interested in medicine, biology, or public health.
Cost: $3,080 (plus up to $100 for materials); financial aid available
Dates: Session One: June 16 – June 27; Session Two: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: Typically opens in winter
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 8–11
15. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
SPARK SMP connects high school students in the U.S. with mentors from academia, industry, and research labs for virtual summer research projects. You work alone or in a small group with a mentor on a specific research or engineering task. Some projects involve biological data like genomic sequences, medical imaging, or epidemiological models.
You’ll develop skills in data analysis, coding, scientific writing, and research methods. You produce deliverables such as code, presentations, or research drafts. Many students submit their work to competitions like ISEF or publish in journals.
Cost: A program fee applies. Exact amount not publicly disclosed. Need-based scholarships are offered.
Dates: Project timelines vary by mentor but typically run from late May through August. Most projects span 6–8 weeks and are conducted virtually.
Application Deadline: Applications open in April and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Final selections are usually made by mid-June.
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in grades 9–12. Students must be current U.S. residents and either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students on H4/EAD/F1 visas are not eligible.
Image source – SPARK SMP
