Biology programs for high school students are designed to move you beyond textbook diagrams and into how biological systems actually work. Instead of only learning concepts like cell signaling, genetics, or disease mechanisms in theory, you get exposure to how these ideas are tested, measured, and applied in real research and clinical contexts. Most biology programs combine core biological theory, hands-on or simulated lab work, and data interpretation, helping you understand how biology connects to medicine, biotechnology, public health, and environmental science. Depending on the program, you may work with tools like microscopy, molecular assays, bioinformatics platforms, or case-based biomedical analysis.
If you’re looking to go deeper into applied experiences, you can also explore related opportunities through our guides on 15 Biology Programs for High School Students and 12 Best Biology Summer Programs for High School Students, which focus more specifically on internships and research-driven pathways.
Why should you choose Chicago for a biology program?
Chicago offers a unique environment for studying biology because it is home to major research universities, academic medical centers, and public health institutions. As a student, you benefit from proximity to organizations where biology is actively applied, whether that’s cancer research labs, hospital-based translational research teams, or biomedical data science groups. Many Chicago-based biology programs emphasize real-world biological problems, such as disease modeling, health disparities, neuroscience, and molecular medicine, rather than purely abstract coursework. The city also supports a wide range of program formats, including in-person labs, hybrid research experiences, and high-quality remote programs, making it easier to find an option that matches your academic level and schedule. For students interested in long-term pathways in medicine, biotechnology, or biological research, Chicago provides early exposure to how biology functions within large-scale scientific and healthcare systems.
Below, you will find 15 programs that have been compiled to help you choose one that is best-suited to your needs.
15 Biology Programs for High School Students in Chicago
1. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) – University of Chicago Summer Session
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 15 – July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (until seats are filled)
Cost: $15,200. Need-based financial aid is available
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: 10th–11th grade high school students; prior high school biology required (advanced biology recommended)
You spend most of your day at the bench learning core molecular, microbiological, and cell biology techniques used in academic research labs. The program moves quickly from foundational lab skills into applied work across cell biology, genetics, developmental biology, and cancer biology, culminating in an independent research project. You maintain a formal lab notebook, analyze primary research papers, and practice scientific writing through weekly assignments. Group presentations and faculty-led seminars expose you to how experimental data is communicated in real research settings. By the end of the program, you present your findings at a structured research forum, mirroring undergraduate lab workflows.
2. Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology (SHE in Oncology) -UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
Stipend: $500
Program Dates: July 13 – 25
Application Deadline: March 2
Cost: Free
Location: UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (virtual program administered from Chicago, IL)
Eligibility: Full-time high school students residing in Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties (IL) or Lake County (IN); strong interest in biomedical research or medicine required
You work through a genetics-driven cancer research project alongside a structured patient case study to understand how molecular biology connects to oncology care. The curriculum emphasizes cancer genetics, disease mechanisms, and translational thinking, supported by daily faculty lectures and guided discussions. You develop research literacy by interpreting scientific concepts, collaborating across institutions, and applying genetic reasoning to real clinical scenarios. Skill-building workshops focus on academic pathways, scientific communication, and career navigation in biomedical fields. A take-home lab kit supports hands-on engagement despite the virtual format, reinforcing experimental thinking beyond lectures.
3. Chicago EYES on Cancer – UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
Stipend: $5,000 per year
Program Dates: June 15 – August 7 (summer research experience; two consecutive summers)
Application Deadline: December 1
Cost: Free (students cover housing and transportation)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (minimum age 16) residing in Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties (IL) or Lake County (IN); must commit to a two-year program
You work full-time in a cancer research laboratory for two summers, gaining hands-on exposure to basic, translational, clinical, or population-based cancer biology. Your lab work is paired with a structured cancer-focused lecture series and ongoing research mentorship, reinforcing how experimental biology translates into real-world disease questions. Across the academic year, you participate in skill-building workshops that emphasize scientific communication, research ethics, and career navigation in biomedicine. You learn to operate within a professional research environment, manage long-term projects, and interpret experimental results across multiple biological scales. The program culminates in a formal research symposium where you present your work, mirroring undergraduate-level research expectations.
4. ResearcHStart – UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
Stipend: $3,000
Program Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Cost: Free (students cover housing and transportation)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (multi-institutional program; Chicago site available)
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (minimum age 16) residing in Illinois or Lake County, IN; full-time commitment required
You work full-time in a cancer research laboratory, gaining hands-on exposure to areas such as cancer immunology, experimental therapeutics, bioengineering, and cancer disparities research. Your lab work is supported by a structured faculty lecture series that connects molecular and cellular biology concepts to real oncology problems. Career-development workshops emphasize research ethics, scientific communication, and pathway planning in biomedicine. You collaborate with mentors and peers across multiple Illinois research institutions, learning how large-scale biomedical research ecosystems function. The program concludes with a formal research symposium where you present your findings to scientists and community members.
5. Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program – Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Stipend: Students are paid a stipend
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31 (high school cohort)
Application Deadline: Early January (program currently closed to new applicants)
Cost: Free (students cover housing and transportation)
Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (age 16+); strong academic interest in biological sciences or medicine required
You work full-time in a basic or clinical research lab focused on lung biology, disease mechanisms, and translational science. Your research experience centers on experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of current biomedical literature, alongside direct mentorship from Northwestern faculty. In addition to bench work, you participate in structured activities around scientific reading, data discussions, and career pathway exploration in medicine and research. The program emphasizes professional research habits, including collaboration, presentation skills, and responsible conduct of research. You conclude the program by presenting your work at a formal research symposium, simulating undergraduate-level research expectations.
6. Biology and Its Modern Applications – University of Chicago Summer Session
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 7 – July 23
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (until seats are filled)
Cost: $9,300. Need-based financial aid is available
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
You study biology from both structural and functional perspectives, focusing on how cells organize, process energy, and maintain life at the molecular and genetic levels. The coursework emphasizes cell signaling, gene regulation, and evolutionary mechanisms, with labs and group projects reinforcing theoretical concepts. You explore how biological systems fail in disease contexts and how these failures inform medicine, drug discovery, bioengineering, and forensic science. Team-based learning and presentations build scientific communication skills alongside technical understanding. The program mirrors an undergraduate biology survey course, giving you early exposure to college-level biological reasoning.
7. Biotechnology for the 21st Century – University of Chicago Summer Session
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (until seats are filled)
Cost: $9,300. Need-based financial aid is available
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11; prior high school biology required (advanced biology recommended)
You work through the applied side of molecular biology and genetics, focusing on how core concepts translate into modern biotechnology. Lab sessions introduce techniques and domains, such as microbial and agricultural biotechnology, cloning, bioremediation, biofuels, DNA fingerprinting, and forensic analysis. Coursework emphasizes the use of experimental tools in medical biotechnology alongside discussions of bioethics and real-world constraints. Hands-on experiments reinforce laboratory reasoning and data interpretation rather than survey-level theory. The structure mirrors an undergraduate biotech primer, giving you early exposure to how biological research becomes deployable technology.
8. Biomolecules of Life – University of Chicago Summer Session
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (until seats are filled)
Cost: $9,300. Need-based financial aid is available
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11; prior chemistry recommended
You focus on the molecular foundations of life, studying proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids through a biochemical lens. Lab work introduces enzymatic assays, molecular modeling, and rational drug design, linking molecular structure to biological function and disease. You analyze how biomolecular interactions influence human health, metabolic pathways, and disorder mechanisms. A capstone group project applies these concepts to a specific disease or biological process, reinforcing experimental reasoning and data interpretation. The course mirrors an introductory undergraduate biochemistry experience with strong laboratory emphasis.
9. Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS) – University of Illinois Cancer Center
Stipend: $3,000
Program Dates: 8 weeks (summer)
Application Deadline: Typically early spring (exact date announced annually)
Cost: Free
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Underrepresented high school students with an interest in cancer research or health professions
You complete an independent research project in a UIC faculty lab, with placements spanning molecular biology, cancer genetics, biostatistics, computational research, and health disparities. Your work emphasizes experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication under close faculty mentorship. The program integrates workshops and lectures that build research literacy, ethics, and professional skills alongside lab work. You produce a formal research output and present your findings at the Cancer Center’s student research symposium. Lab matching is driven by your stated research interests, allowing exposure to both wet-lab and data-driven biology, depending on placement.
10. DSI Summer Lab (Biomedical & Computational Research Track)
Location: University of Chicago Data Science Institute, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid (amount varies by year)
Program Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January (typically; applications for the upcoming cycle are currently closed)
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students; no prior research experience required
This eight-week summer research program places you on an interdisciplinary research team working in areas that can include biomedical research, health data analysis, and computational biology. You work closely with faculty and graduate mentors to apply data science methods to real research questions, building skills in research design, data analysis, and scientific collaboration. Projects may intersect with biology through biomedical datasets, health outcomes research, or materials and life-science applications. The program emphasizes cohort-based learning, regular research check-ins, and a final presentation of your work. This option is best suited if you’re interested in biology through a computational or data-driven lens.
11. Illinois Tech Elevate College Prep – Summer Programs (Biology Pathways)
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June – July (varies by specific program track)
Application Deadline: Rolling, typically March – May
Cost: Paid; varies by program
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students (specific grade requirements vary by program)
If you choose a biology-aligned Elevate College Prep track, you use the summer to build foundational exposure to biological and human sciences within a broader STEM framework. Depending on the program, you may study topics related to human biology, biomedical science, sustainability, or applied scientific research, often alongside complementary fields such as engineering or data-driven analysis. Learning is typically project-based, with structured activities that emphasize scientific thinking, experimental design at an introductory level, and real-world applications of biology rather than advanced wet-lab work. You also gain early familiarity with college-style coursework, collaborative problem-solving, and interdisciplinary STEM workflows, which can support later specialization in biology or biomedical fields.
12. Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars – University of Chicago
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 12
Cost: $2,500. Need-based financial aid is available; fee waived for eligible students
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students (at least 15 years old)
The Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars program is a selective, short-term residential STEM enrichment program that introduces you to how biological and biomedical research fits within a broader interdisciplinary research ecosystem. Through the program, you engage with disciplines such as molecular engineering, biomedical research, and applied life sciences through faculty-led sessions and campus-based model classes. Site visits to major research institutions, including Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, provide you with exposure to large-scale research infrastructure supporting biological, medical, and bioengineering work. You also interact with UChicago faculty and researchers whose work spans biological systems, quantitative science, and translational research. This program is best suited for those of you seeking early exposure to elite research environments where biology intersects with engineering, data, and the physical sciences.
13. UChicago 3-Week Biology Immersion Programs – University of Chicago
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 15 – July 2 or July 7 – 23
Application Deadline: Priority February 11; Regular March 12
Cost: Paid program; More info here; need-based financial aid is available
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 (minimum age 14)
UChicago’s 3-Week Immersion Programs allow you to enroll in undergraduate-level biology and biomedical courses taught by university faculty on campus. If you choose a biology-focused track, you work through cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, or infectious disease concepts, often supported by structured lab activities, group research projects, and data-driven assignments. The coursework emphasizes biological mechanisms, experimental design, and real-world applications of biology in medicine and biotechnology, rather than providing a survey-level exposure. You earn graded academic credit equivalent to a full quarter course, making the program especially useful if you want to test whether college-level biology rigor aligns with your academic interests.
14. MedSTEM Explorers – Rush University Medical Center
Stipend: Paid (via After School Matters)
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 27; Apply here
Cost: Free
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors (minimum 2.5 GPA); Chicago residents (select Oak Park & River Forest ZIP codes eligible)
MedSTEM Explorers is a six-week paid summer pre-internship that introduces you to biology- and health-focused STEM pathways through applied coursework, research projects, and community-based health exploration. You study human health, disease prevention, and healthcare systems, while building core academic biology skills, including critical thinking, data interpretation, and scientific communication. The program blends classroom instruction with career-exploration workshops, professional panels, and a capstone project centered on real health issues affecting Chicago communities. You also earn industry-recognized credentials (such as CPR/First Aid), strengthening both your scientific and workplace readiness. MedSTEM Explorers serves as a direct feeder into Rush’s more advanced MedSTEM Pathways internship, making it a strong early option if you’re interested in medicine, public health, or applied biomedical careers.
15. Biotech Research – Boston Leadership Institute
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 29 – July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling (typically closes in late spring)
Cost: $1,200
Location: Remote (live via Zoom)
Eligibility: High school students (competitive admissions)
This remote biotechnology program focuses on core molecular biology and biomedical research techniques through structured, at-home lab work and guided research. You perform experiments such as bacterial transformation using plasmids, practice micropipetting for precise liquid handling, and analyze ELISA-based antibody detection in a simulated diagnostic context. The curriculum explicitly reinforces the central dogma of molecular biology (DNA → RNA → protein) while introducing applied concepts in genetic engineering, immunology, and translational biotech. You also complete an independent research project on a genetic disease, working with peer-reviewed literature and presenting your findings at the end of the program. While delivered remotely, the program emphasizes experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific communication skills aligned with early-stage biological and biomedical research training.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, immunology, ecology, and biotechnology, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This selective virtual research program enables you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choice. 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 – UChicago Medicine