High school is often the best time to explore different STEM subjects before choosing a college major. Biology programs allow students to dive deeper into the study of living systems while gaining exposure to laboratory techniques and research methods.
Programs like these allow students to explore topics such as genetics, ecology, microbiology, or human health while learning how scientists approach research questions. Being around other students who share similar interests can also make the experience more engaging and collaborative.
Why should you choose a program in Georgia?
Georgia hosts a variety of biology-focused programs through universities, research institutes, and science education organizations. Many of these programs give students access to laboratories, field sites, and instructors who specialize in biological sciences.
Participating in a local program within Georgia can also make the experience easier to manage logistically. Staying closer to home often reduces travel costs while still allowing students to gain meaningful academic exposure. These experiences can also add depth to your college applications by demonstrating initiative and interest in science.
With that in mind, here are 15 biology programs for high school students in Georgia! If you’re not a Georgia student or are looking for light-on-the-wallet options due to circumstance, this blog should have you covered.
15 Biology Programs for High School Students in Georgia
1. Emory NextGen High School Internship Program
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: No cost, this is a paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – July 8
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; must be 16 years old by June.
Emory NextGen High School Internship Program places you in the Department of Human Genetics at Emory University School of Medicine for a summer internship focused on biomedical research. During the program, you rotate through laboratories where faculty and researchers introduce ongoing work in areas such as molecular pathology, metabolic nutrition, and clinical genetics. Daily activities often include observing clinical consultations, assisting with laboratory tasks, and learning how researchers handle biological samples and experimental data. The internship also includes lectures on human genetics and genomic medicine that explain how genetic discoveries translate into clinical treatments.
2. Winship Cancer Institute Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $2,400 stipend provided upon successful completion.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective, only 10–12 students chosen
Dates: June 8 – July 17
Application Deadline: Usually in the spring, keep an eye on the website for details for the next batch
Eligibility: Rising or graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 16+
Summer Scholars is a six-week intensive immersion at the Winship Cancer Institute, where you will conduct oncology-related research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Your project will involve laboratory-based investigations or clinical research focused on cancer biology, treatment, or prevention. Alongside the lab work, you’ll also get to go on field trips to locations such as the Michael C. Carlos Museum and the Emory Proton Therapy Center and interact directly with both cancer survivors and researchers. The curriculum includes a weekly seminar series where you will discuss cancer biology and learn about oncology career paths. At the end of the term, you will produce a formal research paper and present your findings at a final symposium.
3. Project ENGAGES at Georgia Institute of Technology
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Full academic year, including a summer bootcamp component (June 1 – 30) and after-school research during term
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors (16+) from select Atlanta high schools with a 3.0+ GPA in science courses.
Project ENGAGES at Georgia Tech runs as a year-long research program that begins with a summer laboratory boot camp and continues with after-school research during the academic year. In the summer phase, you train in laboratory methods used in biomedical and engineering research, including microscopy techniques, aseptic cell culture, and experimental design. Once the academic year begins, you return regularly to Georgia Tech laboratories where you contribute to ongoing research projects under the supervision of graduate mentors. Many projects explore biomedical engineering questions, such as cell manufacturing processes or medical device development.
4. UGA Young Scholars Internship Program
Location: Athens, Griffin, or Tifton, GA (UGA Campuses)
Cost: No cost; this is a paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – July 7 for the internship, July 8 – 10 for the research conference
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors aged at least 16 years old by June 1. Should have completed at least one high school science course, including laboratory, and one semester of algebra.
UGA Young Scholars Internship Program places you in a University of Georgia research laboratory for five weeks of full-time scientific work. Each participant joins a specific research group working in fields such as plant genetics, food microbiology, entomology, or environmental biology. Your responsibilities often include collecting field samples, operating laboratory instruments, and processing biological data generated during experiments. Faculty mentors guide you through the process of forming research hypotheses and interpreting results using statistical tools. The program concludes with a poster presentation at the Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference.
5. MSM S.T.E.A.M. Academy (Authentic Research Experience)
Location: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – July 10
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Rising 10th – 12th graders with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Morehouse School of Medicine’s STEAM Academy includes a six-week authentic research experience where you work in biomedical laboratories alongside faculty and graduate researchers. You will contribute to ongoing investigations in areas such as disease biology, public health, or medical technology. During the program, you practice laboratory techniques including microscopy, specimen preparation, and biological sample analysis while following strict laboratory safety procedures. Faculty discussions also examine how biomedical research connects to public health challenges and medical innovation.
6. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective, only 27 slots per session with over 700 applicants
Dates: June 23 – 27 and July 21 – 25 (tentative)
Application Deadline: Application info will be released on March 13, so keep an eye on the website for details
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors must be 16 years old by the start of camp
This five-day camp at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum teaches you the fundamentals of epidemiology and public health. While short, it’s a fast-paced and demanding program including lectures from CDC scientists on topics such as disease surveillance and environmental health. You will learn about topics such as public health interventions, infectious diseases, data analysis, emergency preparedness, scientific communication, laboratory technology, epidemiology, and public health law. By the end of the week, you will also have developed a comprehensive understanding of the diverse career paths available within the CDC.
7. GROW CELLS Summer Academy at Morehouse School of Medicine
Location: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, or virtual
Cost: No cost, students earn a $500/month stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – 19 for presentations and classes, July 7 – 18 for fieldwork, practice, and abstract review
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders from the Atlanta area
GROW CELLS Summer Academy at Morehouse School of Medicine focuses on cancer research and health equity through a combination of lectures, workshops, and field research activities. The first phase of the program introduces biological principles behind cancer development and treatment through online classes and discussions led by researchers from the Cancer Health Equity Institute. In the second phase, you participate in fieldwork and research tasks connected to oncology studies. You will analyze scientific literature, prepare research abstracts, and discuss current topics in cancer biology.
8. The Neuroscience School at Georgia State University
Location: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, or online
Cost: $275 to $350 per specific course selected
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30 students per session
Dates: Varies by course, all courses are one-week long with dates between early June and mid July
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders and graduating seniors. Must be 16+ if registering for an in-person course.
The Neuroscience School at Georgia State University offers week-long academic courses exploring the biology of the human nervous system. During the program, you study the structure of the brain, neural communication between cells, and how neurological diseases affect brain function. Laboratory sessions include dissections, behavioral experiments, and demonstrations of neuroimaging technology used in research settings. Faculty and graduate instructors explain how neuroscientists investigate questions about cognition, memory, and neurological disorders. Depending on the course selected, you may also work with experimental models such as fruit flies to study neurodegenerative disease.
9. Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP)
Location: Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Dates: June 14 – July 11
Application Deadline: November 11 for nomination by schools, January 9 for the online application to be filled by nominees
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors attending a Georgia public school district, independent school, state charter, or homeschooled.The
The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is a four-week residential academic program where participants focus intensely on a specialized subject area such as biotechnology or agricultural research. Biology participants attend daily lectures and laboratory sessions led by university faculty who introduce advanced topics in genetics, environmental science, and biological systems. Laboratory work may include experiments using scientific equipment housed in Georgia Southern University’s research facilities. Because the program removes students from the standard school curriculum, the schedule allows extended time for research discussion, collaborative experiments, and scientific presentations.
10. ARTEMIS Precollege Summer Institute at Albany State University
Location: Albany State University, Albany, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Tentatively June 1 – 14
Application Deadline: Register by May 10–19
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors
ARTEMIS Precollege Summer Institute at Albany State University is a two-week residential STEM program supported by NASA that includes biological research connected to space science. Workshops examine how living organisms respond to conditions such as microgravity or extreme environments that astronauts encounter during space missions. Laboratory sessions combine biology experiments with data analysis tools used in research settings. Participants also attend a week-long workshop on data science and artificial intelligence, where biological datasets are analyzed using computational methods. Field trips to major science institutions such as the U.S. Space and Rocket Center complement the academic sessions.
11. Emory Pipeline Collaborative (EPiC)
Location: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Three-year program stretching from Spring of 10th grade to Spring of 12th grade
Application Deadline: September 12
Eligibility: 10th-grade students from Carver, Douglass, Jackson, South Atlanta, or Washington High Schools who are eligible for the free/reduced lunch program with at least a 3.0 GPA, enrolled in at least one honors, AP, or IB course, or demonstrated potential.
Emory Pipeline Collaborative is a multi-year mentoring program designed to prepare high school participants for careers in medicine and biological sciences. Over three years, you attend after-school sessions where medical faculty and graduate mentors introduce topics such as reproductive health, neurology, and public health biology. Summer sessions include college preparation workshops and seminars focused on health careers and biomedical research pathways. Throughout the program, my mentors guide discussions about biological systems and how medical research translates into clinical practice.
12. Georgia Cancer Center Summer Research Experience
Location: Augusta University, Augusta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 3 – July 15
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+, with a priority given to students from Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken Counties.
The Georgia Cancer Center Summer Research Experience places you in a laboratory at Augusta University where you work with scientists studying cancer biology. Research projects may involve cell biology experiments, computational analysis of biological datasets, or studies examining population health patterns related to cancer. Mentors guide you through laboratory methods used to analyze gene expression, cellular processes, or treatment responses. Weekly seminars explain the biological mechanisms behind tumor development and the scientific approaches used to design new therapies.
13. Emory Pre-College Program: Concepts in Biology
Location: Online or Atlanta, GA
Cost: $6,485 for commuter, $6,493 online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 15+ and with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Emory Pre-College Program offers a university-level biology course where you study major topics such as genetics, evolution, and organismal physiology. The course follows the structure of an undergraduate class with lectures, assignments, and discussions led by Emory faculty. Coursework includes analyzing biological case studies, evaluating scientific literature, and applying biological reasoning to ecological and evolutionary questions. You will complete assignments that require interpreting experimental results and explaining biological processes in written form. Successful completion of the course results in an official Emory University transcript documenting the academic credit.
14. UGA Summer Academy: Zoology (Invertebrates/ Vertebrates)
Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Cost: $530
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open until full; small group sizes
Dates: June 8 – June 12 (Invertebrates) or July 6 – July 10 (Vertebrates)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until May 1
Eligibility: Students aged 12–15
The Zoology courses at UGA Summer Academy let you spend one week at the University of Georgia, immersing yourself in animal biology and conservation science. You will explore evidence of evolutionary relationships among organisms while practicing field observation techniques. The curriculum introduces you to specialized career pathways, including veterinary medicine, wildlife biology, and zoology. You will learn to utilize biological classification systems and laboratory instrumentation to study diverse animal kingdoms.
15. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Local placements available within a 45-minute distance from your home.
Cost: Fully funded, participants earn a $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer, exact dates are flexible and set by students and mentors
Application deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising and graduating high school seniors, ages 16 and up
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid internship where you work alongside a professional fisheries biologist studying aquatic ecosystems. Fieldwork may include sampling fish populations, tagging specimens, and recording environmental measurements in rivers or lakes. You will also assist with analyzing biological data collected during surveys and contribute to reports describing the health of aquatic habitats. Mentors explain how fisheries science supports conservation planning and resource management decisions. By participating in both field research and data analysis, you experience how aquatic biology studies translate into environmental policy and conservation practice.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in biology, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. 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: University of Georgia