Top 18 Biology Summer Programs for High School Students

The top biology programs for high school students allow you to explore life and its systems—from genetics and DNA to ecological conservation. If you’re pretty new to the field, you can start by taking Johns Hopkins’ Fast-Paced High School Biology. Or, if you’ve already explored biology to an extent and are interested in a specific concept, you can pour your time into research at the Research Science Institute (RSI) or the Summer Science Program (SSP).

Experiences like these show colleges that you’re serious about biology to the point that you’ve spent time and effort outside the classroom to explore the field.

In this blog, we’ll break down some of the best biology summer programs available right now— what they cost, where they’re located, what their program dates are, and what you can experience as a participant.

• Research Science Institute (RSI)
• Simons Summer Research Program
• Summer Science Program (SSP)
• Stanford Institutes of Medicine Research Program (SIMR)
• Iowa Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
• Boston University Science and Engineering (RISE)
• UCSB Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
• UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)
• California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
• High School Research Academy at UT Austin
• Biotechnology Summer Camp at Stony Brook University
• UPenn Summer Research Academy – Biomedical Research and Neuroscience
• UC Davis Young Scholars Program
• Stanford University High School Summer College (HSSC) – Biological Sciences
• Fast-Paced High School Biology at JHU CTY
• NYC Residential Summer by Columbia
• Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) at University of Chicago
• Emory University Pre-College Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What are the Best Biology Summer Programs for High School Students?

Biology summer programs for high school students offer hands-on experience with experiments, research methods, and problem-solving in a university-level setting. You’ll also sit in lectures that explore biological concepts in more depth.

These programs strengthen your college applications, especially if you’re aiming for the best biology schools, like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. Admissions officers of these colleges will especially value applicants who’ve already succeeded in authentic lab environments, worked with research mentors, or produced posters and papers.

Below, you’ll find 18 standout biology programs—where they’re located, how long they run, and what each one offers—so you can directly compare them and find the best match for your scientific interests and goals.

Now, let’s discuss each program one by one.

1. Research Science Institute (RSI)

• Dates: June 28 – August 8, 2026
• Location: MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Cost: Completely free — tuition, housing, and meals covered

Research Science Institute is a fully funded, six-week research program where you explore scientific theory and research. The program is highly selective, accepting only about 100 students worldwide every year.

The program starts with one week of fast-paced STEM classes at MIT, then is followed by five weeks of independent research under a professional mentor. You’ll read current literature, design a research plan, run your experiments or simulations, and turn your work into a full research paper. During the final week, you present your findings in conference-style sessions.

To apply, you need to be a rising senior with a strong academic profile. Competitive applicants usually score around 740+ on PSAT Math and 700+ on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, or comparable ACT scores. You’ll submit essays, a transcript, standardized test scores, and up to three recommendation letters, ideally including one from a research supervisor if you’ve completed a multi-week project.

RSI is one of the hardest biology summer programs for high school students to get into and a strong fit if you’re aiming for Ivy League schools like Princeton, Harvard, or Yale, or other top universities across the country.

We laid out the full RSI experience; take a look for more details.

2. Simons Summer Research Program

• Dates: June 29 – August 7, 2026
• Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
• Cost: Free (plus a stipend at the end of the program)

The Simons Summer Research Program pairs you with a Stony Brook University faculty mentor to join their research group and take ownership of a project you’ll develop throughout the six weeks. The program is small and highly selective, with an admission rate of under 5%.

By the end of the program, you will have created a research abstract and designed a full poster for the closing symposium, which is also when you receive your stipend.

To apply, you must be a current junior who will attend the program the summer before senior year. You’ll also need a nomination from your high school, usually from a research coordinator, counselor, or science teacher. Each school may set its own internal process for selecting nominees, so you’ll want to reach out early.

You can read our complete breakdown of the SSRP here.

3. Summer Science Program (SSP)

• Dates: Late June–Early August (exact dates vary by campus and discipline)
• Location: Multiple host campuses at major research universities in the U.S.
• Cost: Free for families earning ≤ $75,000 plus $3,000 stipends

The Summer Science Program is five weeks of immersive, lab-intensive research at a top university. Each campus runs a different academic track, such as Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Synthetic Chemistry, or Bacterial Genomics, and your coursework lines up with the skills you’ll need in your research project. Eligibility is based on rising seniors, and admissions are selective, with around 600–700 spots across all sites.

Your days are spent doing experiments, data analysis, problem sets, and mentor sessions with instructors, graduate students, and scientists who guide your work. You also get workshops on college readiness, personal development, and research communication.

To apply, you’ll need strong preparation in the coursework specific to your chosen track (for example: physics + precalc for Astrophysics, or biology + algebra II for Cell Biology). SSP can be especially impactful if you’re aiming for Ivy League schools and highly selective colleges, since the research experience and mentorship help build a strong academic narrative.

4. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Research Program (SIMR)

• Dates: June 8 – July 30, 2026
• Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California
• Cost: $50 application fee (fee waivers available); program itself is free

Stanford Institutes of Medicine Research program is an eight-week deep dive into biomedical research where you can choose from eight research institutes, ranging from immunology to stem cell biology, and once accepted, you’re matched to a lab aligned with your interests. Students may also participate in the bioengineering bootcamp, which offers hands-on experience in the field but doesn’t involve lab research.

Your weeks are filled with experiments, data analysis, lab meetings, and direct mentorship from scientists, graduate students, and researchers. Along the way, you also attend enrichment sessions and learn how to present and communicate your work.

To apply, you must be a U.S.-based junior or senior (graduating in 2026 or 2027), at least 16 by the start of the program, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Acceptance is competitive.

Want the specifics on SIMR? We organized everything in one place.

5. Iowa Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)

• Dates: June 17 – July 24, 2026
• Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
• Cost: $7,500 (includes 3 undergraduate credits)

The Iowa Secondary Student Training Program is for advanced 10th- or 11th-graders. Over five and a half weeks, you work under a University of Iowa faculty mentor in fields ranging from Biomedical Engineering to Neuroscience, Chemical Engineering, Anthropology, and more. You’ll join a research group and prepare a full research poster by the end.

It’s a selective program, and the application heavily weighs your essays, transcript, recommendations, and how well your interests match available mentors. Because SSTP gives you three semester hours of college credit, you also get experience with the pace and expectations of undergraduate coursework.

To apply, you’ll complete two detailed essays, submit transcripts and test scores, and secure recommendation letters. This kind of faculty-mentored project helps strengthen your academic narrative and shows you’re ready for serious STEM work.

Check out our full overview of SSTP to get the complete picture.

6. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)

• Dates: June 28 – August 7, 2026
• Location: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
• Cost: $6,185 (commuter), $9,785 (residential)

Research in Science & Engineering at BU is a six-week research experience where you can apply to one of two tracks: the Internship, where you join a BU lab and focus on an independent project with mentorship from faculty, postdocs, and graduate students; or the Practicum, a more structured option in Computational Neurobiology or Data Science, where you work in guided groups.

Internship students spend most of their time in the lab running experiments, analyzing data, and participating in lab meetings, while Practicum students follow a curated curriculum designed to build advanced computational and analytical skills. RISE accepts both commuter and residential students, so you can choose the setup that works best.

To apply, you need to be a rising senior who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Admissions consider your transcript, course rigor, essays, optional test scores, and a recommendation letter.

We put together a simple breakdown of RISE; feel free to explore it.

7. UCSB Research Mentorship Program (RMP)

• Dates: June 15 – July 31, 2026
• Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
• Cost: $5,675 (commuter), $13,274 (residential)

The Research Mentorship Program is a program that lasts six and a half weeks. During that time, you’ll learn research methods, explore advanced topics, and attend GRIT talks led by UCSB researchers working on research projects.

Your research mentor (a faculty member, postdoc, or graduate researcher) guides you through data collection, analysis, literature review, and scientific communication. By the end, you’ve produced work that looks and feels like an authentic college-level research project.

To apply, you must be in 10th or 11th grade (exceptional 9th graders may be considered) and have a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA. If top-tier universities are on your radar, whether that’s Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or other highly selective campuses, RMP gives you a strong research portfolio that strengthens your story as an applicant.

We laid out the full RMP experience; take a look for more details.

8. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)

• Dates: June 15 – August 8, 2026 (1 week online + 7 weeks in person)
• Location: UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
• Cost: $4,250 (tuition); $7,350 (full-week residential); $5,250 (weekly commuter)

Science Internship Program is an eight-week research experience where you take on an open-ended project designed by a UCSC mentor working at the frontier of their field. The program spans one remote “research ramp-up” week followed by seven in-person weeks, ending with a hybrid presentation day where you share your findings with the entire group.

You’ll work closely with UCSC scientists, graduate students, and research teams across disciplines, ranging from astrophysics and computer science to social science, marine biology, engineering, and even digital arts. Along the way, SIP focuses intentionally on equity in STEAM fields through its CrEST initiative, which supports students from historically excluded backgrounds.

To apply, you must be 14–17 years old (some labs require you to be 16+), currently in high school, and available for the full eight weeks. Selection is based on genuine interest, analytical ability, and motivation to learn.

You can read our complete breakdown of SIP here.

9. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)

• Dates: Mid-July–Mid-August (varies slightly by UC campus)
• Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC San Diego, or UC Santa Cruz
• Cost: $5,518

COSMOS is a four-week, fully residential STEM program for students in grades 8–12. You apply to a single UC campus, and once admitted, you’re placed into a specific “cluster”—a themed STEM pathway where you work closely with researchers, graduate students, and faculty in state-of-the-art labs.

Campuses have different clusters, so keep that in mind when applying. For instance, UC Davis has Quantum Mechanics and Applications to Nanotechnology, while UC Irvine has Exploring the Application of Data Science in the Health Sciences.

Each campus admits only about 160–200 students.  A strong STEM background helps, and most admitted students have a GPA around 3.5 or higher.

Your four weeks include lectures, lab sessions, collaborative projects, and problem-solving activities that go far beyond typical high school coursework. COSMOS sometimes adapts its format during emergencies, but the program is designed to be fully in person and residential.

To  apply, you’ll submit essays, transcripts, and recommendations that show your academic strength and genuine interest in your chosen cluster. If you’re building toward applying to selective universities, including places like UCLA, UC Berkeley, MIT, or Ivy League campuses, COSMOS gives you a STEM experience that signals both curiosity and readiness for advanced work.

Want the specifics on COSMOS? We organized everything in one place.

10. High School Research Academy (HSRA) – UT Austin

• Dates: June 8 – July 15, 2026
• Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
• Cost: $4,000 (includes UT extension course credit – NSC309)

The High School Research Academy is a five-week, hands-on research experience where you work directly in a UT Austin College of Natural Sciences lab and explore  fields like biochemistry, neuroscience, genetics, ecology, environmental science, or data analytics. The program is non-residential, so you will have to commute daily.

Your weeks are structured around lab work, collaboration with UT undergrads and faculty, and Wednesday seminars led by guest speakers from across the university. You’ll earn UT extension course credit (NSC309), work on a project from start to finish, and present your findings at the HSRA Research Symposium.

To be eligible, you must be a Texas resident, at least 15 years old by June 1, 2026, and a rising sophomore, junior, or senior. If you see yourself applying to selective research universities, whether that’s UT Austin, Rice, Stanford, or Ivy League campuses, HSRA gives you meaningful research experience that strengthens your academic profile.

Want the specifics on HSRA? We organized everything in one place.

11. Biotechnology Summer Camp at Stony Brook University

• Dates: June 28 – July 3, 2026 (Session 1); July 5 – 10, 2026 (Session 2)
• Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
• Cost: varies by session (information is currently unavailable)

This one-week biotechnology camp is a hands-on introduction to the techniques scientists use in genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. You spend the week working with green fluorescent protein (GFP), the same protein that earned its developers the 2008 Nobel Prize. Your project centers on modifying the DNA sequence for GFP, transforming bacteria to produce it, and purifying the protein so you can analyze it in the lab.

Each day blends lectures with experiments where you’ll isolate DNA, run PCR, perform bacterial transformations, and use agarose gel electrophoresis to visualize results. You also try chromatography and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis to purify protein samples.

To apply, you must be a rising junior or senior, between 15 and 17 years old, and have completed Living Environment (or an equivalent biology course).

Check out our full overview of the Biotechnology Summer Camp to get the complete picture.

12. UPenn Summer Research Academy – Biomedical Research Program

• Dates: July 11 – August 1, 2026
• Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Cost: $9,100 – $23,056

The Biomedical Research Academy is a three-week, fully residential program where you explore the molecular, cellular, and genetic foundations of human disease with the intensity of an undergraduate biology course.

You’ll have daily lectures from Penn faculty, clinicians, and researchers covering topics like CRISPR, genome sequencing, vaccine development, and antibiotic resistance. In the wet lab, you’ll run PCR, transform bacteria, perform restriction digests, and analyze mock outbreaks in the same spaces Penn undergrads use.

In the computational lab, you’ll work with Python to analyze DNA, uncover patterns in genetic data, and see how bioinformatics powers modern research in cancer, infectious disease, and precision medicine.

To apply, you need at least one year of biology, a recommended year of chemistry, a minimum 3.5 GPA, and writing that shows strong analytical thinking. If you’re aiming for top-tier research universities like Harvard and Princeton, this kind of experience shows you’re ready for advanced STEM work.

We put together a simple breakdown of the Biomedical Research Program and other UPenn Summer Research academies. Feel free to explore it.

13. UC Davis Young Scholars Program (YSP)

• Dates: June 21 – August 1, 2026
• Location: University of California, Davis
• Cost: $7,500 (need-based reductions available up to 90%)

The UC Davis Young Scholars Program is a six-week, research-intensive residential experience where you work one-on-one with UC Davis faculty on an original project in the biological, environmental, agricultural, or natural sciences. You’ll design and run your own research project that you will present at the closing symposium. Only about 40 students are selected each year, making this program extremely competitive.

To apply, you’ll submit an online application, transcripts, and recommendations. Financial aid is generous, and families can receive substantial fee reductions based on need. If you’re aiming for highly selective research universities, YSP gives you a standout research project and college credit that helps strengthen your academic story.

We laid out the full YSP experience; take a look for more details.

14. Stanford University High School Summer College (HSSC) – Biological Sciences

• Dates: June 20 – August 16, 2026
• Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California
• Cost: $8,226 (commuter); $18,771 (residential)

Stanford’s High School Summer College is an 8-week academic program where you can take Stanford courses in subjects like cell biology, genetics, ecology, neuroscience, bioinformatics, and more. You will sit in classrooms with college students, complete problem sets and exams, and earn Stanford credit that appears on an official transcript.

You can design your own schedule: take a single biology course or build a full-time load with labs, lectures, and discussion sections. Many biology and life-science classes include wet-lab components, data analysis, and engagement with current research topics across Stanford’s scientific community.

To apply, you need strong grades, a solid academic record in STEM, and the maturity to handle an actual college course load. Earning high marks in Stanford courses can highlight both your readiness for advanced scientific study, especially if you’re applying to highly selective universities.

15. Fast-Paced High School Biology – Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)

• Dates: Multiple 3-week summer sessions
• Locations: Loyola Marymount University (CA) and Dickinson College (PA)
• Cost: $7,500 (residential); $6,700 (commuter)

CTY’s Fast-Paced High School Biology squeezes what you’d normally learn in a full school-year introductory biology course into just three weeks. You touch on biochemistry, genetics, cellular biology, respiration, reproduction, and systems-level processes across living organisms.

You’ll get at least 20 hours of lab work where you’ll be doing experiments, working with biological material, and running lab protocols. Class size remains small with about 18–20 people, making it really competitive. CTY accepts students roughly in the 7th–11th grade range for this course (though for younger students, they recommend a different introductory biology course).

16. NYC Residential Summer Program – Columbia University

• Dates: (Session A) June 29 – July 17, 2026 | (Session B) July 21 – August 7, 2026| (Session AB – 6 weeks): June 29 – August 7, 2026
• Location: Columbia University, Morningside Heights Campus, New York City
• Cost: $12,764 per 3-week session (fully residential)

Columbia’s NYC Residential Summer Program gives you a college immersion experience in Manhattan. If you’re 15 or older, you can live in the Morningside residence halls and spend your evenings exploring academic workshops, wellness programs, community events, and lectures taught by Columbia faculty.

You take one intensive course per session, anything from neuroscience to genetics, environmental science, biotechnology, psychology, or medical humanities, depending on the year’s offerings.

Eligibility is open to domestic and international students entering grades 9–12 (including current seniors). There’s no strict GPA cutoff, but Columbia looks for academically strong and motivated students who can thrive in a fast-paced environment.

You can read our complete breakdown of the rest of the NYC Residential Summer Program at Columbia here.

17. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) – University of Chicago

• Dates: June 15 – July 10, 2026
• Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• Cost: $14,490

Research in the Biological Sciences is a four-week, lab-heavy biology program that allows you to engage in molecular, microbiological, and cell-biology work. The first two weeks focus on core techniques—PCR, gel electrophoresis, microscopy, bacterial culture, cloning, and other fundamentals you’d see in a modern research lab. After that, you shift into an independent project where you apply these skills to questions in genetics, developmental biology, or cancer biology.

RIBS weaves in weekly writing assignments, primary literature discussions, lab-notebook work, and group presentations. You’ll also attend lunchtime faculty seminars and wrap up the program by presenting your project at a research forum.

To apply, you must have completed high school biology, with advanced biology strongly recommended. Students in 10th and 11th grade are eligible to enroll. If you’re aiming for competitive STEM programs, RIBS helps you build a strong foundation in experimental technique and scientific communication.

18. Emory University Pre-College Program – Biological Sciences Tracks

• Dates: Vary by course (most run June 28 – July 11, 2026 or July 12 – July 25, 2026)
• Location: Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
• Cost: Approximately $12,764 per 3-week residential session

The Emory Pre-College Program lets you take college-level courses taught by Emory instructors. If you’re interested in biology or health sciences, you can enroll in courses like Biological Foundations of Medicine or Biotechnology: Biology Remixed. You’ll also get written feedback at the end of the course and a Certificate of Completion.

Your days involve academics with student life: campus events, access to Emory facilities, community activities, and Eagle Excursions that take you to Atlanta landmarks like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, or an Atlanta Braves game. The small average class size (about 14 students) means you get plenty of direct interaction with your instructor.

To apply, you must be at least 15 by the session start date, currently in 10th or 11th grade, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Emory looks for students who are motivated and ready for college-level work.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best biology summer programs for high school students in 2025–2026?

Some of the best biology summer programs for 2025–2026 include RSI, SIMR, SSP, UChicago RIBS, UPenn’s Biomedical Research Academy, UC Davis Young Scholars, UCSB RMP, UC Santa Cruz SIP, BU RISE, and Stony Brook’s Biotechnology Summer Camp. These programs stand out for their hands-on research, advanced lab training, and strong faculty mentorship.

2. Are there free biology summer programs for high school students?

Yes. Several top programs are fully funded, including RSI, SIMR, the Simons Summer Research Program, and SSP for students with demonstrated financial need.

3. What subjects do biology summer programs usually cover?

Biology programs span areas like molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, bioengineering, and computational biology. Programs like RIBS and UPenn’s Biomedical Research Academy include both wet lab and computational components, while SIP and RMP offer a wide range of interdisciplinary biological research projects.

4. How can biology summer programs help with college admissions?

Biology summer programs help your college applications by proving you can handle STEM work and succeed in a research setting. Programs like SIMR, RMP, and YSP often lead to posters, papers, or presentations. Experiences like these stand out especially if you’re applying to Ivy League schools and other top universities like Stanford, MIT, and Johns Hopkins.

5. When should I apply for biology summer programs?

Most applications open in the fall and close between December and February (RSI, Simons, RISE, SIP, SIMR). Research-heavy programs often require recommendation letters, essays, and transcripts, so you should begin preparing materials by early fall to stay ahead.

Takeaways

• Biology summer programs let you step into the world of scientific research, running experiments, analyzing data, and using the same techniques biologists rely on in university labs. Finishing one of these programs demonstrates curiosity, discipline, and genuine interest in science, all qualities that stand out in college applications, especially if you’re aiming for competitive biology or pre-med tracks.
• Selective programs like RSI, SIMR, SSP, RIBS, UCSB RMP, and UC Davis YSP offer some of the strongest hands-on experiences in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, neuroscience, and biomedical research.
• Mentorship is a core part of these programs. You learn directly from professors, graduate students, and researchers who guide you through lab work, help you troubleshoot experiments, and show you what scientific discovery looks like behind the scenes.
• If you’re aiming for a future in biology, choosing the right summer program, ideally with expert admissions guidance, gives you the chance to develop hands-on research experience and step confidently into college-level science.