13 Biology Programs for High School Students in Michigan
If you are interested in life sciences, especially in how different living organisms function, a biology program is worth exploring in high school. As a participant, you will get to interact with scientists, professors, biologists, researchers, and other industry experts who can share their knowledge and expose you to the different career options available in the field. Whether you are interested in pure biology or in interdisciplinary fields such as biomedicine, biotechnology, biophysics, or biochemistry, these programs can help you explore your interests and build a foundation for future STEM studies.
Why should you attend a program in Michigan?
Michigan is home to several reputable universities and research institutions that run structured biology programs for high schoolers. These programs give you access to lab-based, data-driven research or biomedical science projects, allowing you to contribute to real experiments and collaborate with biology majors and professionals. Participating in one of these programs can also help you explore different areas of biology and better understand what studying the subject in college might look like.
To make your search easier, we have put together 13 biology programs for high school students in Michigan.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship @ University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Stipend: $3,000 + housing and meals provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 – 10 interns/year
Dates: June 14 – July 24
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors enrolled in and attending a high school in Michigan who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or non-U.S. citizens with employment authorization documentation
The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship allows you to experience the daily routine of scientists for six weeks. During the program, you will collaborate with scientists at the University of Michigan and participate in ongoing research in life sciences. By doing so, you will find opportunities to hone your research skills and also understand what it is like to work within a scientific community. The program aims to increase your curiosity about science and introduce you to different STEM careers and to science communication through sessions supported by the U-M Museum of Natural History and talks led by researchers across various scientific fields. You will be staying on campus in this residential program, which can help you prepare for university life. At the end, you will present your work.
2. Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 10-week cohorts each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here
Eligibility: High school students who have prior experience with AI/coding or have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program
Veritas AI runs various virtual AI programs for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. The Deep Dive: AI + Medicine program introduces you to the applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare and medicine. Over the span of 25 hours, you will attend online sessions to learn about key concepts in medicine and AI. You will also get a chance to work on projects focused on the use of AI & ML models in medicine, for example, to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients.
3. MSU Science Festival: K-12 and Youth Programs
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, + other locations across Michigan (check events schedule for details)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by event
Dates: April 1 – 30; various events are held within the specified window.
Application deadline: Varies by event; some events may need pre-registration. You can check the festival’s event schedule for more details.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
MSU’s Science Festival is a month-long event where students can explore various disciplines across science, including microbiology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy. MSU invites a range of professionals, including scientists and educators, from across Michigan to share their expertise with you. You can choose from various events and programs and learn about scientific research through hands-on projects. You will also have the chance to discover the different ways science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics influence your daily lives and the careers you can pursue in these fields.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Biology Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as medicine, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
5. Biomedical Career Advancement Program @ Wayne State University
Location: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Stipend: Monetary awards available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 15 + Closing ceremony on August 18
Application deadline: April 7; applications open on February 1.
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders with a GPA of at least 2.75; priority is given to applicants who are Wayne County Residents, Detroit Public Schools Community District Students, and/or students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Biomedical Career Advancement Program is an opportunity to engage in biomedical research for six weeks and explore various career possibilities in research and healthcare. You will work closely with medical staff and researchers. Each week, the first four days will be dedicated to your independent research project under your mentor's supervision. On Fridays, you will undergo lab-safety training and clinical training to explore different lab procedures, as well as participate in networking events, professional development sessions, educational panels, and other beneficial activities. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your work.
6. Michigan Health Sciences Pre-College Exposure Academy (SPEA)
Location: Remote and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application deadline: February 6; applications open in November.
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum science GPA of 3.0
This program connects high schoolers with the healthcare professionals at the University of Michigan to explore areas within biomedicine, medicine, and healthcare. The program curriculum is aligned with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Core Competencies to equip you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the medical field. During this multiple-week hybrid program, you will prepare for SAT exams and participate in workshops focused on biomedicine. You will also receive mentorship from professors and college students throughout the program.
7. 4-H Exploration Days @ Michigan State University
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; some events happen off campus
Cost: $250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~1,000 participants/year
Dates: June 24 – 26
Application deadline: Registration is open from mid-March through April.
Eligibility: Students, ages 12 to 19
This pre-college program, organized by Michigan State University, offers a three-day opportunity to explore college life and curriculum. The university typically hosts more than 100 sessions, and you can choose and participate in two to three. You can choose events led by departments teaching biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, and related disciplines. At these events, you will participate in hands-on learning activities, and outside of class, you will live in a Michigan State University dorm and participate in social activities.
8. Eastern Michigan University’s High School Summer Science Program (HS3P)
Location: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 8 – 12 students/year
Dates: June 22 – July 13
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Local high school students who have completed at least one science class
Eastern Michigan University’s HS3P is an opportunity to work on real research alongside university faculty and undergraduates. The program places high school students in pairs and pairs each group with a faculty member and an undergraduate research student. As part of the team, you will conduct research in one of three major science subjects: biology, chemistry, or physics. In the process, you will learn how to conduct experiments, collect and interpret data, and follow the scientific research process. The program will also introduce you to research ethics and lab safety. The program concludes with a presentation of student-led research.
9. Multicultural Apprenticeship Program (MAP) @ Michigan State University
Location: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 31
Application deadline: March 13; applications open on December 22.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11
MAP is a four-week summer program that allows students to explore subjects like food science, forestry, animal science, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. Conducted by MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the program pairs you with a professor from CANR with whom you will work on a research project. In the process, you will learn what it is like to be a researcher in a laboratory and how to use advanced equipment. In addition to conducting research every day, you will also engage in educational activities such as field trips and leadership seminars. You will also experience life on a college campus while living in a dorm and engaging in on-campus events.
10. BioMed Focus @ University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan (Michigan Medicine), Ann Arbor, MI
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year; the most recent cohort had ~9 interns.
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders who live within a commutable distance from the Ann Arbor campus and can attend at least 35 days of the 40-day program; applicants from Ypsilanti Community High School, Lincoln High School, or Belleville High School are primarily accepted.
BioMed Focus is an eight-week internship designed to offer you experience in biomedical research through hands-on work in the University of Michigan Health/Michigan Medicine laboratories. As a participant, you will work closely with a mentor, who will guide you while you conduct independent research based on a hypothesis focused on biomedicine. You will write a paper discussing your research and present your findings at the end-of-the-program symposium. In addition to the research work, you will attend classes in science communication and college preparation.
11. Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS) @ University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $100 non-refundable application fee + $1,400 tuition + additional housing costs for residential students; limited and need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~50% applicants accepted/year
Dates: Session 1: June 21 – July 3 | Session 2: July 5 – 17 | Session 3: July 19 – 31
Application deadline: Applications open in mid-January and are accepted on a rolling basis until full
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders from all over the world
MMSS is a pre-college experience that allows you to explore the curricula offered at the University of Michigan and the developments and ongoing research in the sciences. You can choose one or more out of three two-week summer sessions and a course in a subject of interest. The program offers the opportunity to take college-level courses like Biophysics: From Physics through Biology to Medicine; Biology in the Real World; Dissecting Life: Human Anatomy and Physiology; and Neuroimaging: Seeing the Brain in Action. You will attend classes, work in college labs, and interact with university faculty and students. Outside of class, you will experience life on campus by commuting or living in dorms, attending activities, participating in pre-planned evening events, and taking optional weekend trips.
12. miRcore Computational Biology Research Camp
Location: Virtual or University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $875 (in-person) or $610 (virtual) + $75 application fee; partial scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 19 | Session 2: July 6 – 10 | Session 3: July 27 – 31
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
This online computational biology research camp focuses on the intersection of biology and computer science, specifically on genetics and personalized medicine. Over a week, you will learn how to work with R programming and various bioinformatics tools to analyze gene expression datasets related to diseases like Alzheimer’s or cancer. The curriculum moves from core genetic principles to complex data analysis. You will work in small groups to identify hub genes and propose diagnostic biomarkers. As a participant, you will be encouraged to continue your research throughout the school year through the miRcore Volunteer Program (MVP). The in-person camp also offers opportunities such as a wet-lab experimental day or a field trip for hands-on biology.
13. Michigan Tech High School Visit Program
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton County, MI
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; 170 students have attended the program so far.
Dates: Various one-day sessions across the Spring semester
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders
Offered by Michigan Tech’s Department of Biological Sciences, this one-day program gives you the opportunity to attend classes and network with the department's faculty and students. Lectures on anatomy and physiology are part of the experience. University students will guide you during lab activities. You will also gain insights into the different careers in the life sciences. This experience is designed to help you explore what it is like to be a biology major at the university.
Image source - University of Michigan