15 Biology Programs for High School Students in Boston
If you are a high school student interested in biology, participating in a structured program can be one of the most effective ways to explore the field in depth. Biology programs often combine classroom learning with lab work and mentorship from faculty, graduate students, and research professionals, allowing you to build practical skills while gaining exposure to real scientific inquiry. As a participant, you may learn how to design experiments, analyze data, read and write research papers, and present your findings, all while developing a deeper understanding of how biological research is conducted.
Why should you attend a program in Boston?
Boston is home to a dense network of universities, hospitals, and research institutions, creating an exceptional environment for students interested in biology and the life sciences. With opportunities spanning molecular biology, biomedical research, neuroscience, genetics, public health, and biotechnology, you can explore a wide range of specializations while benefiting from strong mentorship and advanced research resources. This ecosystem makes it easier to pursue your interests and begin building an academic and professional foundation in the life sciences.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 biology programs for high school students in Boston.
If you are looking for summer programs in Boston, check out our blog here.
1. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 1 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Applicants 16+ years old by program start and reside in certain Massachusetts communities (e.g., Boston metro area including Medford, Cambridge, Arlington, Everett, and nearby towns)
The TUBERS program at Tufts University gives you the chance to spend about six weeks working inside a real biomedical research lab, where engineering and biology come together. You’ll collaborate with graduate students and faculty as you explore research questions related to cells, tissues, and organs. Depending on your placement, you may work with techniques such as microscopy, biomaterials testing, or computational models used in biological research. Throughout the program, you’ll practice the full scientific process, from forming hypotheses to analyzing results, and conclude the summer by presenting your findings. You may even get a chance to submit your work to science competitions.
2. Veritas AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply here.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students
The Veritas AI + Medicine Deep Dive is a 10-week program that explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping modern healthcare and biomedical research. Through guided projects and programming exercises, you will work with machine learning models used in disease diagnosis, medical imaging, and clinical decision-making. The curriculum introduces applications of AI across fields such as genomics, neuroscience, drug discovery, and hospital systems, helping you understand how biology and technology intersect in today’s medical landscape. Throughout the course, you will learn from AI professionals while building practical skills in data analysis and healthcare innovation.
3. Harvard Medical School’s Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: High school students from Boston or Cambridge with a minimum 2.70 GPA, and at least 16 years of age by program start
Project Success is a seven-week paid research internship for high school students from Boston and Cambridge, with a strong focus on supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds in science. You’ll work in a Harvard-affiliated biomedical lab on projects related to disease, treatment, and human health while learning core laboratory techniques and scientific ethics. Alongside hands-on research, you’ll take part in seminars on public health, science communication, and career development, and visit biotech companies and hospitals across the Boston area.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program Biology Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research experience designed specifically for high school students. You work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to design and complete an independent research project over 12 weeks. Students can choose research topics across a wide range of fields, including biology-related areas such as chemistry, data science, psychology, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering, as well as disciplines like economics, computer science, and international relations. By the end of the program, you will produce a full academic research paper, gaining valuable experience in scientific writing, data analysis, and research methodology.
5. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $3,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending school in Massachusetts within commuting distance of the Broad, must have a B or better in science and math
The Broad Summer Scholars Program is a fully funded six-week research experience where you work alongside scientists at the Broad Institute on projects in fields such as cancer biology, infectious disease, genetics, and computational biology. Rather than simply observing, you actively contribute to ongoing lab research and present your findings through a formal scientific poster at the program’s conclusion. In addition to research training, the program includes academic mentoring, wet lab instruction, college and career panels, and opportunities to build strong connections within a community of aspiring scientists.
6. Spring Lecture Series for High School Students
Location: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: April 21 – 23
Application Deadline: Registration will open online in mid-March
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 who are 14 years or older
The Spring Lecture Series at the Whitehead Institute gives high school students in the Boston area a chance to explore advanced topics in biomedical science through direct exposure to real research environments. Each day blends laboratory modules, small-group discussions, and lectures from leading scientists. Past program themes have included areas such as precision medicine, the human microbiome, and cancer biology. You’ll engage in hands-on activities and scientific conversations that go well beyond standard high school coursework. The program is free to attend, making it especially accessible for students in the Greater Boston area.
7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various locations throughout the U.S
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer; dates are flexible
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent graduates who are at least 16 years old and reside in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, or Canada
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid summer internship for high school students interested in aquatic biology and fisheries science. As a Hutton Scholar, you’ll work under the mentorship of fisheries professionals while participating in real conservation and research efforts related to aquatic habitat protection, restoration, and management. Over eight weeks, you’ll gain field experience through activities such as fish population surveys, specimen analysis, electrofishing, and data processing. The program also includes an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit, where students explore college preparation and career pathways within fisheries biology and aquatic sciences.
8. Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: $75 application fee (need-based financial aid available)]
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students per cohort
Dates: 6 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Early to mid-December
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (U.S. and international); applicants must meet RSI’s academic prerequisites
The Research Science Institute is a highly competitive six-week research program where many students pursue advanced projects in biology, chemistry, and related life sciences. After an initial week of seminars, you’ll spend five weeks working closely with scientists on original research, which may include reading current biology literature, designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing formal scientific presentations. The program ends with a professional-style symposium where you present your research, offering a glimpse into life as a working scientist in Boston’s research ecosystem.
9. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Mid-June – August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are rising high school juniors (11th grade) at the time of application
MITES Summer is a six-week residential program at MIT for high school juniors interested in advanced STEM learning, including biological sciences. While the program covers multiple disciplines, students interested in biology can explore electives such as genomics and biotechnology alongside core coursework in science and math. You’ll also participate in workshops on college readiness and career exploration, tour research labs, and connect with MIT faculty and peers, making this a strong foundation for students interested in future studies in biology or medicine.
10. LEAH Knox Scholars Program
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) labs plus research placements across Boston, Cambridge, and Everett, MA
Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: ~5-week lab program (July–August); Second summer: ~6-week research internship (starts late June)
Application Deadline: Typically January–March each year
Eligibility: Boston area public school students in grades 10–12 who are at least 16 years old by program start
The LEAH Knox Scholars Program is a two-summer, paid pathway into biological and biomedical research for students interested in long-term scientific development. During the first summer, you’ll complete a five-week laboratory course at MIT focused on essential lab techniques and scientific skills. In your second summer, you’ll work for six weeks in a university or industry research lab in Boston or Cambridge, gaining hands-on experience in real biology research. Throughout the year, you’ll continue building your scientific background through paid teaching internships, one-on-one mentoring, lab tours, and college-prep workshops.
11. Boston Medical Center’s Junior Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70 students
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: Application window closes when 100 applications are received or by April 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Junior Summer Volunteer Program at Boston Medical Center offers an eight-week introduction to healthcare and medicine. The program provides valuable exposure to biology in action by allowing you to observe patient care, hospital systems, and medical professionals at work. You’ll support hospital operations through weekly volunteer shifts and attend lectures from physicians, surgeons, nurses, and healthcare specialists who discuss medical science, patient care, and healthcare careers. The program concludes with a certificate of completion and community service credit.
12. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (completed junior year) who are Massachusetts residents within commuting distance, U.S. citizens, or permanent residents
Northeastern’s Young Scholars Program is a six-week summer research experience for rising high school seniors from the Boston area. While the program spans multiple STEM fields, many students pursue projects in life sciences and health-related research, including cancer research and data-driven biological analysis. You’ll work in university laboratories under the guidance of faculty and graduate mentors, gaining experience with research design, data analysis, and scientific problem-solving. Weekly seminars focus on science communication, college preparation, and career pathways in STEM, and the program concludes with a formal poster presentation where you present your work to the Northeastern research community.
13. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or recent high school graduates attending or living in Massachusetts
Mass General’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is a six-to-eight-week paid internship that immerses you in neuroscience and clinical research. The experience begins with an intensive training period covering laboratory protocols, research skills, and workplace expectations, followed by placement in a neurology research lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. You’ll contribute to ongoing neuroscience projects while attending weekly seminars with clinicians and scientists exploring brain health and neurological disease. The program concludes with a research presentation, offering strong preparation for students interested in biology, neuroscience, and medicine.
14. MGB Junior Laboratory Ambassadors (JLAb)
Location: Mass General Brigham facilities, Greater Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None; meals covered through daily vouchers
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 4-day sessions during school breaks and summer: February 17 – 20, April 21 – 24, July 21 – 24, August 4 – 7
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old, have completed 10th grade, and have passed coursework such as biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy & physiology, or medical terminology
The JLAb program introduces high school students to pathology and laboratory medicine at Mass General Brigham, highlighting how biological science supports disease diagnosis and patient care. Offered during school breaks and summer sessions, the four-day program places you in clinical laboratory environments where you work with pathologists and laboratory professionals. You’ll explore medical diagnostics, observe laboratory techniques, and learn how biology informs treatment decisions. JLAb also provides guidance on academic and career pathways within biomedical and laboratory sciences.
15. Harvard Summer School – Integrated Biology Laboratory
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $3,850 tuition (4 credits)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students
Dates: July 14 – August 7
Application Deadline: June 17
Eligibility: Admitted Secondary School Program students by petition; prerequisites include BIOS S-1a and BIOS S-1b (or equivalents)
This four-week laboratory program offers an intensive exploration of human biology through anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and genetics. Using a case-based approach, you’ll gain experience with advanced laboratory techniques, including tissue microscopy, microbial analysis, genetic sequencing, biochemical testing, and anatomical dissection. The structure and rigor mirror university-level premedical coursework, making it a strong preparatory experience for students planning future studies in biology, medicine, or health sciences.
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