12 Biology Programs for High School Students in Chicago
Structured programs in biology can be a really strong option if you are a high school student who wants to understand how this science actually works beyond textbooks. These programs often provide lab experience, opportunities to work with researchers or professionals, and early insight into careers such as medicine, biotechnology, public health, and research. You will also get exposure to how research teams work, how data is analyzed, and how scientific ideas turn into solutions.
Why should you attend a program in Chicago?
Chicago is home to universities, medical centers, and research institutes that give you access to advanced biology learning environments across the city. You might contribute to ongoing lab research in areas like cancer biology or computational genomics, analyze biological datasets using coding tools, complete independent projects, or present your findings at a final symposium. Whether you live in Chicago or are traveling from another city, these programs offer meaningful academic opportunities in a major research hub.
To help you sort through your options, we’ve narrowed things down to 12 biology programs for high school students in Chicago.
If you’re looking for programs in Chicago, check out our blog here.
1. Chicago EYES on Cancer
Location: University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5,000/year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students/year
Dates: June 15 – August 7; commitment of two consecutive summers + academic-year workshops
Application deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are residents of Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties (IL) or Lake County (IN) as well as college freshmen or sophomores who are at least 16 years old by June 15; applicants must able to commit to a two-year program with two consecutive eight-week summer research sessions and academic-year enrichment.
Chicago EYES on Cancer is a two-year cancer research program that combines summer lab work with year-round academic and career development. You will work in the University of Chicago labs focused on basic, translational, clinical, or population-based cancer research. During the academic year, you will attend monthly workshops that can help you continue building research and professional skills. The program includes lectures, mentorship, and an end-of-summer research symposium where you will showcase your research 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 throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling; you can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students with AI/ML experience or prior completion of the Veritas AI Scholars program
Veritas AI runs a variety of fully virtual programs focused on hands-on AI exploration. The Deep Dive: AI + Medicine is designed to introduce high school students to how artificial intelligence is used in healthcare and medicine over 25 hours. As a participant, you will work on machine learning models for medical imaging and diagnostics. The curriculum also covers neural networks and basic clinical evaluation. You will work on projects focused on the intersection of AI and medicine.
3. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Placements across 50 U.S. states, along with Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, with sites available within a 45-minute commute of your home
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; dates determined by students and mentors on a one-on-one basis
Application deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising and current high school seniors, ages 16 and up
Hutton Juniors Fisheries Biology Program is an in-person eight-week summer internship that places you in a real fisheries or aquatic science setting near you. You will be matched with a professional mentor in fisheries biology or a related field and will engage in various tasks related to aquatic habitat management, protection, and restoration. The program emphasizes exposure to aquatic ecosystems, conservation challenges, and environmental decision-making. You will gain an understanding of how fisheries science connects biology, ecology, and sustainability. The program also offers insights into the life of a fisheries biologist and exposure to other career paths in the animal and aquatic sciences.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Biology Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance
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 psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program (KQSRP) @ Northwestern University
Location: Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31 (university interns) | June 22 – July 31 (high school interns)
Application deadline: January 6 (for students applying for the second year) | Rolling applications for regular participants
Eligibility: Current high school juniors, ages 16 and up, and undergraduate students
This research-focused biomedical program allows students to work directly in a Northwestern lab on lung disease–related research. You will be matched with a faculty mentor and spend six to eight weeks contributing to a real research project, rather than following pre-designed lab exercises. Mentorship is a central part of the experience, with guidance from faculty, graduate students, and peers accessible throughout the program. You will also have access to college application guidance and career development opportunities. The program ends with a presentation at the Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium.
6. UChicago’s Career Insight: Healthcare and Biological Sciences
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $5,890 (residential) | 4,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 25
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students
This course, a part of UChicago’s residential program, is designed to help you explore careers in healthcare, medicine, and biological research through academic and professional exposure. In the mornings, UChicago faculty will introduce key concepts in the biological sciences through lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities. In the afternoons, you will connect with healthcare professionals through presentations, informational interviews, and career treks around the city. Career Advancement staff will help you learn about possible academic and career pathways. During the program, you will also complete a small-group final project along with reflection essays.
7. Summer at UChicago: Mathematical and Computational Research in Biological Sciences
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300 (residential) | $6,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 23
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students who have completed one year of any high school science course and have some programming experience
This UChicago course introduces you to computational biology by combining biology, math, and coding in a hands-on research setting. You will explore how large biological datasets, such as genomic data, are analyzed using mathematical and computational tools. The program also teaches you how DNA, RNA, and proteins function and how their behavior can be visualized and quantified. Additionally, you will learn introductory coding skills for biological data analysis and apply them using high-performance computing resources at the University of Chicago Research Computing Center. Literature searches and scientific poster preparation are built into the curriculum. This course is relevant if you are interested in data-driven biology or interdisciplinary research.
8. Explorations in Neuroscience: Neurons, Behavior, and Beyond @ UChicago
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300 (residential) | $6,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students who have completed at least one year of high school biology
This UChicago course introduces you to neuroscience by examining how brain structure and function shape behavior and neurological conditions. You will explore how electrochemical signals and neural circuits give rise to processes like movement, language, memory, emotion, sleep, and learning. The program uses inquiry-driven investigations, including close analysis of primary scientific data. You will also be introduced to experimental methods used in neuroscience research, including molecular sequence analysis, fluorescence microscopy, and behavioral assays. Additionally, the course compares nervous systems across species, helping you understand how the human brain evolved.
9. Biotechnology for the 21st Century
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300 (residential) | $6,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students who have taken high school biology
This UChicago course introduces high schoolers to the field of biotechnology through a mix of lectures and labs. As a participant, you will spend three weeks studying molecular biology and genetics, along with applied areas such as DNA fingerprinting and biofuels. The curriculum also includes lab activities designed to reinforce the methods taught in lectures. The program discusses biotechnology’s role in medicine and environmental science, as well as key breakthroughs and topics such as bioremediation, medical biotechnology, and agricultural biotechnology.
10. Biomolecules of Life
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300 (residential) | $6,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students with some familiarity with chemical bonding and acid-base reactions; completion of one year of high school chemistry is recommended.
This three-week course introduces high school students to proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids at the molecular level in UChicago classrooms. As a participant, you will learn how biomolecule structure affects biological function and disease. The program emphasizes lab work and experience with techniques such as enzymatic assays. You will also design and present scientific posters during the program, gaining exposure to the overlap between applied chemistry and biology.
11. Summer at UChicago’s Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $15,200; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 10
Application deadline: February 11
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th grade students; high school biology required
This UChicago course is part of a four-week practicum designed to immerse you in a real laboratory environment and offer exposure to biological research techniques. The program begins with training in molecular, microbiological, and cell biology methods, then transitions to independent project work. Most of your time will be spent in the lab, and the rest will be dedicated to lectures designed to support experimental understanding. You will maintain a detailed lab notebook, complete weekly writing assignments, and analyze original research papers. Faculty seminars and group presentations will help you develop both communication and technical skills. The program ends with a research forum where you present your project findings.
12. UChicago’s Introduction to Biological Psychology Course
Location: Remote
Cost: $4,980; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 11th and 12th grade students and undergraduates; prior biology coursework is strongly recommended.
This remote UChicago course is designed to introduce you to biological psychology and neuroscience, with a focus on how biology shapes behavior. The course is designed primarily for undergraduates, but a limited number of advanced high school students are admitted. You will study the biological processes underlying human and animal behavior, gaining exposure to the connection between brain function and psychology. You will learn how neuroscience concepts are applied in real research contexts. Instruction is lecture-based and academically rigorous, reflecting elements of the UChicago core psychology curriculum.