14 Biology Programs for High School Students in Illinois
If you’re a high school student interested in biology, structured programs are one of the best ways to dive in and see what the field is really like. These biology programs give you the chance to practice lab skills, explore topics like genetics or ecology, and even work with real data under the guidance of experts and researchers. On top of that, you’ll get to meet professors, researchers, and other students who share your interests.
In Illinois, top institutions like the University of Chicago and Illinois State University offer exciting programs in biology and related fields. The programs cover a variety of topics and can let you conduct research, develop lab experience, or learn more about your interests. Whether you live in the state or want to travel to Illinois and explore the opportunities present, you can benefit from the resources offered by the state and have a better understanding of opportunities in the field.
To help with your search, we have identified 14 biology programs for high school students in Illinois.
1. Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program
Location: Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; paid stipend
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors, at least 16 years old
Northwestern University hosts the Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program (KQSRP), a six-to-eight-week spring or summer research experience. This program focuses on biomedical sciences, specifically lung disease, and involves participants working on a substantive research project in the lab of their Northwestern faculty mentor. A hallmark of the KQSRP is that it places a premium on mentorship, as KQSRP fellows receive training and mentorship from faculty, graduate students, and peers, providing a dual-track approach to increase their scientific knowledge and communication abilities.
2. Veritas AI's AI+Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: January (Spring), May (Summer), September (Fall) and November (Winter). You can apply here.
Eligibility: For high school students having prior experience with AI/ML or those completing a Veritas AI program
Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive is a virtual program designed to explore how AI is transforming healthcare. You'll work on real-world, impactful projects by using machine learning models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and interpret outcomes to assist doctors and patients. The curriculum covers key topics like convolutional neural networks, image segmentation, and the fundamentals of clinical evaluation, all while providing you with the experience of a medical data science project pipeline. The program was founded and run by Harvard graduate students, providing you with a unique opportunity to build a tangible project for your portfolio.
3. Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; paid stipend
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students, at least 16 years old by May 1; residents of Rockford and nearby communities
The Summer Science Internship at UIC Rockford is a full-time, eight-week opportunity designed to immerse you in advanced biomedical research. Faculty and other research staff will help you learn developmental skills in experimental design, laboratory techniques, and data analysis. Ultimately, you’ll present and discuss research for the culmination of the Summer Science Forum in the form of presentations and scientific posters that relate to your project.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Biology Track
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year — 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), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in high school; students must demonstrate strong academic achievement (accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3/4); no prior research experience required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective research opportunity that pairs motivated high school students with Ph.D. mentors for individualized guidance on independent projects. If you’re passionate about biology, you’ll get to dive into advanced topics while working 1-on-1 with a doctoral researcher. Over 12 weeks, you’ll design, carry out, and write up a research project that builds both your academic skills and your confidence as a scholar. Many students finish the program with a research paper that can be submitted to high school journals or used as a strong supplement in college applications. With multiple cohorts throughout the year, you can choose a timeline that fits your schedule while exploring your intellectual interests in the life sciences.
5. Chicago EYES on Cancer
Location: University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5,000/Year
Dates: Two consecutive 8-week summers (full-time, ~40 hours/week) + monthly academic-year workshops (Specific dates are announced with the release of application materials each fall)
Application Deadline: December 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; 16 years old; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; able to commit to the full two-year program; high school applicants must live in Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties (IL) or Lake County (IN)
The two-year research training opportunity provides you with hands-on experience in cancer research at the University of Chicago. You’ll spend two consecutive summers working in the labs of established cancer researchers, gaining exposure to basic, translational, clinical, or population-based research. During the academic year, you’ll keep developing your skills with monthly activities to improve your research abilities. The program provides a summer lecture series on cancer, year-round career development workshops, and a robust mentorship network. Participants receive a stipend and the opportunity to present their research at an end-of-summer symposium.
6. Pre-Health Academy
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: $100 Application fee; $3,000 overnight; $2,000 daytime
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: Final payment due May 30
Eligibility: High school students interested in health care careers
This program combines interactive lectures, lab experiences, and problem-solving to cultivate the academic and interpersonal skills essential for success in healthcare and related fields. You’ll have an opportunity to network with health care practitioners and to tour medical schools, which allows for developing realistic views of career options. By the end of the program, you will have developed a head start that will benefit your college applications and future career.
7. Biology – Illinois Summer Research Academy (ISRA)
Location: Illinois Summer Research Academy (ISRA), Normal, IL
Cost: $300
Dates: July 22 – 26
Application Deadline: May 17
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
The Illinois Summer Research Academy is a summer research program for you to conduct authentic research that aims to discover antibiotics and investigate bacterial resistance. You can gain practical lab experience using a variety of biochemical and microbiological techniques to isolate and screen for microbes that synthesize antibiotics out of soil samples. You might also examine the response of bacteria to hypochlorous acid, which is an active compound in the human immune system. By the end of the program, you’ll work to identify the specific genes that enable bacteria to resist the host immune response and present your work.
8. Biology and Its Modern Applications
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $8,900
Dates: June 14 – July 4
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students
This three-week course delves into core biological concepts and their real-world applications. Key topics include cell structure, genetics, and evolution, demonstrating their relevance to fields such as forensic science, nanotechnology, and drug design/discovery. It will be a blend of both live and recorded learning opportunities. Additionally, you’ll get the opportunity to engage with what you've learned through virtual or in-person labs, group projects, and presentations.
9. Biotechnology for the 21st Century
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $8,900
Dates: June 14 – July 4
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students
The program offers a lab-heavy introduction to biotechnology and its various applications. You’ll start by learning about foundational molecular biology and genetics, before moving into applied areas, including biofuels, DNA fingerprinting, and medical biotechnology. The program is lecture-based, but also allows for lab activities so that you can learn the methods in lectures and then have lab activities to try out the methods in practice. You’ll get a clearer view of how biotechnology is impacting medicine today, the environment, and technology.
10. Biomolecules of Life
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $8,900
Dates: June 14 – July 4
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students
The Biomolecules of Life course offers a lab-intensive exploration of the molecular building blocks of living organisms. You'll study the structure and function of essential biomolecules, including proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids, and learn how their dysfunction can lead to medical disorders. The program's core is hands-on lab work, where you'll use modern techniques like molecular modeling and enzymatic assays to understand these complex systems. You will also collaborate with peers to design and present a scientific poster, which will help you gain valuable experience in scientific communication and teamwork.
11. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $14,490
Dates: June 14 – July 12
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th grade students
The opportunity offers four weeks of a residential community focused on learning in a hands-on biology research program. You’ll spend the majority of your time in the lab building skills with hands-on molecular biology, microbiology, and cell biology practices. You'll participate in faculty-led seminars, where you'll read and analyze research articles, and enhance your communication skills. You'll also maintain a detailed lab notebook, create group presentations, and showcase your final project at a research symposium.
12. Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment (BIOEE 1610) – Cornell Precollege Studies
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies by session
Dates: Different sessions throughout winter and summer.
Application Deadline: Self-paced course
Eligibility: Open to high school and undergraduate students
BIOEE 1610 is a flexible online course that provides an overview of ecology, with a main focus on how organisms interact with one another and their environment. Topics covered inside the course include population dynamics, disease ecology, biodiversity, and climate change. This is a good opportunity to experience a college-level biology course and will receive 3 college credits from Cornell University upon completion of the course.
13. Cell and Molecular Biology of Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varying costs
Dates: Summer A: July 7 – July 18; Summer B: July 21 – August 1; Summer C: August 11 – 15; Fall: September 19 – December 7; Spring: January 23 – March 29
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students; prerequisite of one year each of biology and chemistry
The program will help you explore topics like drug toxicity and next-generation therapies through lectures, small-group problem solving, and real-world case studies on examples such as insulin and opioids. This advanced course concludes with a team-based final project: designing a treatment plan for a medical condition. A strong foundation in high school biology is essential.
14. Biotech Research (Remote) – Boston Leadership Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 30 – July 11
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students interested in biotechnology and biomedical research
The Biotech Research program at the Boston Leadership Institute is a two-week remote experience. It offers advanced biotechnology lab training through mailed kits, covering techniques such as bacterial transformation and micropipetting. The curriculum also features ELISA tests and instruction on biotech industry strategy and investing. The program culminates in an independent research project on a genetic disease, with feedback from graduate-level instructors. Participation can be a strong addition to a college application if you’re interested in biomedical research or pharmaceuticals.
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