14 Biology Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles, California (LA)
If you are interested in biology, summer programs can give you structured exposure to advanced scientific study beyond your regular classes. Through lab work, research projects, and mentorship from professionals, you’ll learn to think critically, analyze data, and explore fields like medicine, neuroscience, genetics, and environmental science. These programs also help you build confidence in scientific writing, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that are valuable for college and future STEM careers.
Why join a biology program in Los Angeles, California?
Los Angeles is home to major research universities, medical centers, and science-focused organizations that offer structured programs for high school students. You may conduct laboratory experiments, assist with data collection and analysis, review scientific literature, or contribute to ongoing biomedical and public health research projects under guided supervision. Whether you live in Los Angeles or are considering travelling to the city, these programs provide access to established research communities and a wide range of biology-focused learning opportunities.
To help you get started, here are 14 biology programs for high school students in Los Angeles, California (LA).
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1. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy address
Location: La Puente & Duarte, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: $4,500
Cohort Size: Approximately 70 students (40% undergraduates; 60% high school students)
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students (16+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Coursework in biology/chemistry recommended
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy offers a deeply immersive, full-time biomedical research experience for motivated high school and college students. Over 10 weeks on the City of Hope campus, you will be embedded in a professional lab environment, collaboratively designing and executing a real research project under expert faculty mentorship. The program includes weekly seminars, workshops, and skill-building sessions that enhance your ability to think and work like a scientist. You’ll attend and present in seminar series, participate in professional development activities, and build meaningful relationships with peers, graduate students, and researchers.
2. Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling; Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: 8th-12th graders who have completed AI Scholars or have a background in coding
Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Medicine is a 10-week program that introduces you to the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Throughout the course, you’ll attend expert-led lectures, complete coding exercises, and develop a practical project using real AI tools. You’ll explore how machine learning is applied to tasks such as disease diagnosis, medical image analysis, genomics research, hospital data management, drug discovery, and neuroscience. The program blends technical training with a medical context to help you understand how AI can address real biomedical challenges.
3. Bridge Undergraduate Science Jr. Program (BUGS Jr.)
Location: University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: $800
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 7 weeks from mid-June to August
Application Deadline: February – Mid-April
Eligibility: High school students located in Los Angeles
The Bridge Undergraduate Science Jr. Program (BUGS Jr.) at USC’s Bridge Institute offers you a hands-on summer research experience in cutting-edge scientific labs across disciplines that deepen your understanding of human biology and health. As a participant, you will be paired with USC faculty and laboratory teams to work on real research projects, gaining practical skills in experimental design, data collection, and scientific communication. Alongside lab work, the program offers weekly activities, including journal clubs, career panels, and community events, that support professional growth and peer networking. The summer culminates in a final symposium where you will present your work through poster sessions, showcasing your research to mentors, peers, and family.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Biology Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects you with a Ph.D. mentor to conduct an independent research project tailored to your interests, including topics in biology and biomedical science. The program is fully online and designed around one-on-one mentorship with flexible scheduling. Over the course of the program, you’ll develop a full research paper while strengthening your scientific writing with guidance from a writing coach. The experience concludes with a virtual symposium where you’ll present your findings to mentors and peers.
5. INSPIRE at Cedars-Sinai
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: 25 interns
Dates: June 27 – August 7 (6-week track); June 29 – September 4 (10-week track)
Application Deadline: February 1 – 8
Eligibility: High school students (16+) who are eligible to work in the U.S.
The INSPIRE internship at Cedars-Sinai offers you a professional introduction to biomedical and clinical research in a world-class healthcare environment. Over 6-10 weeks, you will work alongside physicians, scientists, and research staff on ongoing projects in areas such as genetics, oncology, neuroscience, and public health. You will gain hands-on experience with research fundamentals, including study design, data collection and analysis, lab safety, and scientific literature review, while attending workshops that build career and research skills. Through structured mentorship, weekly seminars, and career panels, you’ll explore pathways in science and medicine and develop practical skills applicable to future academic and professional goals.
6. Samuels Family LA-HIP High School Internship Program
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: November 3 – February 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors attending public school in Los Angeles County; Must be eligible to work in California
The Samuels Family LA-HIP High School Internship Program is a competitive, yearlong internship that immerses you in biomedical research and professional scientific training. You will begin with didactic instruction in biology and foundational lab skills and then spend a seven-week summer research period working alongside scientists and PhD mentors at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. You will gain real laboratory experience in areas such as cancer biology, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, and disease mechanisms, and learn techniques including data analysis, experimental design, and scientific communication. In addition to lab work, you will receive intensive college counseling, SAT prep, and academic support to help you prepare for university applications and future STEM careers. The program culminates with a science symposium where you will present your research findings to peers and faculty.
7. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Various medical centers across California, including Los Angeles
Stipend: $500 scholarship
Cohort Size: 65-80 for in-person program, 80-100 for online program
Dates: Varies by facility; Generally held in July
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: 11th-12th graders residing in LA County
The Eve & Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program is an initiative designed to introduce you to health care careers through mentoring, shadowing, and interactive learning. You will participate in daily sessions to observe and interact with a wide range of health professionals, including pediatricians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and therapists. Through presentations and hands-on experiences, you’ll gain insight into the realities of patient care, hospital operations, and multidisciplinary health teams, helping you clarify your interests and goals in the medical field. In addition to experiential learning, the program fosters professional development through seminars and discussions that enhance your understanding of medicine as a career.
8. Turner-UCLA Allied Health Internship
Location: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 1 week during the summer
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and recent high school graduates not currently enrolled in an undergraduate program
The Turner-UCLA Allied Health Internship is an immersive summer experience designed to introduce you to a broad spectrum of allied health professions. Over the course of the week, you’ll participate in shadowing and career exploration opportunities across clinical, administrative, and support roles, gaining firsthand insight into fields such as radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation services, medical assisting, and more. The program places a strong emphasis on understanding health disparities and workforce needs in today’s healthcare landscape, helping you connect career pathways with real-world impact.
9. UCLA NeuroCamp Summer High School Program
Location: UCLA Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size:15-20 highly motivated high school students
Dates: June 16 – 18, June 23 – 24, 26 – 27 (7 days spread over two weeks)
Application Deadline: April 27
Eligibility: High school students; U.S. residents
NeuroCamp, hosted by the UCLA Brain Research Institute, is a free, summer outreach program that introduces motivated high school students to the foundations of neuroscience. Over approximately one week of hands-on, afternoon sessions, you’ll explore key concepts in molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy while gaining basic laboratory experience in techniques used by neuroscientists. Through interactive lectures, guided activities, and practical lab exercises like microscopy, tissue exploration, and neural structures, you’ll deepen your understanding of how the brain functions and what it’s like to engage in scientific inquiry.
10. BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship
Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically April
Eligibility: High school rising juniors interested in extending into the academic year
The BrainSport Summer Internship at UCLA gives you an introduction to the fields of neuroscience, sports medicine, and brain injury research. You will support ongoing studies by conducting literature reviews, collecting data, and performing basic statistical analyses in labs focused on concussion and brain health. The program offers practical exposure to methods used in cognitive neuroscience while allowing you to interact with researchers and medical professionals. In addition to lab work, you will attend seminars and discussions on how brain science relates to athletic performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation.
11. California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science (COSMOS)
Location: University of California campuses (including UC Los Angeles)
Cost: Program fee $5,518 + application fee $46
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; 160-200 students per campus
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 7 – February 6
Eligibility: California high school students completing grades 8-12 with a GPA of 3.5+
COSMOS is a four-week residential program offered by the University of California that immerses you in advanced math and science. The program is organized into themed clusters, with biology-focused options that explore areas such as biomedical science, genetics, and marine biology, extending beyond the typical high school level. Throughout the month, you’ll take part in coursework, collaborate on research projects, and share your findings at a closing symposium. The experience combines academic rigor with a full college-style campus environment.
12. Medicine Encompassed Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Medicine Encompassed offers you the opportunity to engage in biology- and anatomy-centered medical research and resource creation. As an intern, you will contribute across multiple committees as a researcher, writer, and educational content developer. Your work may involve studying medical topics, producing accessible articles, and designing learning materials that support inclusive medical education. You can also participate in the Project Cultivation initiative, which aims to expand access to biological and health sciences learning. By the end of the program, you will have helped create a meaningful collection of student-driven educational resources.
13. NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 28
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: U.S. high school rising juniors or seniors attending U.S.-based high schools with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0; Must have taken at least one high-school biology course
GeneLab for High Schools allows you to explore space-biology research using NASA’s open genomics and “omics” datasets. Over 12 weeks, you will complete online lessons and computational biology exercises that introduce bioinformatics tools used to study how living organisms respond to spaceflight. You will investigate topics such as gene expression, cellular adaptation, and environmental stress in space while learning to analyze real biological data. You may also join a capstone project in which you develop a research question, analyze NASA data, and present your findings at an online symposium.
14. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Application Fee: $45; Program Participation Fee: $2,400
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; 50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students (14+)
The AIMI Summer Research Internship at Stanford is a virtual program that connects biology and medicine with artificial intelligence. During the two-week experience, you will learn how AI is used to analyze medical images, interpret biological data, and support clinical decision-making. Guided by Stanford researchers and mentors, you will work in small groups on projects using real biomedical datasets. The program also features talks by experts in medicine, biology, and technology to help you understand how computational tools are shaping modern healthcare. It concludes with a presentation in which you share your research findings.
Image source - UCLA