15 Biology Programs for High School Students in Virginia
If you're a high school student looking to explore biology before committing to it in college, a structured program can be a good option to explore. These programs often combine coursework, research, or lab work with mentor guidance, helping you build skills, gain exposure to new material, and develop connections. Biology programs, in particular, let you work directly with real specimens, data, and lab techniques across fields such as genetics, marine science, and medicine.
Why should you attend a biology program in Virginia?
Virginia offers biology programs at institutions such as Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, and Virginia Tech. Depending on the program you choose, you could take part in a research internship, a marine science field program, or a lab-based clinical simulation. Whether you live in Virginia or are coming from out of state, you can find a program suited to your interests and experience level.
To help you find the right fit, we have curated a list of 15 biology programs for high school students in Virginia.
If you’re looking for STEM programs in Virginia, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span marine science, fisheries biology, cancer research, biomedical engineering, transfusion medicine, genetics, neuroscience, conservation ecology, AI in medicine, and clinical medicine, so students with a wide range of biology interests can find a relevant option in Virginia or online.
Several programs are free or paid, including Hutton Junior Fisheries ($3,000 stipend), VCU MLS Transfusion Scholars ($500 stipend), VCU CHiSEL (free), VCU MSIP (free), VCOM Summer Enrichment (free), VIMS Governor's School (free), and Inova Lung Services (free), while programs, such as Lumiere and Veritas AI, offer full financial aid for eligible students.
Many programs prioritize Virginia residents or students from specific regions, including VCU MSIP and CHiSEL (Greater Richmond Area), VIMS Governor's School (Virginia rising juniors and seniors), Radford University Governor's School (Virginia residents nominated through school divisions), and Inova Lung Services (local commutable students preferred), so local students should take note of these targeted opportunities.
Programs vary significantly in length and format, from one-week immersive experiences, such as VCU MLS Transfusion Scholars and BioE Buzz Summer Camp, to six-week full-time research placements, such as VCU MSIP, CHiSEL, and Inova Lung Services, so students can choose based on their schedule and depth of interest.
Application deadlines for the most competitive programs fall early, including Inova Lung Services (December 31), Hutton Junior Fisheries (January 25), CHiSEL at VCU Massey (February 6), VCU MSIP (February 12), and GMU ASSIP (February 15), so students should begin researching options in the fall.
1. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Multiple U.S. states, including Virginia
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 27–33 students make it to the final cohort each year
Dates: June – August (flexible, 8 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates (minimum age: 16 years) living in the U.S., Mexico, or Canada
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid mentoring and internship program for high school students. The program aims to inspire future generations to explore their interests in fisheries science. You will have the opportunity to learn from expert mentors, gain in-depth knowledge in aquatic sciences, and explore the beauty of nature. You will engage in real-world problem-solving related to environmental issues, participate in marine conservation, and interact with peers and professionals at the Hutton Summit. The program might involve outdoor activities such as electrofishing, data processing, snorkeling, and more.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small group and 1:1 mentorship formats
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: Rolling; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI's AI + Medicine Deep Dive program immerses you in the practical intersection of artificial intelligence and modern healthcare. Over 10 weeks, you will explore advanced topics like medical data preparation, convolutional neural networks, clinical evaluation, and image segmentation. For hands-on activities, you will collaborate on guided group projects, build machine learning models to diagnose diseases, analyze complex medical scans, and engage in targeted mentorship sessions with researchers from top-tier universities. The program uniquely features a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, a curriculum created by Harvard alumni, and the opportunity to earn college credits from UC San Diego. By participating, you will master practical Python coding, data analysis, and specialized machine learning techniques tailored for real-world clinical problem-solving.
3. Virginia Commonwealth University – MLS Path: Transfusion Services Summer Scholars
Location: MCV Campus, Richmond, VA (College of Health Professions building and VCU Health Clinical Laboratories)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: July 6–10
Application Deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Rising and current 11th-grade students through rising college sophomores; minimum 3.0 GPA
In this program, you spend five fully funded days living on VCU's MCV Campus exploring the biology behind medical laboratory sciences, with transfusion medicine as the core focus. You gain knowledge through lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions, performing the laboratory techniques that form the foundation of transfusion medicine. You practice ABO and Rh blood typing and work through case studies that integrate related biological disciplines such as hematology and immunology. You also tour the clinical laboratories at VCU Health to see how blood typing and antibody detection support real patient care. Guest speakers from VCU Health, the American Red Cross, and program faculty and alumni share real-world insights.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small mentor groups
Dates: Multiple 12-week to 1-year cohorts throughout the year: summer, fall, winter, or spring
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (accepted students typically maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher)
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 biology, 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. Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Governor's School
Location: Gloucester Point, VA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; up to 6 students annually
Dates: July 5–25
Application Deadline: Varies by local school district
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th grade students in Virginia
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Governor's School is a four-week residential summer program for high school students. The program will allow you to participate in engaging research experiences, where you will work on marine science projects along with a faculty sponsor and also prepare work reports. The program offers real-world intellectual learning opportunities and allows you to explore future career options in the field based on your interests, aptitude, and skills. You will perform specific research responsibilities and engage in scientific inquiry through this structured program.
6. Summer Enrichment Experience – Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM–Virginia Campus)
Location: VCOM–Virginia Campus, Blacksburg, VA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 24 students per cohort
Dates: June 21 – 26; July 5 – 10
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising junior and senior high school students with a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Summer Enrichment Experience is a free H-STEM camp for high school students. The program, led by faculty and medical students at VCOM, allows you to work in a state-of-the-art cadaver laboratory and simulation center. You will engage in hands-on healthcare simulations, participate in biomedical experiments, and understand the fundamentals of epidemiology. You will also gain exposure to clinical practices, such as surgical knot-tying under professional guidance, suturing, and analyzing cultures under a microscope. By the end of the program, you will work on a small group research project and share it with faculty and family.
7. CHiSEL Program – VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Location: VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from the Greater Richmond Area
The Community High School Engagement & Learning (CHiSEL) is a five-week program that allows high school students to engage in mentored research. You will be paired with a Massey investigator at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), attend seminars on cancer research, and engage in networking opportunities with trainees. You will develop lab skills that will help you pursue higher education goals, understand the importance of community engagement in cancer research, and interact with cancer researchers while forming meaningful professional connections. The program concludes at Massey’s Summer Research Symposium, where you will get to share your work as a final poster presentation.
8. Inova Lung Services – Summer Student Research Internship
Location: Inova Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 2–5 students
Dates: 6 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school seniors ages 16 and above
Inova Lung Services – Summer Student Research Internship offers a six-week voluntary learning experience to high school students. You will have the opportunity to work on a research project focused on advanced lung disease or lung transplantation. You will receive guidance from a physician mentor and research staff while working 15 to 20 hours a week. You will also attend research and clinical education conferences, conduct patient visits, and observe patient procedures. The program concludes with a PowerPoint presentation where you will get to share your project work with others.
9. Medical Science Internship Program (MSIP) – Virginia Commonwealth University
Location: VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~6–10 students
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 12
Eligibility: High school students, preferably rising juniors and seniors, who reside in the Greater Richmond Area
The Medical Science Internship Program (MSIP) by Virginia Commonwealth University is a six-week research-focused program for high school students. The program will place you in a research laboratory and allow you to conduct meaningful research. You will attend seminars, listen to guest lectures, and complete 30 to 40 hours of project work each week. During the final week of the program, you will prepare a slideshow and poster presentation to share your projects with family, mentors, friends, peers, and the community at VCU.
10. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, or Virtual
Cost: $1,299 tuition + $25 application fee; need-based fee waivers are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 290–300 interns
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students may apply; remote and computer-lab internships require students to be at least 15 years old by June 18, while wet-lab internships require students to be at least 16 years old
George Mason University's Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is an eight-week full-time learning opportunity for high school students. The program will allow you to conduct research across a range of STEM-focused areas, including biology, neuroscience, drug discovery, forensic science, evolutionary molecular ecology, and more. You will gain hands-on experience with the latest technologies and equipment while also developing skills in scientific writing, creativity, and communication through practice. Along with the opportunity to explore careers in STEM fields, the program also allows you to earn three college credits from George Mason University.
11. GMU + Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute – Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation — Intro to Field Conservation Ecology (CONS 100)
Location: Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, Front Royal, VA
Cost: $2,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; limited cohort sizes
Dates: June 14–20
Application Deadline: First-come basis until the course fills
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
In this program, you spend one residential week living on the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation campus at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, learning core ecology concepts such as diversity, succession, species interactions, populations, and ecosystems. Through classroom lectures, discussions, field experiences, and outdoor adventures, you build hands-on skills in conservation research methods, with an emphasis on observational skills. You define your own ecological research question, conduct a guided pilot study, and collect preliminary biological field data. You then share your findings through a final presentation and poster. Taught by SMSC faculty, including ecologist Stephanie Lessard-Pilon, the course earns you two George Mason University college credits as CONS 100.
12. BioE Buzz Summer Camp
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: $1,000 + $25 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 18 students per camp
Dates: Session 1: July 6–10; Session 2: July 13–17; Session 3: July 20–25
Application Deadline: June 22
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
BioE Buzz Summer Camp offers a week-long learning opportunity to high school students. You will explore bioengineering through a range of hands-on activities, including 3D printing, working with animal models, motion capture, cell culture, and more. You will gain knowledge from experts in areas such as biomedicine and biomechanics while developing research and lab skills. The program will allow you to learn from faculty and students in the Department of Bioengineering and experience student life through tours of the Nanofabrication and GMU MIX facilities. The camp also includes a team-based competition where you will have the opportunity to share a range of skills in biosensing, wet lab, biomaterials, and microbiology.
13. GW Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Summer Immersion Program
Location: Ashburn, VA or Virtual
Cost: $1,000 (In-Person) or $250 (Virtual); payment plans are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: In-person: July 20 – 24; Virtual: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: All high school students
GW Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Summer Immersion Program offers both in-person and virtual learning sessions to high school students. You will have the opportunity to gain valuable skills in pursuing careers in the field of biomedical sciences. You will participate in a range of hands-on learning experiences, including exploring disease case studies, learning lab safety, and developing and practicing laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction, microbial plating, nucleic acid electrophoresis, blood cell differentials, and biochemical assays. The program will allow you to work on a project presentation in collaboration with your peers, using patient lab findings, and to present a case study project.
14. Virginia Tech College of Science Summer Camp – Explore Life Sciences
Location: Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg, VA (residential camp)
Cost: $1,150; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served; up to 48 campers
Dates: July 5–9
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until the camp fills or June 1
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th grade students
In this program, you spend five residential days on Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus exploring life from the molecular level to the biome. You run hands-on biology experiments in fly genetics and mutations, bacterial evolution and characterization, and biotechnology-based DNA analysis. In the two-part "Finding Phages" activity, you isolate viruses from bacteria, and you learn fermentation science in the food science kitchen. Fieldwork covers the ecology of the campus Duck Pond, stream biology, and groundwater, plus ancient life forms in the Geoscience Museum. Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and senior graduate students lead all activities. You also attend a career networking night and sessions on college applications and essays.
15. Radford University – Summer Residential Governor's School for Medicine and Health Sciences
Location: Radford University at Carilion, Roanoke, VA
Cost: $3,500 is paid by the state and the nominating school division for public school students; private school students pay 50% of the fees plus a student activity fee usually between $200 and $350; a need-based fee waiver is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; up to 20 students
Dates: June 21 – July 10
Application Deadline: Set by each local school division rather than a single statewide date
Eligibility: Current sophomore or junior in high school; identified as gifted or determined by the division to be a competitive advanced student; has not previously attended and is not currently applying to another Summer Residential or Foreign Language Academy program; Virginia residents nominated through their school division
In this program, you spend roughly four weeks living on Radford University's Roanoke campus exploring the connection between health sciences research and the practice of medicine through a biology-centered lens. You engage in hands-on classroom activities, laboratory exercises, and field experiences that build on complex analysis and critical thinking in real-world medical scenarios. You work in labs such as nursing, occupational therapy, and vital-sign settings, participate in a white coat ceremony, and study in a hospital environment under the guidance of practicing clinical professionals. You complete a capstone project and strengthen skills in scientific reasoning, research design, and laboratory technique.
Frequently asked questions
1. What biology programs are available for high school students in Virginia?
Options include cancer and biomedical research programs, such as VCU CHiSEL, VCU MSIP, and GMU ASSIP, marine and fisheries biology programs, such as VIMS Governor's School and Hutton Junior Fisheries, clinical and healthcare programs, such as VCOM Summer Enrichment, Inova Lung Services, and VCU MLS Transfusion Scholars, conservation ecology programs, such as Smithsonian-Mason CONS 100, bioengineering and lab programs, such as BioE Buzz Camp and GW Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, and AI in medicine programs, such as Veritas AI and Lumiere.
2. Are there free or paid biology programs for high school students in Virginia?
Yes, Hutton Junior Fisheries provides a $3,000 stipend, VCU MLS Transfusion Scholars provides a $500 stipend, VCU CHiSEL, VCU MSIP, VCOM Summer Enrichment, VIMS Governor's School, and Inova Lung Services are all free, while programs, such as Lumiere and Veritas AI, offer full financial aid for eligible students.
3. Which Virginia biology programs are best for students interested in cancer research?
VCU CHiSEL pairs students with Massey Cancer Center investigators for five weeks of mentored lab research, VCU MSIP places students in research laboratories across VCU's medical campus, and GMU ASSIP offers placements in oncology and drug discovery research among its broad range of STEM disciplines.
4. Do any Virginia biology programs offer college credit?
Yes, Smithsonian-Mason Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology awards two George Mason University college credits as CONS 100, and GMU ASSIP offers three college credits from George Mason University upon completion. Veritas AI also offers the opportunity to earn college credits from UC San Diego through its AI and Medicine program.
5. Which programs are open to students outside Virginia?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Veritas AI are fully virtual and open to students anywhere in the world, GW Biomedical Laboratory Sciences offers a virtual option, GMU ASSIP offers a remote track, and Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology accepts students from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
6. When should I apply to biology programs for high school students in Virginia?
Inova Lung Services closes December 31, Hutton Junior Fisheries closes January 25, VCU CHiSEL closes February 6, VCU MSIP closes February 12, and GMU ASSIP closes February 15, so students should begin researching options in the fall and preparing applications over winter break.