11 Biology Summer Programs for High School Students in California
If you are a high school student with a passion for biology, summer programs can be an excellent way to deepen your academic interests. These summer programs allow you to have practical training, exposure to fields such as cell theory and neuroscience, and industry experience. Prestigious organizations and universities design these programs to give you knowledge of biology and its applications.
California offers many such opportunities through its well-known universities and research institutions. Programs may appeal to California-based students who want local access, as well as out-of-state students eager to learn in a different academic and cultural environment. Along with practical experiences, these programs help you build your resume and provide you with mentorship from academics and professionals and help you build a network.
We have compiled a list of the top 11 biology summer programs in California.
1. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Students are placed within a 45-minute commute from their homes
Stipend: $3,000
Application Deadline: November 22 - January 19
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or rising college freshmen who are at least 16 years old by the internship start date
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid internship designed to introduce students to fisheries and aquatic sciences. The program matches you with professional mentors and includes learning experiences in both laboratories and field environments. You take part in activities such as fish population surveys, electrofishing, water quality monitoring, data analysis, and community outreach. Certain fieldwork may be physically demanding and involve travel. Offered at sites across the country, the program provides a comprehensive view of fisheries biology and helps you explore it as a possible career direction.
2. Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple 10-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).
Eligibility: Applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI is an artificial intelligence program created for driven high school students and founded by Harvard graduate students. The AI + Medicine Deep Dive examines how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare and medical research. Within this program, you will engage in practical projects that apply AI and machine learning to disease diagnosis, enhance medical imaging, and analyze results to aid patient care. The course blends technical training with experiential, project-based learning. Additional details, including the program brochure and application form, are available for review.
3. Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars Program at Salk Institute
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: Transportation options, including public transit stipends, are available
Application Deadline: March 28
Dates: June 16 - August 8
Eligibility: San Diego County residents who are at least 16 years of age, have a minimum GPA of 2.75, and have completed at least one year each of high school-level chemistry and biology
The Salk Institute is a non-profit research center, and the Heithoff-Brody program allows high school students to complete a research project under the guidance of a scientist mentor. Most of your time is spent in the institute’s labs, where you will learn wet lab methods, bioinformatics, data analysis, and related skills. The program also features seminars, workshops, and visits to biotechnology sites. At the conclusion, you will present your research at a symposium through either an oral or a poster presentation. This structure combines research with professional development across multiple aspects of modern science.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA). Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites; more details can be found here.
Horizon provides trimester-long research opportunities for high school students in areas like biology, machine learning, data science, political theory, and more. A distinctive feature of the Horizon program is the option to pursue either a quantitative or qualitative research path based on your interests. Once you choose a subject track, you will be matched with a professor or PhD scholar who will guide you through the process. At the program’s conclusion, you will produce a 20-page research paper suitable for submission to academic journals. You will also receive in-depth project feedback and a recommendation letter to strengthen future college applications.
5. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Stipend: Minimum stipend of $500 for all selected students (as per 2025 program details)
Application Deadline: December 19 – February 21
Dates: June 8- July 30
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in the Fall; ages 16 and above by the program start date
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week internship for high school students that lets you work on medically focused research with Stanford faculty, postdocs, and students. The program combines full-time lab work, morning lectures, and direct experience in scientific investigation. It also features joint lectures and a workshop on designing research posters, helping you build key skills in scientific communication. SIMR concludes with a poster session where you will present your findings to the Stanford community, offering both practical research experience and opportunities to share results in a professional academic setting.
6. Arthritis Foundation Summer Science Internship (rheumatology USA)
Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $2,500
Application Deadline: March 10
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 17 years of age by June 2
The Arthritis Foundation’s Summer Science Internship offers high school students the opportunity to work in research and clinical labs at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Over eight weeks, you will gain practical experience in laboratory research, bioinformatics, or clinical epidemiology. The program allows you to contribute to ongoing studies focused on advancing treatments for arthritis and related conditions. Through this medical research internship, you will also develop insight into both lab-based and patient-centered research approaches, gaining exposure to the scientific and clinical sides of medicine.
7. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Biotech Summer Experience
Location: Edward Teller Education Centre, Livermore, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: July 14 –July 25
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older by the start of the workshop. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.
The LLNL Biotechnology Summer Experience is a two-week program that introduces high school students to molecular biology and bioinformatics research. You will study genes from the freshwater plant Landoltia punctata (duckweed) using experiments such as plasmid DNA isolation, PCR, restriction digestion, and gel electrophoresis. Professional bioinformatics tools are also used to analyze gene sequences, giving you practice with methods common in modern biology labs. At the end of the program, your DNA sequence results are submitted to GenBank and credited under your name, providing formal recognition in an international scientific database.
8. Stanford University - Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications will open mid-December
Dates: June 22 - July 26
Eligibility: Low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a five-week summer program for high school students interested in science and medicine. You will take part in hospital internships, faculty lectures, professional development workshops, and a group research project focused on public health disparities. The program balances academic learning with exposure, including shadowing health professionals, observing patient care, and participating in lab and departmental activities at Stanford Hospital. You will also attend lectures on human anatomy, research methods, and public health, along with workshops on college readiness, admissions planning, and financial aid.
9. Scripps Research Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Scripps Research Institute, California
Stipend: $4,830
Application Deadline: April 4
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Eligibility: San Diego County residents; High school students enrolled in one of the following schools: Barrio Logan College Institute, Crawford High School, Hilltop High School, Hoover High School, Lincoln High School, and Morse High School; Should have completed at least one year each of high school-level chemistry and biology; Should have a minimum grade point average of 3.0
The Scripps Research High School Student Research Education Program offers a seven-week, full-time internship in biomedical research for students interested in the biological and chemical sciences. Before the internship, you will complete a three-day boot camp that introduces key laboratory techniques. You are then paired with a research lab, working alongside scientists and mentors while gaining experience in a professional research environment. The program is a paid opportunity that also provides one-on-one mentorship from graduate students. It offers support with college applications and guidance on pursuing scientific career paths.
10. Stanford University - Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Stipend: Stipends of $3,000 are given to students on a needs-based system
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising junior and senior high school students who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program. Applicants must reside and attend high school in one of the following counties in Northern California: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Cruz
The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) is a six-week summer experience introducing you to science, medicine, and research through faculty mentorship and projects in maternal and child health. You will spend about 23 hours weekly in a research lab, working with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and staff to complete an independent project. Each participant creates a research poster and presents it at the program’s final symposium. Weekly interactive workshops focus on research methods, exploring careers in medicine and science, and developing leadership skills. The program also offers guidance on college preparation, including sessions on applications, financial aid, and building a college list.
11. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) - Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (full financial aid available for both application and program fees)
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade in the fall, over the age of 14 by the start of the program
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program introducing high school students to artificial intelligence in healthcare. Through technical sessions, you study AI fundamentals and examine how these methods are applied in medical practice. The program features daily mentorship and team-based projects where you apply new skills in research contexts. Guest speakers from academia, industry, and government provide insights into the future of technology in medicine. Career-focused “Lunch and Learn” discussions showcase pathways at the intersection of AI and health. Following the main program, you may continue by engaging in extended research opportunities.
Image Source - Stanford University logo