15 Free Biology Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in biology, participating in no‑cost research and enrichment programs can help you gain skills and connections without costly tuition fees. Free biology programs can expose you to laboratory techniques, field work, and mentorship from university researchers, since many of these programs are hosted by prestigious institutions, without any charge. Whether you’re interested in molecular biology, environmental health, biomedical research, or AI‑driven medicine, you can explore your field of interest and build a network with like-minded peers. Some programs that have a cost associated with them are offset by scholarships or 100% financial aid. Many also provide stipends or cover living expenses, allowing you to focus on learning.
To get you started, we’ve curated the top 15 free biology programs for high school students, including both in-person and virtual options.
15 Free Biology Programs for High School Students
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 22 - August 2
Application Deadline: Early-mid December (tentative)
Eligibility: High‑school juniors with strong academics
RSI is a program that combines a week of graduate-level STEM classes with a five-week research internship under the guidance of MIT faculty. You will read scientific literature, plan experiments, and carry out independent research projects. Throughout the summer, you’ll learn to draft written reports and deliver oral presentations like a professional scientist. Seminars on topics such as ethics, careers, and college admissions complement the lab work. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a conference.
2. Veritas AI – AI + Medicine Deep Dive Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; 100% need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Ten‑week sessions; dates vary based on cohort; Fall cohort: September 21 - November 23
Application Deadline: Rolling based on cohort; Fall deadline: August 31
Eligibility: High‑school students, grades 8-12, completion of AI Scholars, or background in coding
This online program explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. You’ll learn Python, machine learning, and neural networks through live lectures and small‑group coding sessions. Mentors will guide you through a capstone project, such as developing an AI model to detect diseases from medical images or predict treatment outcomes. By the end, you’ll gain both programming proficiency and insight into how AI is affecting healthcare.
3. Biotech Summer Experience
Location: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 14 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 3 - March 14
Eligibility: High‑school students aged 16+, GPA 3.3+,
LLNL’s Biotech Summer Experience immerses students in molecular biology and bioinformatics. You may learn to clone genes, perform DNA sequencing, and use computational tools to analyse genetic data. The program, modelled after Rutgers University’s Waksal Student Scholars Program, includes seminars with scientists and teamwork on a capstone project. You will present your results at a final symposium and gain insight into careers at a national laboratory.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; one‑to‑one mentorship
Dates: Varies based on cohort; Winter cohort starts December 8
Application Deadline: Rolling based on cohort; Winter cohort: November 16
Eligibility: High‑school students with strong academic scores
In the biology track of the Lumiere program, you’ll work closely with a PhD mentor to design and execute an independent research project. You may explore topics such as genetic engineering, microbiology, or neuroscience, and learn how to review literature, plan experiments, and analyse data. Weekly virtual meetings can provide guidance and feedback, with optional writing support to draft your research paper. At the end, you’ll present your findings or submit them to a science competition.
5. Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC), New York, NY
Stipend: $1200 upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 30 – August 22 (eight weeks)
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High‑school students, 14+, who live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of Main Campus; 3.5+ GPA in science subjects
You’ll have the chance to work on a biomedical or computational lab-based internship, where you’ll learn laboratory techniques and attend weekly seminars on your area of research. The program also includes extracurricular events, such as panel discussions, and by the end, you’ll present your research at a poster session. MSKCC encourages applications from minority and underrepresented students to enhance diversity in science.
6. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Undisclosed stipend provided upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer, exact dates by year
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High‑school rising seniors, 16+
Fred Hutch’s program begins with two weeks of lab safety and research training, followed by six weeks of mentored research in one of the centre’s labs. You’ll work 40 hours per week, attend seminars and professional development workshops, and participate in social events. Projects span cancer biology, immunology, and computational biology, giving you exposure to cutting‑edge science. The program culminates with a research symposium where you will present your findings to the Fred Hutch community.
7. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Centre, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid (undisclosed stipend)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: February or March (tentative; varies)
Eligibility: High‑school students from the greater Philadelphia area; strong interest in science and ability to work in the U.S., underrepresented groups strongly encouraged to apply
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program is a paid internship designed to stimulate interest in biomedical science, particularly among underrepresented groups. Over seven weeks, you’ll conduct full‑time research alongside Monell scientists. You’ll receive training in lab safety, experimental design, and data analysis, and attend enrichment lectures on topics like sensory biology and nutrition. The program culminates in a public conference where apprentices present their findings to peers and mentors. Additional activities include career panels and discussions on preparing for college.
8. UCI Youth Science Fellowship Program
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 – August 1 (six weeks)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High‑school juniors and seniors attending Orange County schools; completed at least one high school chemistry lab class and one biology class
UCI’s fellowship places students in cancer research labs to investigate topics like tumour biology, genetics, and immunotherapy. You will work 30 hours per week and participate in lab meetings, journal clubs, and career panels. Weekly lectures by faculty cover research ethics and professional development. At the end of six weeks, you will present your research in a symposium attended by peers and mentors.
9. Science & Nutrition Summer Research Program
Location: City of Hope Medical Centre, Duarte, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Four one‑week sessions; July 8–10, July 15–17, July 22–24, July 29–31
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: High‑school students (grades 9–12)
City of Hope’s program introduces students to human nutrition and metabolism. Over four weeks, you’ll attend lectures on macronutrients, genetics, and how socioeconomic factors influence health. You’ll work in teams to develop research projects based on peer‑reviewed literature, present your findings to peers, and receive feedback from faculty. Additional activities include site visits to the campus gardens and cooking workshops.
10. Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None (students cover housing and transportation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Vary by research project; 5 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: February 15 - March 15
Eligibility: High school students, 16+, enrolled in a U.S. high school, and able to commute; U.S. citizens or permanent residents only
LLP places high‑school students in Princeton laboratories to conduct research alongside faculty and graduate students. Projects span molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, and environmental science. You’ll spend at least 20 hours per week in the lab, learning techniques like microscopy, DNA extraction, and data analysis. Weekly seminars introduce you to scientific careers and ethical issues in research. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work to the Princeton community.
11. Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)
Location: Participating U.S. Army research laboratories nationwide
Stipend: Undisclosed stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June - August (exact dates and duration vary by site)
Application Deadline: Varies by site (January/February to March/April, tentative)
Eligibility: High school students, U.S. citizens or permanent residents in grades 5–12
GEMS is a free summer program that exposes students to STEM fields in research labs. Activities cover biology, chemistry, engineering, and computational sciences, giving you the chance to conduct experiments under the guidance of Army scientists. The program aims to inspire interest in science and offers multiple sites nationwide, allowing you to choose a location close to home. It encourages participation from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM.
12. UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Summer Student Research Program (SSRP)
Location: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland, CA
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 2 – August 1 (nine weeks)
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who have completed at least one year of math and biology; 16+ by program start, live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and are underrepresented in the sciences
Participants work on projects ranging from molecular biology to clinical research under the guidance of mentors. Weekly seminars, journal clubs, and social events foster a sense of community. The program concludes with a research symposium where you will present your results to scientists, peers, and family.
13. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Stipend: Undisclosed stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – July 30 (eight weeks)
Application Deadline: December 19 - February 21
Eligibility: High‑school juniors and seniors; 16+, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SIMR places high school students in Stanford labs to conduct basic research in areas such as immunology, cancer biology, and stem cells. You’ll attend weekly lectures on biomedical topics, collaborate with mentors on experiments, and analyse data. A final poster session allows you to present your work to peers and faculty.
14. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
Location: Multiple locations across the United States
Stipend: Scholarships awarded to finalists based on rank
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Vary by Regional Competition and National Competition
Application Deadline: Varies by competition
Eligibility: High‑school students who have completed original research in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
JSHS is a free science competition that encourages high school students to conduct original research and present their findings. You will present oral or poster presentations at regional symposia and receive feedback from judges. Top winners advance to the national symposium, where they will compete for scholarships and cash awards. While not a traditional internship, JSHS provides a platform to showcase biology and biomedical research projects. Participation is free, and the program offers networking opportunities with scientists and peers.
15. AEOP Internships
Location: Participating U.S. Army research laboratories nationwide
Stipend: Varies by location and program duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Varies by program and location
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: High school students; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
HSAP places students in Army research labs to work on projects in life sciences, engineering, and computer science. You will learn laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific writing while contributing to active research projects. Mentors provide one‑on‑one guidance, and students can attend seminars and facility tours. HSAP aims to inspire students to pursue STEM careers and often provides a stepping stone to other AEOP opportunities.