10 Biomedical Research Programs for High School Students
Applying to a research program as a high school student is a great way to broaden your academic avenues and build your knowledge base, especially if you’re keen on exploring a subject like biomedicine.
Opting for one during summer can prevent the summer slide and prepare you for your dream college! Having a research program on your resume can significantly impact your college applications by letting you stand out. Even more, you can dive deep into your field of choice while your innovation is fueled and your methods improve!
If you're passionate about human health, immersing yourself in a biomedical research program is a fantastic way to gain medical laboratory experience. You'll get to participate in comprehensive research that focuses on getting cures and preventing various diseases.
This article discusses 10 biomedical research programs for high school students. Read on to see why we've included them in this list and what you stand to gain from participating in these programs.
1. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research
Eligibility:
Applicants must be U.S. permanent residents or citizens and ages 18 and above.
Students must be enrolled at least half-time in high school as a senior at the time of submission of the application.
All summer interns are required to submit proof of health insurance.
Location: NIH campuses across the country
Stipend: Stipends are adjusted annually.
Application Deadline: Mid-November 2024 to February 19, 2025.
2025 Program Dates: TBD
If you're a high schooler keen on exploring careers in the healthcare field, this Intramural Research Program at the NIH is for you! During this internship, you will have access to research opportunities in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences. You’ll also get to explore and learn more about basic, translational, and clinical research.
As an intern, you will benefit from resources like programs that focus on professional development, educational and career advising, a well-being and resilience program, and more. Aside from that, you will also get to share the work you did as a summer intern at NIH’s Graduate and Professional School Fair in July and Summer Poster Day in early August.
2. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Eligibility:
It's suitable for 11th to 12th graders.
Academic excellence and a display of interest in biomedicine are required.
Location: Seattle
Stipend: This is a full-time paid program.
Application Deadline: TBD
2025 Program Dates: 8 weeks | Information on the coming year's program will be posted in late November 2024.
Fred Hutch’s SHIP is another engaging program with some exciting perks! Although it's competitive, the program comes with excellent benefits. During the first 2 weeks, you'll learn laboratory safety skills and techniques. Then in the next 6 weeks, you’ll get to attend workshops and research seminars where you'll enjoy collaboration with like-minded peers.
This program is not fully a hands-on research program, but we still recommend it if you're interested in biomedical research programs for high school students. It's specifically for those underrepresented in biomedical research and will give you the chance to acquire research skills and learn about biomedical science through mentorship from a Fred Hutch research group. Lastly, this program often concludes with presentations of works by interns.
3. Summer Programs in Biomedical Sciences for High School Students
Eligibility: Must be a high school student who is at least 16 years old by the program’s start and attending one of these high schools. You will also need to submit the required documents for the specific program you are applying to.
Location: College of Medicine Rockford, University of Illinois
Stipend: Available; however, the amount is unspecified
Application Deadline: April (tentatively)
2025 Program Dates: 1 week to 2 months | TBD
Participating in the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s Summer Programs in Biomedical Sciences means you are one of the few selected students in an over-35-year-old program dedicated to imparting new laboratory skills! You can choose from two programs: the STEM Camp and the Summer Science Internship program.
The STEM Camp is a one-week program that introduces high school students to different aspects of biomedical sciences. As a participant, you will get to learn more about the importance of medical research and the impact of bioengineering science. It’s a good program if you’re looking to learn more about the biomedical field and if it’s the career path for you.
The Summer Science Internship is a selective, two-month program that provides deeper insight into medical research and industrial science and their impact on the world. As an intern, you will get the invaluable experience of being part of a research team and working side-by-side with leading scientists in the field at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford. The Summer Science Internship is a selective program and only has 5 internship positions available annually.
4. High School Program in Biomedical Research – Wistar Institute
Eligibility:
High school students who are at least 16 years old and have completed a science course can apply.
Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Location: Wistar Institute, Philadelphia
Stipend: $1,000
Application Deadline: Details will be posted in January 2025.
2025 Program Dates: 4 weeks | July to August
Wistar’s High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research is an immersive biomedical research internship for high school students interested in exploring various careers in biomedical research. As a participant, you will spend around 4 weeks in the Wistar state-of-the-art training lab, learning the best practices in biomedical laboratory techniques and contributing to active Wistar science projects.
While you don’t need prior research experience to apply, the program only accepts 15 students a year. They look out for high school students who are highly passionate about science and biomedical research and encourage students from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds to apply.
5. Extended Research Program – Elio Academy of Biomedical Sciences
Eligibility: Open to high school students between the ages of 14-18 who are interested in a career in medicine or a biomedical field
Location: Online
Cost: Application fee of $29 + $1975 (as per the 2024 session) | Scholarships available
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025
2025 Program Dates: 12 weeks | Information about the 2025 program will be posted soon.
Elio Academy of Biomedical Sciences’ Extended Research Program (ERP) is a 12-week virtual program designed for high school students interested in biomedical research. The program is pretty selective and only selects 30 students from around the world to participate in each session. The ERP has three research tracks you can choose from: Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Neuroscience, and Biotechnology and Bioengineering.
As a participant, you will get to work on independent projects and contribute to ongoing scientific inquiries, all while under the guidance of an industry professional. The program places emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills, giving you the chance to learn important skills like scientific writing, systematic literature review, differentiating between causation and correlation, and more.
At the end of the program, you will get the chance to produce a publication, research poster, and featured website. Outstanding students will be presented an award at the closing symposium and letters of recommendation, which will significantly boost your college applications. In fact, past ERP fellows have gotten into top colleges like UCB, MIT, Yale, etc.
6. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center HOPP Summer Student Program
Eligibility:
High school juniors over the age of 14 who are authorized to work in the U.S. are eligible.
Applicants must reside in New York or New Jersey or within a 25-mile radius of NYC.
Applicants must display an interest in this field and have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, New York City.
Stipend: $1,200
Application Deadline: Opens in December 2024; the deadline is yet to be confirmed.
2025 Program Dates: This is an 8-week program that starts on June 30 and ends on August 22, 2025.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center HOPP Summer Student Program is a biomedical or computational lab-based internship designed for high school students interested in pursuing a career in biomedical research. The program focuses on two areas: Independent research in a stimulating learning environment and professional and personal development.
During your internship, you will get to work on a self-directed project that supports the Principal Investigator’s research objectives and attend lab meetings and sessions where you can form connections with industry professionals and your peers. You will also have the opportunity to experience real biomedical and computational research under the mentorship of real researchers and scientists. Some areas of research you can explore include cancer biology, immunology, pharmacology drug development, and more.
In just 8 weeks, you’ll experience hands-on biomedical research and the center’s cutting-edge facilities, be part of journal clubs, and more. To wrap it all up, you'll get to present your findings during a poster session at the end of your research.
7. UT Health San Antonio BEAT Academy
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible, but this program is limited to around 20 attendees.
Location: UT San Antonio Campus, Texas
Cost: $750
Application Deadline: Rolling | June (tentatively)
2025 Program Dates: TBD
UT Health San Antonio’s BEAT Academy offers high school students the opportunity to learn about the human body directly while visiting their human anatomy lab! As a participant, you'll interact with both real and simulated patients, giving you a glimpse of the realities of medical training, and work on student-based biomolecular experiments.
This program is a good way to be part of the current biomedical research at the UT Health Science Center. More subjects covered include physiology, molecular biology, aging, and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, it includes helpful college prep sessions!
8. Penn Biomedical Research Academy
Eligibility: Open to 9th-11th graders. International students can also apply.
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Cost: This program is not free but financial aid is available for Philadelphia students.
Stipend: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Opens on Dec 1, 2024; deadline yet to be decided.
2025 Program Dates: July 5 – July 26, 2025
The Penn Biomedical Research Academy aims to introduce high school students interested in biomedical research to the experimental basis of cellular, molecular, and genetic aspects of biology, focusing on relevance to diseases. The program consists of three main components: lectures, journal clubs, and lab. This means you’ll get to attend daily lectures, faculty research talks, laboratory experiments, and more.
As a participant, you’ll partake in daily lectures organized by scientists, clinicians, and faculty from the Department of Biology and Penn's School of Medicine. You’ll then be split into smaller groups where you will discuss peer-reviewed research articles under the guidance of a Penn researcher or faculty member. You'll also get to carry out experiments in the same facilities used by undergraduates and explore topics like genome sequencing, vaccines, antibiotic resistance, and more. For more information, here’s the syllabus for 2025.
9. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Eligibility:
Eligible students are high school juniors or seniors who are 16 years and above.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Location: Stanford University, CA
Cost/Stipend: Application fee of $40 | Stipend of $500-$1500
Application Deadline: Applications open on Dec 15, 2024, and close on Feb 22, 2025.
2025 Program Dates: 8 weeks | June 9-July 31, 2025
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is one of the best biomedical research programs for high school students out there; it’s a fairly selective program with a cohort size of around 50 attendees.
As an intern, you’ll be exposed to hands-on research under the guidance of Stanford faculty as well as 1-on-1 mentorship. You can choose eight areas of research, including Cancer Biology, Immunology, Cardiovascular Biology, Genetics and Genomics, and more. At the end of the program, you’ll get to design and present a poster based on the research you’ve done.
10. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program. Applicants must be able to attend full-time (approximately 35 hours per week).
Location: Rockefeller University, New York
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipends may be provided to students who meet the program’s attendance and research requirements and who are experiencing financial hardship.
Application Deadline: Applications are currently open. They close on January 3, 2025.
2025 Program Dates: June 23 – August 7, 2025
The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a team-based mentored research program designed for high school students. The program only accepts 32 students every summer. As a participant, you will be put in 1 of 4 groups of 8-10 scholars and 3 research mentors from Rockefeller, MSK, and WCMC.
Each group will work on different topics, which will be decided based on the team leader’s expertise and scientific interests. For around 7 weeks, you will get to carry out hands-on research as well as access to elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, networking opportunities, and social events. At the end of the program, you will design a poster based on your research findings and present it at the end of the program symposium.
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Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!
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