100 activities found·Browse by category
ACS Project SEED
Paid summer research internship in chemistry and biochemistry labs for economically disadvantaged students with a $4,000 stipend.
Alameda County Science & Engineering Fair
County science fair leading to CSEF and ISEF qualification.
Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair (ACSEF)
If you live in Alameda county, this is your regional fair. Essential for qualifying for state/national genetics competitions.
ASDRP (Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program)
A non-profit research institute in Fremont. You join a research group for a semester or summer. Look for the "Genetics & Genomics" department projects.
ASHG DNA Day Essay Contest
Annual essay contest by the American Society of Human Genetics. 2025 Question asks about the challenges of genetic privacy.
ASM Agar Art Contest
Create art using living microorganisms in petri dishes; sponsored by American Society for Microbiology.
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
A 3-month research program in Fremont where students conduct novel research in biology, biochemistry, and life sciences with mentorship from scientists.
Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge
The most rigorous biotechnology project competition. You must have original research (e.g., from a science fair project) to enter.
Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge (Applied Math Track)
A high-level research competition. Winning projects often use bioinformatics (statistical analysis of genetic data).
Berkeley Lab Director's Apprenticeship Program (BLDAP)
A project-based high school STEM program designed to help grades 10-11 develop 21st century skills at Berkeley Lab.
BioGENEius Challenge
Biotechnology research competition for original projects in healthcare, sustainability, and environment.
Biotech Partners (East Bay)
A vocational program for Berkeley/Oakland students that places you in paid internships at companies like Bayer or Grifols.
Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Science video competition explaining life sciences, physics, or math concepts with $250K scholarship prize.
Buck Institute for Research on Aging (Summer Scholars)
Located in Novato. Research focuses on molecular biology of aging. Projects involve significant genetics work (CRISPR, gene expression).
California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF)
State-level science fair; qualify through county/regional fairs for prizes totaling over $30,000.
Camp SEA Lab (Marine Biology)
Marine science summer camp in Monterey featuring sailing adventures, snorkeling, and ocean conservation education.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Young Birders Event
Four-day residential event in Ithaca, NY for high schoolers passionate about birds, connecting them with ornithologists and other bird-related career professionals through fieldwork, talks, and hands-on workshops.
COSMOS UC Davis (Biology/Life Sciences Clusters)
A 4-week intensive residential summer program at UC Davis with biology-focused clusters and college credit available.
COSMOS UC Santa Cruz (Marine Biology/Ecology Clusters)
A 4-week summer STEM program focusing on marine biology and coastal ecology at UC Santa Cruz.
CU Anschutz Department of Pediatrics Summer Research
Summer research opportunity for high school seniors (must be 18+ at start of program) at Children's Hospital Colorado and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, working in faculty labs on developmental biology and pediatric medicine projects. Application typically due February 1.
CU Boulder Science Discovery – STEM Research Experience
Seven-week summer program at the University of Colorado Boulder where high school students work 15-20 hours per week alongside graduate students and faculty on real research projects in biology, engineering, neuroscience, and other STEM fields, plus a research methods class on finding and evaluating scientific articles. Concludes with a STEM Research EXPO where students present their poster.
CU Pre-Health Scholars Program (CUPS) – High School Track
Free pathway program at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus that exposes 9th-12th grade scholars to research, STEAM, and health-care careers through workshops, mentoring, and campus visits.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab Residential Marine Science Class
A four-week residential marine science immersion on Alabama's Gulf Coast for rising 9th-12th graders, combining over 160 hours of fieldwork, labs, and lectures in oceanography and marine ecology, with need- and merit-based scholarships available.
Davidson Fellows (Science)
Prestigious scholarship program awarding up to $50,000 for significant original research projects in biology and science fields.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science – Teen Science Scholars
Selective paid internship that places 20 high schoolers from underserved or underrepresented backgrounds into the Museum's Science Division each year, doing real scientific work alongside Museum scientists and exploring museum and STEM careers. Includes a stipend of about $1,800 per session plus professional development in public speaking and college planning.
Drexel University Biomedical Engineering Summer Institute
A Drexel University pre-college summer institute where high schoolers get an introduction to biomedical engineering through lab work and design projects on Drexel's Philadelphia campus.
Earthwatch Teen Expeditions (Ignite Fellowship)
Fully-funded field research expeditions run by the nonprofit Earthwatch Institute that place high schoolers alongside professional scientists studying conservation topics like wildlife, climate, and habitat protection.
Eckerd College Pre-College Marine Science
A one-week residential program on Eckerd's Gulf of Mexico waterfront campus where high school juniors and seniors do hands-on field and lab work spanning marine biology, marine geology, and marine chemistry.
Ecology Project International (EPI)
Nonprofit that runs 5-14 day field ecology expeditions in biodiverse ecosystems (Yellowstone, Costa Rica, Baja, the Galápagos) where high school students conduct hands-on conservation research alongside professional scientists and local land managers.
GeneLab for High Schools (NASA Ames)
Summer program at NASA Ames analyzing spaceflight genomics data with a capstone symposium competition.
Genes in Space
Design a DNA experiment (PCR, etc.) to be performed on the International Space Station. Winners get their experiment launched to space.
Genome Science Camp (Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center)
An advanced hands-on genomics camp at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's DNA Learning Center for students entering grades 11-12 with a genetics or AP Biology background, who manufacture Taq DNA polymerase and use it in PCR-based genomic analysis of several organisms.
Golden Gate STEM Fair
Regional science fair pathway to CSEF and ISEF for Bay Area high school students.
Golden Gate STEM Fair (GGSF)
The ISEF-affiliated fair for the SF Bay Area. You must enter the "Biological Sciences" category with a genetics project.
Heal the Bay – MPA Watch Internship
Ten-week summer internship at Heal the Bay's Science, Policy, and Outreach Department in Santa Monica, California. Interns conduct field surveys at Marine Protected Areas, contribute to coastal conservation research, and gain experience in environmental social science and policy. Unpaid with a transportation stipend; runs early June through early August.
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
While based in Alabama, they offer excellent virtual bioinformatics short courses ("Code of Life") for high schoolers.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.