Students conduct biological research and explore the extremely hot topic of synthetic biology. This field aims to identify genes that cause genetic diseases, providing a jumping off point for therapeutic intervention. High schoolers, come join us on the cutting edge of science this summer in our three week pre-college program!
Synthetic Biology has won numerous awards and sold out multiple years in a row. Why? Because this cutting-edge program, one of the most lab-intensive at BLI, covers topics you won’t see in high school. Synthetic Biology, gene therapy, and genetic engineering will allow scientists to eliminate genetic diseases and mutations, saving lives across the globe. Genetic engineers are working to eliminate cancer-causing mutations, lessen the impact of Down Syndrome, and provide the ability to hear to deaf patients for the first time. They can even engineer bacteria to break down plaque in the bloodstream, eliminating blood clots that would otherwise result in fatal strokes. The new frontier of modern medicine has arrived, and this summer at BLI, you can be a part of it.
This is a competitive admissions summer research program designed for teens.
Cost and Session Information
Applications are open for Summer 2025:
Session 1: June 23 - July 11, 2025 | Olin College, Needham, MA
Session 2: July 14 - August 1, 2025 |Gann/Bentley, Waltham, MA
Testimonials(10)
"I thought the program was very informative and I learned a lot more about synthetic biology than I have in school. I especially liked the labs, because I had never used real, lab equipment to do synthetic biology before. It exposed me to what working in a lab would be like, which I really appreciate. The teacher was very knowledgeable and engaging and could always answer our questions well."
- Student Comment- July 12, 2019
"The program is really intensive and I appreciate how much insight I gained because I was able to figure out if synthetic biology was a good fit for me and it was! Jim was a good teacher and was really open to answering questions the field trips gave me some insight on how synthetic biology was used in the real world."
- Student Comment- August 2, 2019
"I really enjoyed the class topic and labs that we did in the afternoon. I feel as if Jim explained all of the aspects of synthetic biology very well. The program was not too easy or too advanced so it was a perfect level for me. I learned a lot from this class and having Jim as a teacher made it even better."
- Student Comment- August 2, 2019
"This was the first summer program that I had taken, and it really set the bar high. The classes, labs and the field trips were conducted professionally and the lectures were very well composed. Jim did a very good job at explaining me concepts which I had never known of. The TA's (Clara, Mary and Aaron) did a very good job at organizing the labs and made the full learning process very fun."
- Student Comment- August 3, 2018
"The program was wonderful so was the teacher and the TA's! I thoroughly enjoyed all the labs and activities we did. The lectures were engaging and challenging in the best way possible. The topics we covered were extremely relevant and made me start to consider synthetic biology as an additional field I would want to go into. I really enjoyed the field trips we took, they provided awesome exposure."
- Student Comment- August 3, 2018
"The program was extremely interesting and I learned so much in these 3 weeks. It has inspired me to want to do my own research in synthetic biology in the future. Also, it has helped me see the ways I can help our world become a better place through science. Jim was one of the best teachers I have ever had. He is very knowledgeable on the topic and he was able to balance the different levels of experience of the students. Whenever I went to lecture in the morning I was always excited for what we were going to learn that day. In addition, he never held back information due to our age, and instead he found ways to explain complex topics in ways we could understand. Lastly, in lab we were able to practice techniques that real scientists use. I enjoyed looking at our results especially for the CRISPR. Overall, I was an amazing experience and I am so happy that I did the program this summer. "
- Student Comment- July 13, 2018
'This program was a great opportunity for me to explore the world of synthetic biology and I think Jim was a wonderful choice to teach this class, as well as the TA's Autumn and Ryan were always willing to answer any questions.'
- Student Comment- July 15, 2016
'The program was impeccable. I loved it, and it was a wonderful intellectual experience. Jim was such an amazing teacher. He was funny, helpful and wonderful. I feel like I had a new appreciation for synthetic biology and I feel more empowered to pursue biology and biological research...'
- Student Comment- August 5, 2016
'Jim was an amazing instructor. The TA's were great with lab preparation as well. Jim had very structured lectures, he was energetic and funny, whilst still bringing the concept through for us to understand. The class taught specific techniques that would be very useful for using real world lab and the CRISPR lab taught us a revolutionary technology.'
- Student Comment- July 7, 2017
'I liked the program and especially the labs that we did because we get to do things and use equipment beyond what is available in school. Jim is a great teacher and did a great job balancing different levels of previous knowledge/experience that people have.'
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