Biotech Summer Experience

ONLINE APPLICATION OPENS: February 3, 2025, 8:00 AM
APPLICATION CLOSES: March 14, 2025, 11:59 PM
Applications are competitive and space is limited.

The LLNL Biotechnology Summer Experience is a two-week program that engages high school students in an authentic research project in molecular biology and bioinformatics. It focuses on the isolation, characterization, and DNA sequence analyses of genes from the duckweed species, Landoltia punctata. Duckweed is a fresh-water aquatic plant that is of interest to the scientific community.

High school students are expected to work to isolate and purify plasmid DNA and perform PCR (polymerase chain reactions), restriction digests, and gel electrophoresis. Students analyze gene sequences with the same bioinformatic tools used by scientists worldwide. Students' DNA sequences are submitted for publication in the international DNA repository, Genbank, with each published sequence acknowledging the student by name.
 

Eligibility:
* All students must be 16 years or older by the start of the workshop.
* Students age 18 at the start of the workshop must be U. S. citizens.
* Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher to apply
* Students must be entering grades 10–12 in Fall 2025.
* In order to participate in this workshop, applicants must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112. The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing non-public areas of a national security facility like LLNL.

To apply submit:
1) Online application (available February 3, 2025)
2) Most recent high school transcript; unofficial copy will be accepted
3) Biology or Chemistry teacher contact information will be requested
     in the application to obtain a letter of recommendation (Due March 21, 11:59 PM)

Additional information:
* There is NO cost to attend; the workshop is FREE.
* Students must bring their own laptops to the workshop. 
* Lunch is not provided; students may bring lunch or purchase onsite.
* Students are supervised through the lunch hour.
* Students must have their own transportation to and from the workshop.

APPLY