Life Sciences
Applications for Winter and Spring 2026 are now open! 
In collaboration with the Boz Institute, this program offers a distinctive research-based learning experience in the life sciences. Participants will engage in fieldwork and explore core topics in molecular biology, complemented by training in modern laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, and statistical analysis. Students will integrate foundational scientific knowledge with critical research skills, including literature review, hypothesis development, experimental design, sample collection and processing, data analysis, and scientific communication. The program culminates in a formal poster presentation, where students will showcase their research to local scientists and industry professionals.
Hear from our students in the Testimonials drop-down below!
Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics (Live Online)
Winter, Spring & Summer 2026
Neurogenomics of a Developing Brain Under Heat and Nutrient Stress (Hybrid)
Winter 2026
Marine Biology: Mammalian (Dolphins and Sea Lions) Chemistry and Genomics (Hybrid)
Spring & Summer 2026
Space is limited, and students will be accepted on a rolling basis. All applications for Spring 2026 courses will close on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Applications are subject to closing earlier should the program meet its enrollment capacity.
Boz Team
Our Research Scholars Life Sciences courses are taught by the research scientists and instructors from the Boz Institute.
Stay Informed
Please be sure to sign up about our future courses and programs. We'll be sure to let you know when upcoming courses are available via email.
Student Research
Curious about what our Research Scholars have accomplished? Take a look at the Student Research Poster Archive to explore past student projects and discoveries.
Other Program Information
Application
Application: Click here to apply!
Space is limited, and students will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications are subject to closing earlier should the program meet its enrollment capacity.
- Winter 2026 Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Spring 2026 Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday, March 13, 2026
- Summer 2026 Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday, June 5, 2026
Payment Deadline: Within two weeks of acceptance, or sooner if the program begins earlier.
Testimonials
HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS!
"The experience I got from the Research Scholars Life Science program made me realize that I wanted to follow a path into research in genetics, leading me to fundamentally change all my previous plans to follow that dream, and to this day I do not regret this decision even a single bit." - Adrian M.
"The Boz Institute helped me understand the ever-expanding opportunities and discoveries happening in the world of science. It was one of the first science classes I took outside of school." - Nydia G.
"The program I was in was an excellent introduction to the more practical side of science, providing a full lab experience as well as work with scientific communication that I previously hadn't gotten anywhere." - Wyatt F.
"The Boz Institute gave me the full scientific experience that I never got in school - how to design and perform an experiment, and how to present it scientifically as researchers to an audience. The hands-on experience was greatly valuable and helped me solidify what I wanted to study!" - Isha M.
"I learned a lot and gained experience in making research posters, public speaking and laboratory procedures from Boz." Grace
"My time interning at the Boz Institute gave me invaluable exposure to real scientific research and strengthened my ability to work with complex data. Through hands-on lab experience and data extraction, I learned how to critically analyze results, identify patterns, and translate raw information into meaningful insights. This experience helped me better understand how research questions are developed and answered, and it reinforced the importance of precision, organization, and critical thinking in scientific work. Overall, my internship at Boz deepened my appreciation for research and solidified my interest in pursuing science in an academic and clinical context." - Melania A.
"The Boz Institute has taught me not only to think criticially and pay attention to detail, but also what science truly is." - Hazel C.
"It was only through this program that I got to truly begin to realize how connected we are with other life forms- primates and even with as seemingly distant species as zebra fish! This opportunity demonstrated how exactly scientific method works and how to implement them through making us do so." - Samiha T.
"The Boz Institute gave me valuable experience that went beyond just technical skills. I had the opportunity to practice working in diverse teams, network, and communicate my work in a professional setting. These things have opened many doors for me as I begin my undergraduate education, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this program." - Zion K.
"I got lots of hands on lab experience at Boz which I did not really get in high school (and it) helped me solidify the fact that I want to study STEM in college." - Michael C.
"Boz Institute fosters an environment that instills curiosity and ingenuity in its students. Their programs allow young scientists to gain hands-on experience in real, meaningful research, from developing hypotheses and conducting experiments to collecting and analyzing data that can be shared with the scientific community. Most importantly, Boz bridges the gap between revolutionary research skills and science communication through poster presentations and symposiums, helping students learn how to present their work with confidence. This, along with their commitment to the environment and life-science research, equips students with the skills and perspectives they need to succeed and make a genuine impact in scientific fields." - Dalila S.
"Great research opportunity!" - Hieu N.
"I thank the Boz Institute for introducing scientific research as a sophisticated, skills-based process built upon foundational knowledge. My program helped me understand the importance of background expertise and technical ability in planning, executing, and evaluating studies." - Aiden H.
"Boz Institute was my first introduction into hands-on biology techniques and research and the programs I participated in were really impactful for my further interest in biology. I not only learned a lot of discipline-specific techniques I also learned how to present the research we conducted in a more meaningful way." - Emma L.
"I am surprised this opportunity was open to high schoolers because what you do in the program and in-lab is what many undergraduates do. It is a good program to get acquainted with lab work and research before college." - Isabel
"I participated in the Marine Biology Summer Immersion program in 2021 as a junior in high school. It was my first exposure to the research process and was a key factor in me deciding to do research when I enrolled in college. The skills we learned for statistical analysis transferred over to when I started research projects in college." - Tatenda N.
"The Boz Institute exposed me to research techniques often not available to high schoolers. I developed my critical thinking skills and learned how to be flexible and interpret results." - Jade L.
FAQs
What are 90000 level pre-college units?
Are award of completion certificates available?
How do I request an official/unofficial transcript?
How do I access my grade report?
What are 90000 level pre-college units?
Courses numbered 90000-99999 are non-credit-bearing, pre-college-level courses designed to provide an opportunity for students to explore academic interests or prepare for college admission. Research Scholars pre-college units may be transferable for secondary school credit at the discretion of the receiving institution. Students should discuss the transferability of individual courses with the registrar of their secondary school prior to enrolling.
Are award of completion certificates available?
Award of completion certificates are not available for the courses. However, students are welcome to request a transcript or downloand and print their grade report by logging in your MyExtension here.
How do I request an official/unofficial transcript?
For instructions on how to order and pay for an official/unofficial transcript, please click here. If you’ve never ordered transcripts through Parchment before, you will need to register for a Parchment account. Details can be found from the link above. All transcripts will be printed and delivered by one of the methods listed here. Transcript requests are processed by Student Services. Should you have any questions, please contact them at unex-reg@ucsd.edu.
Please note that when grades are not yet posted for the current term, you can still request an official transcript by selecting the "Hold for current quarter grades" option on the transcript request form, which instructs Student Services to wait to send the transcript until all current grades are officially posted to your academic record. This process ensures the transcript reflects your most up-to-date academic performance before it is sent to the requested recipient.
You can also view/download your grade report by logging in your MyExtension here without needing to make a payment.
How do I access my grade report?
Your final grade reports will be available in MyExtension within three weeks after the last day of class. For current blended, hybrid or online courses, you can access grades for individual assignments through Canvas or by contacting your instructor.
Acceptance
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status within ten business days following submission of their application, contingent upon program capacity.
The tuition balance must be paid in full within 2 weeks of your acceptance into the program or sooner if the program starts soon.
Payment plans are available, but must be requested when accepted into the program at least two months in advance to the start date of the program. Please note that there is an additional fee when processing a payment plan.
Cancellation/Refund Policies
Students will receive a full refund for a cancellation or withdrawl from a course if this is requested 15 business days in advance of a course start date. Refunds are not granted for students who are dismissed from the program.
You can drop courses online in a few easy steps:
- Log in to MyExtension.
- Navigate to "My Courses" and select the course you would like to drop.
- On the right side under "Tools" select "Drop Course."
- In the pop-up window that appears, select "Submit."
Or submit a written drop request:
- By fax: (858) 534-8527
- In person at either Student Services location
- By email: unex-reg@ucsd.edu
You may file a petition for an exception to the refund policy if you are unable to continue enrollment for one of the following reasons:
- Sudden serious personal illness, injury or hospitalization
- The sudden serious illness, injury, hospitalization or death of a close member of your family
- Compulsory military service
- A documented administrative error that affected your enrollment
- Extreme and unusual circumstances which were beyond your control
Refunds will take approximately four to six weeks to process. Refunds are issued in the same method of payment (check or charge) of payment to the program.