Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Practice laboratory research and present a medical topic in this two-week Dartmouth academy for high school students.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 for classroom experience by students who took this course in 2026.
Course Description
Students follow the path from basic scientific discovery to clinical application. Hands-on laboratory work, interactive seminars, and visits to Dartmouth research settings introduce the methods and institutions that help move an idea from the laboratory bench to patient care.
Students practice microscopy and micropipetting, examine cell division, diagnose a sickle cell case through gel electrophoresis, test enzyme activity in a catalase lab, and compare brain structures in a preserved sheep brain dissection. A zebrafish lab visit introduces model organisms and confocal microscopy.
Two visits to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center extend the investigation into chemistry and microbiology labs, pathology, clinical simulation, genomics, and medical imaging. Students also examine clinical trials, regulation, research ethics, and the responsibilities involved in human and animal research.
In teams of two or three, students choose a cutting-edge medical topic, find both primary and reputable secondary sources, and create a visual and oral presentation. The project asks them to explain the most important findings clearly and connect the topic with the bench-to-bedside process.
This two-week full-day academy is part of Dartmouth Precollege Summer Scholars. Students spend the full program focused on one intensive academy. The academy is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic work with campus life, growing independence, and clearer direction about what students may want to study or pursue next. The program is developed and academically led by Dartmouth.
What Will You Do?
• Practice microscopy, micropipetting, and laboratory documentation
• Diagnose a sickle cell case through gel electrophoresis
• Test enzyme activity and examine cell division
• Visit a zebrafish lab and learn about model organisms
• Participate in a preserved sheep brain dissection
• Tour pathology, genomics, imaging, and other facilities at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
• Research and present a cutting-edge medical topic with a team
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate foundational laboratory techniques and accurate scientific documentation
• Explain how biomedical discoveries move from research toward patient care
• Synthesize credible sources and present core findings from a team research project
Students leave with laboratory records and a collaborative research presentation, stronger scientific literacy, and clearer direction about medicine, biomedical science, clinical research, or biotechnology.
Why Biomedical Research Skills Matter
Biomedical research requires careful technique, accurate records, and the patience to connect one experiment with a much longer path toward patient care. Students learn that a promising finding must be tested, reviewed, and interpreted before it can support a diagnosis or treatment.
Laboratory practice and literature research develop precision, scientific literacy, and collaboration. Ethics discussions add responsibility for research involving people and animals. These habits matter in medicine, biology, neuroscience, genetics, biotechnology, public health, clinical trials, and other fields where evidence must be both rigorous and responsibly used.
Who Should Attend?
This academy is for high school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and are interested in medicine, biology, genetics, neuroscience, biotechnology, or clinical research. It is a strong fit for students who want laboratory practice together with a broader understanding of how discoveries reach patients.
Participants should be ready to follow laboratory safety directions, keep careful records, read scientific sources, collaborate on a research project, and discuss human and animal research ethics. The course includes preserved specimens and a sheep brain dissection; students who are concerned about these activities should speak with the instructor early. Closed-toe shoes are required in laboratory spaces.
Recommended by 9 out of 10 Students
Based on students surveyed in the Dartmouth Precollege Summer Scholars program (2026)
Why Dartmouth?
Dartmouth Precollege Summer Scholars gives high school students a concentrated introduction to college-level learning in Hanover, New Hampshire. The program is developed and academically led by Dartmouth. Students explore current ideas through discussion, projects, and sustained work that helps them test an academic interest in depth.
Residential students live in Dartmouth residence halls, eat at 53 Commons, and can join workshops and counselor-supported evening and weekend activities. Time in Hanover and the Upper Valley adds a distinctive New England setting, while the broader experience helps students build independence and clarify what they may want to study next.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive