2025 High School Bioinformatics Summer Camp
July 7 - August 1, 2025
Overview
The RNA Institute High School Bioinformatics Summer Camp is a competitive summer training program held virtually for high school students. The camp delivers training in analyzing RNA sequencing data through live daily lectures, support by UAlbany-affiliated mentors, and completing an independent bioinformatics project based in neurodegenerative disease research. This unique camp will provide students with vital skillsets and tools for advanced degrees and careers in any STEM field.
Apply to the 2025 High School Bioinformatics Summer Camp here! *APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED*
Interested in sponsoring a student? Learn more about donation opportunities below!
2025 Bioinformatics Summer Camp Information
Summary
Summary
Class of 2025
Below is a summary of the High School Bioinformatics Summer Camp:
4 weeks in length, starts July 7 and ends August 1
After being selected to the program, students will receive a welcome email with information, including some pre-course work and administrative paperwork, by the end of May
The pre-course work develops basic programming skills, and these short online courses should be completed prior to the start date of July 7
Participants are expected to be available for lectures, small group sessions, and seminars (all virtual)
The camp will teach the basic skills of R coding, high performance computing via the command line, and RNA sequencing data interpretation and visualization as a project-based program analyzing various neurodegenerative disease datasets (such as Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, ALS, Parkinson's disease, & more)
All participants will present their completed bioinformatics research project on August 1
Participants are invited to present their final project in-person as a research poster at the annual RNA Institute RNA Day on August 1
Participants unable to present their final project on RNA Day will submit a virtual poster presentation on August 1
Official Certificate of Completion and Introduction to Bioinformatics Skills digital badge will be awarded based on the successful completion of the program
Early Application Deadline: February 1, 2025 (for reduced price)
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 (for full price)
Eligibility
Eligibility
- No prior experience needed!
- High school academic level only
- Must have GPA above 3.0
- Time commitment of 15-20 hours per week for four weeks
- Includes daily lectures, daily small group sessions, weekly seminars, & independent work
- At least one-year high school biology credit
- Access to consistent high speed internet
Costs
Costs
- Accepted trainees who apply prior to the Early Application Deadline of February 1, 2025:
- Price: $1,100.00
- Accepted trainees who apply after Early Application but prior to the final deadline of March 31, 2025:
- Price: $1,200.00
- Important note: payment waivers may be available based on financial need (details in application form)
- Payments will be required after confirming acceptance into the High School Bioinformatics Summer Camp
2025 Schedule
2025 Schedule
Note: This includes currently scheduled times for all meetings in the program. Any changes will be updated and shared with accepted trainees as soon as possible. Details of lecture, seminar, and small group session topics will be directly provided to accepted trainees. All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Week 1
Monday, July 7, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 1
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 1
Tuesday, July 8, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 2
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 2
Wednesday, July 9, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 3
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 3
- Independent Work: Homework Assignment 1
Thursday, July 10, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 4
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 4
Friday, July 11, 2025:
- 9:30AM-10:30AM: Seminar 1
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 5
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 5
Week 2
Monday, July 14, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 6
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 6
Tuesday, July 15, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 7
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 7
Wednesday, July 16, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 8
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 8
- Independent Work: Homework Assignment 2
Thursday, July 17, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 9
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 9
Friday, July 18, 2025:
- 9:30AM-10:30AM: Seminar 2
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 10
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 10
Week 3
Monday, July 21, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 11
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 11
- Independent Work: Homework Assignment 3
Tuesday, July 22, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 12
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 12
Wednesday, July 23, 2025:
- 12:00PM-1:00PM: Lecture 13
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 13
- Independent Work: Work on Project
Thursday, July 24, 2025: *No more scheduled lectures*
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 14 (Project check-in)
- Independent Work: Work on Project
Friday, July 25, 2025:
- 9:30AM-10:30AM: Seminar 3
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 15 (Project check-in)
- Independent Work: Work on Project
Week 4
Monday, July 28, 2025:
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 16 (Project check-in)
- Independent Work: Work on Project
Tuesday, July 29, 2025:
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 17 (Project check-in)
- Independent Work: Work on Project
Wednesday, July 30, 2025:
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 18 (Project check-in)
- Independent Work: Work on Project
Thursday, July 31, 2025:
- 3:00PM-4:00PM: Small Group Session 19 (Project check-in)
- Independent Work: Work on Project
Friday, August 1, 2025:
- 9:30AM-4:00PM: Final Project Presentation Day (Schedule TBD)
2025 Small Groups
2025 Small Groups
Note: Groups, group leaders, and trainees will be assigned and posted here as well as shared directly with accepted trainees. Member names are updated as of May 6, 2025 and may change due to further acceptances.
| Group | 1 | 2a | 2b | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Topic | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) | Huntington's disease (HD) | Myotonic dystrophy (DM) | Parkinson's disease (PD) | Alzheimer's disease (AD) |
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Sponsorship
Sponsorship
Those interested in supporting the 2025 RNA Institute High School Bioinformatics Camp can donate the cost of tuition and sponsor an accepted student. Steps to donate include the following:
- Visit the RNA Institute's main website and click on the DONATE button
- Type $1,200 (full cost of tuition) in areas requiring donation amount
- Select "New Gift" option
- Select "Give Now" option
- For the comments section there are two options:
- If you are interested in sponsoring a specific student, please leave the comment of "For the RNA Institute in honor of [student's name]." Important Note: Student must have already received acceptance into the program
- If you are interested in sponsoring any student, please leave the comment of "For the RNA Institute in honor of their bioinformatics programs."
- Fill in the required contact information
- All remaining sections are optional
- Select payment method
- Contact [email protected] with any issues
Thank you for considering a donation to the students of this training camp!