Summer Springboard
Biotechnology
ON THE CAMPUS OF UC SAN DIEGO
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN A BIOTECH LAB ON STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT WITH SCIENTISTS FOCUSED ON PARKINSON’S DISEASE RESEARCH
Biotechnology @ UC San Diego
- Conduct experiments in a state-of-the-art biotech lab.
- Work with scientists researching Parkinson’s disease.
- Learn lab safety and experimental design techniques.
- Explore DNA extraction and gel electrophoresis.
- Visit local biotech companies and research institutions.
- Present findings through a scientific poster session.
Summer Springboard
Biotechnology
About This Course
This immersive biotechnology course places students in a professional research environment where they gain firsthand experience working in a cutting-edge lab alongside scientists studying Parkinson’s disease.
Set in San Diego, a global hub for biotech innovation, the program introduces students to foundational concepts in molecular biology, genetics, and biomedical research.
Through guided lab experiments, students learn essential techniques such as DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, pipetting, and bacterial transformation. They also gain an understanding of how biotech innovations are applied in the real world to solve complex health challenges.
The program culminates with a scientific poster session where students present their findings, simulating the experience of a real biotech professional.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Biotechnology is all about harnessing the power of living cells and materials for use in environmental, diagnostic, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. In this course, students have the ability to actually create something in chemistry lab and test it its biological state. In small groups, students will spend time learning from experts and practicing applied methods from the very beginning of drug discovery (stage zero) to the point right before animal testing.
Career Exploration
The biotechnology industry draws from a variety of different specialties, with microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, and I.T. all having a significant impact. Zenobia Therapeutics was founded in 2008 with a focus on discovering treatments for neurodegenerative diseases using fragment-based lead discovery.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I had a great time! I was able to get a lot of freedom as a rising sophomore in high school. I was able to meet people from all over the world, network and cultivate long lasting friendships. Showed a lot of interesting things about myself and future career and college plans. Thanks SSB @ UCSD!”
– Remy K. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Biotechnology
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Vicki Nienaber is well known for her pioneering work in the field of drug discovery using fragment-based screening and structure-based drug design.
She has been awarded grants from the Michael J Fox Foundation, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation. At Zenobia Therapeutics, where Dr. Nienaber serves as President and Chief Scientific Officer, her work is focused on applying these methods to identify compounds with the right properties to cross the blood-brain-barrier, a major obstacle in central nervous system drug discovery.
Most recently, Dr. Nienaber founded XplorStem LLC with a dream to provide a quality, equitable science education to all students. XplorStem is a science education company founded in 2019 with a National Science Foundation grant. It provides guided learning through an online platform and includes hands-on laboratories that reproduce historic scientific discoveries.
VICKI NIENABER-MEADOWS, PH.D.
“Overall this is one of the best camp experiences I have had! I’ve learned so much from this 2 week course (at UC San Diego) and made so many new connections with many different people!!”
– Naveen N. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Biotechnology
Dates & Tuition
| 2025 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 29 – July 11, 2025 |
| Session 2: July 13 – July 25, 2025 |
| Session 3: July 27 – August 8, 2025 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,698 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
| Course Supplement: $250 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: San Diego |
| State: California |
| Campus: UC San Diego |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.