Online Summer Program on Biotech and Bioinformatics for High School Students 2021

The Summer 2021 Program is no longer running. Please visit Biotech-Biomedical Summer Program 20220 and Bioinformatics Summer Program 2022.

This year, we will have two online programs:

1. 2-Week Online Summer Program on Biotech & Biosciences: ideal for the students who want to gain college-level exposure to molecular biology, microbiology, virology, biochemistry, etc.
2. 2-Week Online Summer Program on Bioinformatics & Computational Biology: ideal for students who want to gain college-level exposure to Molecular Biology, Genetics, Drug Discovery, Computational Biology & Bioinformatics.

It’s Tried and Tested (Feedback from Previous Students)

Our Online Pre-College Program on Biotechnology/Biomedical 2020 and Online Summer Program on Bioinformatics were pretty successful this last summer.

Improve Your College Admission Chances

Below is an excerpt of an essay by one of the attendees of the 2019 cohort who got into UC Berkeley, UBC & Toronto:

Why Biotechnology & Biosciences?

As we all know, Biotechnology and Biosciences (Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Bioinformatics, etc.) sound very exciting for high school students. But, the difference between the high school curriculum and the college curriculum is pretty wide.

Why Bioinformatics for High School Students?

Biology in the 21st century is expanding from a purely laboratory-based science to an information-aided one.

Recent developments in both molecular biology and information technology have made biological data much more readily available to scientists and to educational institutions, and this growing amount of data has creaed an “absolute requirement” for the use of computers to organize, analyze, and process such information. Know more about the scopes and applications of bioinformatics in medicine and biotechnology.

Advantages of Exposure to Bioinformatics in High School

Bioinformatics is used to understand and treat genetic conditions, discern evolutionary relationships, and learn about how diseased cells and/or proteins (e.g. cancer cells) differ from normal cells and/or proteins.

According to the NCBI, “the ultimate goal of the field [bioinformatics] is to enable the discovery of new biological insights as well as to create a global perspective from which unifying principles in biology can be discerned”.

With bioinformatics, it is possible to identify disease-associated genes and genetic markers. Additionally, bioinformatics also helps with the prediction of three-dimensional structures of protein & organism evolution; and design of new drugs; data sharing.

Bioinformatics has been taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels since the 2000s. But, the efforts of introducing high school students to bioinformatics started only in 2012 – 2013.

Why should High School Students attend Summer Schools?

In today’s competitive world of academics, the benefits of attending a summer school program are abundant for young and aspiring students.

There are so many social, cultural, and academic benefits, which are more far-reaching than one can expect from a normal course of study.

Summer programs and online bootcamps have become very popular among curious and ambitious high school students.

The concept of such summer/winter program is like crash course programs from experts of their respective fields of specialization which can immensely help the students with their varied experience and knowledge.

How Can Online Summer Program on Biotechnology & Biosciences Help?

This in return helps students to focus and prepare for their respective careers. The interaction with the students and faculty members helps in developing communication, presentation, and leadership skills.

The best parts about these programs are students can go beyond their syllabus and grasp knowledge which they can endure for a lifetime. It provides fantastic exposure to academia and industry as the experts share their life experiences, which come really handy for the students.

Finally, it’s online. Right now, that’s the best possible option.

Worried about the hands-on experience part? Keep reading!

Why Attend Summer Program on Biotech & Bio-Sciences?

The field of Biology is very exciting, extremely dynamic, and ever-emerging. Though disciplines like biotechnology and biomedical engineering have been getting a lot of interest, the career scopes of biology after 12th remain largely esoteric and unexplored.

Too Many Career Options in Biology

There are many exciting career options in Biology. Some of the popular ones are as follows:

• MBBS / BDS
• Biotechnology / Specializations in Biological Sciences (e.g. Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Bioinformatics etc.)
• General Courses (e.g. BSc Botany, Zoology, Biology, etc.)
• B.Pharm and other Allied Health Sciences
• Food Science and Agriculture
• Forensic Science
• Emerging Options – Virology, Bioinformatics, Marine Biology, Astrobiology, etc.

Exploring College-Level Biology and Evaluating Career Options Early is Beneficial for Long-Term Career

There are many kids who enjoy Biology. But, they are not always sure of which career path to take. Be it MBBS, Forensic Science, or Biotechnology – nothing is easy.

The choice of a subject may define your career and your life thereof. From a wide range of study and career options in the biotechnology and bio-sciences domain, you need to identify your core strengths and choose an avenue you are confident of.

Read Key Things to Know Before Starting a Career in Medicine and Common Problems Faced By Biotechnology Students in India. So, it’s only wise to evaluate all the options, and then taking a well-informed decision.

Online Summer Program on Biotech, Biosciences & Computational Biology 2021

By SHRM Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd. and Stoodnt, Inc.

Who Can Attend the Summer Program on Biotech-Bioinformatics?

This program has been tailored for the students of Class 8 – 12, who have got a deep interest in Biology and Biosciences. This is the most crucial growth period in terms of technical knowledge that makes a difference to the student’s career as well as to the scientific community.

Students in other grades who have a deep interest in Biosciences, Biotech, Computer Science, Coding, Biology along with some advanced exposure (ICT, Coding, etc.) are also welcome.

Program 1: Summer Program on Biotech and Biosciences – ideal for Grade 8 – 12 students

Day 1: Molecular Biology

• Introduction to DNA Structure and replication
• DNA Isolation Experiment (hands-on) – we will teach you how to perform this at home

Day 2: Biochemistry

• Introduction to Biochemistry: pH and Buffers
• Soap Preparation (hands-on) – isn’t that cool?
• Determining the Alkalinity of Milk (hands-on) – sounds fun, right?

Day 3: Microbiology & Virology

• What is a virus?
• Short introduction about COVID-19 (Why is it named so? Why is it so dangerous or how does it spread rapidly compared to other viruses)?
• Working principle of sanitizer against general microbes and COVID-19
• Prepare an alcohol-based sanitizer at home – yes, let’s learn some useful tricks!
• What are the functions of individual sanitizer components?
• How does PPE protect against COVID 19?
• Why soap is considered a more powerful alternative than sanitizers against COVID 19? (Hands-on practical)

Day 4: Diagnostics & Therapeutics

• What are the tests done for COVID detection?
• RT PCR, ELISA, temperature and symptoms screening
• Understanding what is PCR and its application
• MCQ test
• The action of currently approved medicines and therapies against viral diseases
• Schematic diagram of RT PCR or ELISA or plasma therapy
• How vaccines are developed/manufactured?

Day 5: Community Hygiene & Public Health

• What do you mean by good hygiene? What are the basic principles to keep yourself safe in various societies (schools, restaurants, shopping malls, and at home)?
• Design a model to keep your society from COVID 19 – Practical Assignment

Day 6: Career and College Admission Guidance

• Guidance on Subject and Course Selection
• Introduction to Various Course Curriculum in College (e.g. BSc Biotechnology vs BSc Microbiology vs BSc Biomedical Engineering)
• College Admission Guidance (India & Abroad)

Program 2: Summer Program on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology – ideal for Grade 10 – 12 students

Day 1: Introduction to Molecular Biology, Omics (Genomics & Proteomics), and Bioinformatics

• Students will learn the advanced theoretical concepts of Genes, Genomics, DNA, RNA, Protein, and Bioinformatics Tools.
• RNA and mRNA
• Application of various software for m-RNA analysis
• Practical Assignment: how to perform DNA isolation at home?

Day 2: Evolution of the Novel Coronavirus with BLAST software

Learn how the novel Coronavirus has possibly evolved with the help of the interesting BLAST software. It allows you to see the similarity between different species. It is awesome how a simple computer program can give vivid information about the origin of a virus!

Day 3: Drug Discovery, CADD (Computer-Aided Drug Design)

Appeal to your inner hidden scientist and learn how to develop drugs against COVID-19 from scratch. Discover today and lead tomorrow.

CADD, or Computer-based drug designing, is the coolest tool out there, used by scientists across the world for the purpose of designing drugs. Why don’t you learn the tricks this winter?

Day 4: Biostatistics and Programming

• Biostatistics and Genetics
• Use of Statistics
• Data Storage Software
• Sequence Alignment
• Molecular Docking

Day 5: Biochemistry, Microbiology & Diagnostics

• Introduction to Biochemistry: pH and Buffers
• Tests for COVID-19: RT PCR, ELISA, temperature and symptoms screening
• MCQ test
• The action of currently approved medicines and therapies against viral diseases
• Schematic diagram of RT PCR or ELISA or plasma therapy
• Practical Assignments: Soap Preparation and Determining Milk Alkanility (At-home experiments)

Day 6: Career and College Admissions (India & Abroad)

• Guidance on Subjects and Courses
• Career Paths in Biotechnology & Bioinformatics after Class 12
• Profile Building for College Admissions
• College Application Essays

Participating Certificate

The program will also involve thoughtful assignments and case studies for the students so that they make the most of it.

Certificates will be provided to the students (by SHRM Biotechnologies and Stoodnt) only on the successful completion of the program, assignments, and case studies.