Dear students,
If you’re serious about biology—olympiads, research, or just not wanting to be bored by surface-level science anymore—you’ve got two very different (but equally powerful) options this year. One puts you physically in a lab in Boston, the other brings cutting-edge biology straight to your screen with a Harvard professor Sam Kunes. The real question isn’t if you should do one… it’s which format fits you better.
The BioResearch Academy (June 23 – July 10, 2026) is the in-person, full immersion experience. This is where you stop being a student who studies biology and start acting like someone who actually does research. Based in Boston, surrounded by institutions like Harvard and MIT, you’ll spend your days working through experimental design, analyzing real data, and running lab experiments that don’t always go according to plan—because real science rarely does. It’s intense, hands-on, and designed to push you into thinking independently, not just following instructions. If you’re aiming for competitions like USABO or IBO, or planning to pursue research seriously, this kind of environment gives you a noticeable edge fast.
On the other hand, if traveling or committing to a residential program in the USA isn’t realistic, the Advanced BioResearch Program 2026 (Online) offers a strong alternative. Taught live on Zoom by Prof Sam Kunes, this program focuses on the intersection of biology and technology—the part most school curriculums barely touch. You’ll explore how breakthroughs like CRISPR, next–generation sequencing, and advanced microscopy are actually used to answer big biological questions. You’ll apply what you learn to design your own research proposal, which gets evaluated with real feedback from the instructional team.
Over ten weeks of live sessions, you’ll move through topics like mapping the brain with sequencing technologies, visualizing gene expression in space, editing genomes with precision tools, and even designing synthetic biological systems. For students building a college portfolio or trying to stand out in applications, that final research project can be a major asset.
Both programs are built around the same core idea: biology isn’t about memorizing facts—it’s about solving problems. The difference is how you want to experience that. The Boston program throws you directly into the lab and a community of equally driven peers, while the online program gives you structured, high-level exposure to modern biology from home, guided by a leading researcher.
If you’re applying to the in-person BioResearch Academy, don’t forget you can receive a special gift through Biolympiads by selecting “BioOlymppiads.com email/website” or entering the referral code BIOOLYMPIADS in your application.
The online program begins April 4, 2026 (tentative), runs for ten Sundays from 7–9 pm EST, and is conducted live via Zoom. Like the in-person camp, spots are limited—and yes, they tend to fill faster than you expect.
👉 In–person program: https://bioresearchacademy.com (use a referral code BIOOLYMPIADS for a great gift)
👉 Online program: https://forms.gle/WGi2vdzxDy8pT4AN9
Whichever path you choose, you’re stepping into real biology—the kind where answers aren’t guaranteed and that’s exactly the point. 🧪
— Martyna
Biolympiads.com
