Entering 7 – 9

Body Systems and Biomedical Innovations

What tools and techniques do doctors use to diagnose and treat illnesses? Scientists have developed all sorts of innovations to help people with chronic diseases and other conditions. In this program, you will deepen your knowledge of body systems, investigate how some of these systems may break down, and explore how scientists and engineers are working to solve these problems. Together we will use actual diagnostic techniques to solve medical mysteries for fictitious patients. We will dissect a sheep heart, journey inside blood vessels and cells in our Planetarium, and interview practicing doctors to learn more about the field. 

Parents are invited at 4 p.m. on the last day for teens to share their projects.

Program Info

Food: Lunch is provided. Teens bring a water bottle and snacks from home.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
Tuition: $1,465.00
Seeking Financial Aid? Learn More >

Session 1: 06/23/2025 – 06/27/2025
Optional Residential Add-on runs Sunday, June 22, 5:00 p.m. to Friday, June 27, 5:00 p.m. Residential add-on includes additional programming, on-campus housing, breakfast, and dinner. Limited spots available!
Residential Tuition: $1,255

Session 2: 07/07/2025 – 07/11/2025
No Residential Option

Session 4: 07/21/2025 – 07/25/2025
No Residential Option

Sample Day

7:30 a.m.

Wake-up for residential teens!  Residential teens enjoy breakfast & walk together to campus

9:00 a.m.

All teens sign in with instructors
Welcome activities and icebreakers
Opening Circle- group check-in and framing the day
Explore STEM concepts and hands-on investigations in your track
Mid-morning break with teens from other tracks
Hands-on investigations and exploration cont.

11:45 a.m.

Lunch break in campus cafeteria Social time with teens from other tracks

12:45 p.m.

Continued investigations and explorations in your track
Various lab tours and guest speakers
Afternoon break with teens from other tracks
Closing Circle- reflection prompts and preview of what’s ahead

 4:00 p.m.

College Pathways Programming
Campus or other tours 
Meet and talk to current college students 
Meet and talk to professionals from a range of STEM career fields

 5:00 p.m.

Commuter teens sign out with instructors
Residential teens walk together to dorms and enjoy some well deserved downtime 

 6:30 p.m.

Dinner
Evening program 
Free time

10:00 p.m.

Lights Out!

Activity Highlights

  • Dissect a sheep heart
  • Observe human brains, hearts, and lungs
  • Investigate and build models of human organs like the lungs and the digestive system
  • Conduct brain science investigations
  • Experiment with DNA extraction
  • Run fictitious patient diagnostics and design a treatment plan
  • Q&A with a doctor
  • Tour a research lab
  • Meet and mix with teens across other STEM tracks
  • Meet and talk to students and STEM career professionals
  • Project presentations and certificates 

Explore the Wonders of Body Systems!

Staff Bios

Gaby Arango

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Gaby began her academic journey at Santa Rosa Junior College, earning AS and AA degrees before pursuing BS and MS degrees in Biology at Sonoma State University. Her master’s research focused on the blood oxygen stores in olive ridley sea turtles, a remarkable physiological adaptation for breath-hold diving. Currently, she is a fifth-year PhD student in the Integrative Biology department within the Vazquez-Medina lab, investigating the evolutionary adaptations of sea turtles to withstand oxidative stress from extreme life stressors such as reproduction and hypoxic exposure during diving. She is passionate about science communication, engaging broad audiences of all ages in both formal and informal settings. 

In her free time, Gaby loves to play with Goku, the silliest German Shepherd.

Phoebe Hall

Phoebe received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Chicago where she did her thesis on butterfly genetics. She is a biologist working as a strain engineer in the alternative protein industry. This summer Phoebe serves as an instructor in a wide range of Teen Research Programs at The Lawrence.

When not doing science, Phoebe loves playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, and crocheting.