2026 Neurocamp Summer High School Program – Applications Closed
Applications for the Summer 2026 cycle are now closed, and we are no longer accepting submissions.
NeuroCamp Summer High School Program
NeuroCamp is a free BRI summer outreach program that brings together a group of 30 highly motivated high school students in an instructional course introducing them to neuroscience. Students will learn the fundamentals concepts of neuroscience and basic lab techniques in Molecular Neurobiology, Neurophysiology and Neuroanatomy. The overall goal of the program is to provide an exciting and rewarding introduction to research in neuroscience to a broad range of high school students from the Los Angeles area. Ultimately, NeuroCamp aims to stimulate participants’ interest in college and an educational path leading to careers in science.
Summer Program Schedule
Neurocamp 2026 will take place at UCLA over a eight-day period within two weeks:
- Week 1: June 16 – 18, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Week 2: June 22 – 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Accepted students are required to participate in the program for its entire duration.
Application Requirements:
(1) Resume: Refer to the FAQ section for tips on preparing your resume.
(2) Statement of Interest: Please provide a brief written statement outlining your skills, motivations, and goals, and confirming your availability for the full program.
(3) Letter of Recommendation: Please provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor. The letter of recommendation will need to include a handwritten signature, teacher contact information, and the letterhead of the affiliated school. Only one letter is required.
Application Deadline:
All application materials, including your resume, letter of recommendation, and statement of interest, must be submitted by Sunday, April 19, 2026, 11:59 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted.
We strongly recommend reviewing the application questions before beginning the submission process, as only one application per applicant is allowed.
For questions or concerns, please contact the NeuroCamp Coordinators.
Apply to the NeuroCamp Summer Program today!
Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and gain hands-on experience in neuroscience.
Additional Summer Programs for High School Students at UCLA:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are housing and transportation assistance available for applicants?
No. The Neurocamp Program does not provide housing or transportation assistance.
Do applicants need to reside in Los Angeles, CA?
Yes. Beginning with the Summer 2026 program cycle, all applicants must reside in Los Angeles County, California.
Are the program dates mandatory?
Yes. Failure to appear will result in removal from the program.
Can applicants select which week to attend?
No. Applicants must attend both weeks once accepted.
What should I include in my resume?
Please include the following elements:
1. Contact Information: Name, Address, Phone Number, and Email Address
2. Objective or Summary: A Brief statement about your career goals or what you hope to achieve
3. Education: List your high school, expected graduation date, GPA (if strong), and any relevant coursework or academic achievement
4. Extracurricular Activities: Include clubs, sports teams, volunteer work, or leadership roles you’ve participated in
5. Work Experience: If you’ve had any part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer positions, include them along with your responsibilities and accomplishments
6. Skills: Highlight any relevant skills you have, such as computer proficiency, language fluency, or technical abilities
7. Achievements and Awards: Mention any honors, awards, or recognition you’ve received, whether academic or extracurricular
Is the summer program free for applicants?
Yes.
Is there an application fee?
No.
How do I submit my Letter of Recommendation?
Applicants should upload their letter of recommendation through the application portal. If you are a recommender and prefer to submit the letter directly, you may do so using the designated upload link. To ensure proper tracking, please save the file using the student’s name in the following format: LastName_FirstName_LOR_HighSchoolName. Please do not email the letter of recommendation unless specifically requested.
Testimonials
Yonathan Kiflezghie
Year in program: 2024
“Applying to be a part of the Neurocamps 2024 cohort has been one of the best decisions that I have made. My goal for the next 5 years is to attend a university studying neuroscience, and being part of the UCLA Neurocamp has made it very tangible. Over the course of 2 weeks, my peers and I were introduced to the fundamental concepts of neuroscience and basic lab techniques in molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy. Being in an environment where my peers are eager to learn was such a great experience because I could work with like-minded people who share my interests. Dr. Domingez and Dr. Grisham, our professors for the program, did an amazing job introducing us to the amazing field of neuroscience. Working alongside them and UCLA undergraduates, who volunteered as our helpers, put me one step closer to my goal for the next 5 years, and if I had the chance to participate in this program again, I would. At my high school, I don’t get the opportunity to work in a hands-on lab setting; however, being with the Neurocamp, most of my time was spent working on labs such as dissecting a sheep’s brain and a cow’s spinal cord, then studying the anatomy. I would like to thank the UCLA Brain Research Institute for this amazing opportunity to study and get introduced to the amazing field of neuroscience, as well as for allowing me to meet great people who made my time there special.”
Nathaniel Vasquez
Year in program: 2024
“Learning about neuroanatomy, dissecting brains, and performing cutting-edge research. These were just a few of the fascinating experiences the 2024 Neurocamp cohort encountered during their two weeks at UCLA. From the moment I walked in to the second I walked out, I was learning. Throughout the first couple of days, I learned about the intricacies of brain structure and function from Dr. Elena Dominguez’s captivating lectures, which delved into neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Best of all, however, I was able to apply my knowledge to hands-on brain and spinal cord dissections. In the following days, Dr. William Grisham familiarized the class with Dr. David Glanzman’s novel research on epigenetic changes in untrained Aplysia after being injected with RNA from trained Aplysia. After learning about his research, we conducted a similar experiment with earthworms and received some results that aligned with Dr. Glanzman’s pioneering work. It was truly a great feeling to be part of such a progressive field of research. Beyond the hands-on work and lectures, my connections with peers and professors were the most memorable. Being around people with similar interests and aspirations made my love for neuroscience even more profound; however, meeting Dr. Dominguez was paramount to my experiences at Neurocamp. With great interest in computational neuroscience but little guidance, I felt lost; however, Dr. Dominguez patiently answered my questions regarding a paper I was reading and thoughtfully recommended online resources to help me further my research on the topic. Neruocamp is not only a place to learn but also a place to connect with others and deepen your interest in the vast range of neuroscience topics.”
Mason Gonzalez
Year in program: 2024
“I believe that this experience is one that all people who are interested in neuroscience should partake in. I had a great experience learning about neuroscience and what it feels like to be a neuroscience student at UCLA. All of my instructors and assistants were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and they constantly guided me, making my experience so much more enjoyable. If I could, I would absolutely love to partake in this experience for years to come. Thank you to all of my fellow neuroscience campers for making my experience so memorable. But most importantly, thank you to all at the UCLA Brain Research Institute for this wonderful opportunity and for helping pave the way for my future education and career.”
Lisa Nguyen
Year in program: 2019
“At the UCLA Neurocamp, I learned a lot about how the brain works, along with the diseases. I also did a lot of hands on labs, to see if the sample I had carried the Huntington Disease. I have learned more about this concept than in AP Biology. I am looking to do more research like this in the future. What inspired me to learn about neuroscience is my curiosity for how the brain works. Everyone’s brain works differently, and I was willing to learn more about that.”
Parth Amin
Year in program: 2019
“I was able to get my hands dirty with wet work, particularly through investigating c-elegan habituations. After observing their responses to air puffs, our lab was able to observe the phenomenon of neural plasticity within the simple nematodes. I was also able to further my understanding of neurodegenerative diseases, neuronal firing, brain anatomy, and the process of PCR with my lab section. I like to thank Dr. Grisham for allowing me to work with him and his wonderful team. I find neural plasticity and brain development very fascinating. I was intrigued to learn more about the neuronal pruning that results with age, and the molecular mechanisms that facilitate neuronal signal strengths. I was pleasantly surprised that my childhood video game character, Sonic Hedgehog, plays a critical role in the development of the human brain.”
Monica Amirian
Year in program: 2019
“During the two-week summer program at UCLA Neurocamp, I was introduced to concepts of neuroscience and basic lab techniques in Molecular Neurobiology and Neurophysiology. In high school, I never got to work in a lab setting and learn about all the tools that can be used which is why I applied to Neurocamp because it is a great program to show high school students who are interested in doing research one day about labs. One of my biggest accomplishments during this program was getting to master how to use a pipette in an experiment with mice ears to figure out which one of the ears was contaminated with a disease. We also got to experiment with crickets who were injected with caffeine to see the differences in their reactivity. However, one of my favorite parts about the program was meeting new people who I still to this day keep in touch with through social media. The mystery about all the diseases in neurology is what inspires me to learn about neuroscience. The brain is a complex organ that contains all our memories, histories, and emotions that has so much to be explored and most of it has not been discovered yet. The field of neuroscience always has a challenge and obstacle ahead of you which keeps your everyday learning interesting.”