About Us
Award-Winning Summer STEM Programs for Teens
Who We Are
The Boston Leadership Institute is an award-winning summer program for high-achieving teens. Since 2011, BLI has provided unique, engaging, and valuable opportunities to thousands of students from around the United States and the world. Led by highly qualified and decorated teachers and professors from the Boston area, the ever-expanding BLI lineup covers Medicine, Engineering, Business, and Science.
Check out our awards and recognitions page here.
Our Locations
Wellesley Location
This suburb of Boston is home to a top high school in the country, as well as several elite colleges such as Babson College, Olin College of Engineering, and Wellesley College. This location is accessible by trains that go directly into Boston, making it easy to travel for weekend trips and excursions.
Boston Location
Students take classes and reside at The Newman School in the beautiful Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. The academic building is on Marlborough Street, and the residence building is right around the corner on Beacon Street.
Waltham Location
The program is hosted at Gann Academy, an exceptional private school with a dynamic learning atmosphere, and students reside at Bentley University, a distinguished university known for its excellence and beautiful, student-centered campus.
Our Programs
Pre-High School
Pre-HS programs offers middle school students a unique opportunity to explore advanced topics in STEM through hands-on, engaging projects led by expert instructors. Designed to spark curiosity and build foundational skills, these one-week programs allow students to get a head start on future academics
One-Week
One-week programs give students a fast-paced, hands-on dive into exciting STEM topics—perfect for those with busy schedules. They’re also a fun and flexible way to explore different fields and uncover what truly inspires them. With a wide range of topics, there is a program for everyone!
Three-Week
BLI’s Three-Week Research Programs offer highly motivated high school students the chance to explore advanced academic topics in a college-level setting. Through a combination of classroom learning, hands-on lab work, and expert mentorship, students engage deeply with subjects. They gain firsthand experience conducting experiments, analyzing data, and applying critical thinking skills.
Parent Testimonials
“BLI program was fantastic for [my son]. Dr. Jeffrey Robin and the entire staff were great. 3 weeks in Boston with great teachers and students from all over the world. We couldn’t be happier with the program, and our younger daughter will apply next year. She is looking forward to her time in Boston next year.”
“I highly recommend Boston Leadership Institute (BLI). My stepson attended their biomedical engineering program, and it was rigorous, stimulating, and fun. This year we are sending our daughter, who will be a rising sophomore, to the Primary Care program. She is interested in medicine, and we are excited for her to be exposed to both academic and clinical aspects of care. The instructors at BLI are selected from the many excellent colleges in the Boston area.”
“My daughter attended the 3-week Synthetic Biology and Biological Research program at BLI last summer, and it was a great experience. The program provided hands-on experience and introduced her to concepts in synthetic biology and biotech entrepreneurship, blending science and business aspects. The instructor, an experienced professor from Bentley University, made the learning experience both challenging and fun. Among the projects and hands-on techniques were CRISPR, bacterial transformation, PCR, and DNA sequencing. My daughter commented that she liked the Google Classroom and knowing the schedule for each day, and how she appreciated “knowing what they were learning and why they were learning it.” Through collaborative projects, my daughter gained insights into real-world problem-solving. The diverse group of classmates and the two TAs added to the experience, fostering friendships and creating a network of like-minded individuals. My daughter enjoyed the field trips to the Body Worlds exhibit on Newbury Street and the MIT Koch Institute/Broad Institute in Cambridge… Thanks to this program, my daughter was accepted into the prestigious lab for the Summer 2024, where she will continue her research in synthetic biology—a seed planted by the BLI program and the wonderful professor who taught it. In summary, BLI delivered an immersive and transformative experience, exceeding our expectations. We look forward to our younger kids delving into STEM at BLI in the coming summer.”
“Our three children have enjoyed and learned greatly from every course they have taken. Wonderfully organized and run program. Very knowledgeable instructors with many years of experience that engage the students. Great variety of subjects. Highly recommend Boston Leadership Institute to parents looking for an engaging program for their children.”
“Our daughter attended the three-week marine biology program as a day student this summer. We were very pleased with the way BLI administered the program: communication was very clear, and we received timely instructions on the logistics for parking and field trips… The program was a great introduction to marine biology for her, and she especially enjoyed participating in the final week experiment and presentation. She was also able to form lasting friendships with both day and residential students. We hope for her to attend another three-week BLI program in the future!”
“My son had a great time at Intro to Surgery. He really enjoyed seeing Boston for the first time, he had previously ruled out going to college in a city but was very taken with the chill atmosphere and is reconsidering going to a city instead. He enjoyed the course itself as well, said it was a lot of fun. He is seriously considering surgery or biomedical science as his future career path.”
Student Testimonials
“Attending the Intro to Surgery program at BLI this summer was one of the best experiences of my life! As a 17-year-old passionate about medicine, getting hands-on exposure in a professional setting was both inspiring and exciting. The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, and I learned so much about surgical techniques, anatomy, and the real-world medical field. Staying in the dorms added to the experience—I met amazing people from all over, and we quickly became close friends. The mix of learning, collaboration, and fun outside the classroom made this summer unforgettable. I feel more confident than ever in my goal of becoming a surgeon. Highly recommend this program to anyone even slightly interested in medicine!”
“I attended multiple programs at the Boston Leadership Institute throughout my time in high school, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to learn from so many amazing professors and researchers. I was able to expand my knowledge of fields I was interested in with hands-on experiments and research presentations, guided by a truly dedicated staff who encouraged us as students to be curious and take initiative to learn more beyond just the high school basics. All in all, my experience at BLI truly changed my life for the better, and I’d recommend these programs to any students with a love for learning and the dedication to push beyond the limitations of courses offered in high school.”
“BLI has been nothing but a positive experience! Not only will you be taught by some of the most distinguished academics and most influential giants in every industry, but you will also make friends who share the same interests and passions and who make the environment even more fun and engaging. I have been a BLI student for the past two summers and my time in the business programs has taught me so much about the industry and about my own interests. I highly recommend this program to students who want to expand their horizons.”
“I have done BLI for two summers now. Both of my instructors have been able to personally connect with each student, even in big classes, and show how much they care. Every student has a chance to feel involved with the daily hands-on activities, engaging presentations, and group projects. Any student that wants to explore their future career path should make their way to BLI!”
“I attended the 3-week oncology research program, and all I can say is that it was nothing short of incredible! Dr. Lee Lawton was my teacher, and she was phenomenal. She led the class with an expert pace and helped us through new material and labs. I completed this course entering high school, so it is perfect for anyone wanting a head start in high school biology. In addition, the field trips were super fun – we went to MIT, the Broad institute, and the Museum of Science in Boston. You will get amazing lab experience out of this, and I guarantee you that you won’t regret it! I highly recommend this – apply today!!
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