The Boston Leadership Institute offers three-week, hands-on summer research programs for gifted middle and high school students. Students receiving strong grades in G/T, IB, AP, and honors math and science classes are encouraged to apply. Cutting-edge research from fields such as synthetic biology, neuroscience, contagious disease, green chemistry, and drug discovery is translated into challenging and innovative hands-on research labs. Programs are led by teachers who hold advanced degrees, who work or teach at world-class institutions such as Harvard and MIT, or who have won major teaching awards. Students formulate original research proposals and collect data. Field trips take advantage of leading biotech companies, universities, and hospitals located in the Boston area. Programs culminate in student conference presentations. The Boston Leadership Institute has received multiple awards and has been named on lists of top summer science programs.