10 Ivy League Summer Research Programs + Internships for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 19
- 8 min read
If you are a middle school student looking to expand your learning beyond the classroom, consider a research program in the summer! If you’re looking for a summer research program or research internship that makes for a prestigious add to your portfolio, consider one hosted by an Ivy League university! These programs provide hands-on experiences in fields like STEM and humanities, helping you explore your interests and develop practical skills. Participating can also build valuable connections within the Ivy League, shaping your high school and college paths.
These programs can provide access to mentorship, university resources, and collaborative projects with peers. Many of the research programs below emphasize problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-world applications, making them a great choice to consider!
To help you find the right fit, we’ve curated a list of 10 Ivy League research programs open to middle schoolers, featuring diverse topics and formats, including residential and virtual options.
The Penn GEMS summer camp at the University of Pennsylvania is a one-week STEM program for middle school students interested in engineering, math, and science. You will take part in hands-on workshops and lab activities while receiving mentorship from Penn faculty and graduate students. The program covers fields such as bioengineering, nanotechnology, materials science, and computing, helping you explore different engineering disciplines.
Along with problem-solving and technical skills, Penn GEMS emphasizes diversity in STEM, encouraging students from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Activities have included projects like glow-in-the-dark science experiments, mechanical engineering challenges, and robotics.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Acceptance rate: Limited spots available
Cost: $650, Need-based scholarships available
Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Rising 7th-9th graders attending a Philadelphia-area school with at least a B average GPA
The Ulysses G. Grant Foundation at Yale University is a six-week summer program for highly motivated middle school students in New Haven, CT. It focuses on developing analytical and research skills to prepare you for high school and beyond. Yale undergraduate instructors teach courses, and you can choose between two academic tracks.
The Humanities Track covers topics like race and identity through the arts, philosophy, and music, fostering critical thinking and discussion. The Investigations Track takes a hands-on approach, exploring sustainability, government spending, ethical consumption, and architecture.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Acceptance rate: Selective, small cohort of single-grade classes of 8-15 students
Cost: $75, Scholarships available
Dates: June 23 – July 30
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising 6th-9th graders currently studying in New Haven
The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) at Columbia University is a competitive, free summer program for students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in STEM and medicine. It offers a structured curriculum with science coursework, lab sessions, and career exploration workshops.
A key feature of S-PREP is BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia), which provides mentored neuroscience research at Columbia University Medical Center. You will also attend guest lectures, medical facility tours, and networking sessions with Columbia faculty, medical students, and healthcare professionals.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Acceptance rate: Competitive admissions
Cost: Free
Dates: July 8 – August 2
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 who are New York State residents or permanent residents living in New York. Preference is given to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups in STEM (Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Alaskan Native, or American Indian).
The Harvard Ed Portal Mentoring Program is a free academic enrichment program that pairs middle school students with Harvard undergraduate mentors. It offers one-on-one guidance in STEM, the arts, and humanities, focusing on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
You will participate in hands-on projects, structured learning activities, and collaborative discussions while building strong mentor-mentee relationships. The program encourages academic confidence and curiosity, with mentors providing support in digital literacy, health and wellness, workforce development, and college and career preparedness.
Location: Harvard Ed Portal, Allston, MA
Acceptance rate: Limited spots available
Cost: Free
Dates: Sessions held in fall, spring, and summer. Spring Cohort from February 18 - April 24
Application deadline: Varies by session. Spring Cohort deadline on February 20
Eligibility: Grades 1-8 from Allston-Brighton and surrounding communities.
Harvard Medical School’s Project Success is a six-week, paid research internship for high school students in the Boston and Cambridge areas interested in biomedical careers. You will be placed in a lab at Harvard Medical School or an affiliated institution, working alongside experienced mentors. The program includes seminars led by researchers and physicians, site visits to hospitals and biotech companies, and skill-building sessions focused on writing, public speaking, and computer skills. You will conduct hands-on research while attending academic seminars and special events. This internship provides mentorship and career guidance, helping you explore opportunities in biomedical science.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Acceptance Rate: Low with a rigorous selection process
Stipend: Students receive a stipend; the exact amount is not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Boston and Cambridge who are at least 16 years old and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7. The program encourages applications from students underrepresented in medicine or those facing disadvantages.
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates: June 30 – August 15
Harvard Medical School’s Project Success is a six-week, paid research internship for high school students in the Boston and Cambridge areas interested in biomedical careers. You will be placed in a lab at Harvard Medical School or an affiliated institution, working alongside experienced mentors. The program includes seminars led by researchers and physicians, site visits to hospitals and biotech companies, and skill-building sessions focused on writing, public speaking, and computer skills. You will conduct hands-on research while attending academic seminars and special events. This internship provides mentorship and career guidance, helping you explore opportunities in biomedical science.
Location: Brown University Campus, Providence, RI
Acceptance rate: Selective
Cost: $5,788 (residential) See here for more info
Application deadline: January 15 - May 9
Program dates: July 13 – July 25
Eligibility: Students completing grades 8 to 9, ages 13 to 15 by June 15
Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) offers science programs designed to introduce you to research and college preparation early on. Through hands-on activities and mentorship, you will connect with Harvard researchers, faculty, and graduate students while exploring different fields in science and engineering.
Through Project Teach, you will attend a 45-minute interactive presentation led by a Harvard faculty member, postdoc, or graduate student. They will share their research and career journey, helping you discover new academic interests and future career possibilities.
Location: Harvard SEAS, Cambridge, MA
Acceptance rate: Selective
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Varies by program
Program dates: Academic year and summer sessions available
Eligibility: K to 12 grade school students from Allston/Brighton and Cambridge public schools
The Scientific Enrichment Month Program, hosted by YES in THE HEIGHTS at Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), is a free virtual program that introduces you to careers in biomedical research, with a focus on cancer studies.
Over the course of a month, you will attend 90-minute online sessions three times a week. During these sessions, you will explore topics like cancer health equity, environmental factors in cancer risk, and prevention through behavioral changes. In addition to scientific discussions, you will participate in career-building workshops on resume writing, personal statements, interviewing skills, and public speaking, helping you develop essential professional skills for the future.
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Acceptance Rate: Selective and highly competitive
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 1 - June 23
Program dates: July 1 - July 31
Eligibility: Open to middle school, high school, and recently enrolled undergraduate students
The NYS 4-H Animal Science Program, run by Cornell University’s Department of Animal Science, introduces you to biology and veterinary studies through hands-on learning. Designed for middle school students interested in animal care, the program covers topics like veterinary medicine, physiology, agriculture, and animal nutrition.
You will gain experience working with different animals, including livestock such as dairy cows, horses, and goats, as well as companion animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits. Through interactive activities and mentorship from Cornell educators and industry experts, you will build practical skills while connecting with peers who share your interests.
Location: Cornell University campus, Ithaca, NY
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program dates: Varies according to program selected
Eligibility: Current middle school students
The International Summer School at Yale University is a three-week residential program where you can experience academic life at an Ivy League institution. You will take one academic course and one elective, allowing you to explore your interests while immersing yourself in Yale’s learning environment.
Academic courses include Business & Entrepreneurship, Creative Writing, Debate, English Language, and Study Skills, while electives range from Film and Photography to Outdoor Leadership, Tennis, and Theatre. To promote global diversity, the program limits enrollment to 10% per nationality. This experience combines academic exploration, creative enrichment, and cultural engagement, helping you develop new skills in an international setting.
Location: Yale University campus
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
Cost: $8,900
Program dates: July 14 – August 4
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current students aged 13 to 18
Bonus Program — Veritas AI Trailblazers Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Cost: $1,790 (Need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates:
Spring cohort: 25 hours over 10 weekends
Summer cohort: 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays only)
Eligibility: Middle school students (Grades 6–8), no prior experience required
The Veritas AI Trailblazers Program introduces middle school students to artificial intelligence and machine learning, with applications in biology and scientific research. Over 25 hours, you will ;earn about Python programming, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics.
With a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, you will receive personalized guidance while working on real-world projects. Past participants have developed AI models for music classification and machine-learning recommendation systems, showcasing the program’s emphasis on hands-on learning and practical applications. This program is ideal for students interested in the intersection of biology, coding, and AI-driven research.
One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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