10 Biology Research Opportunities for Middle School Students
- Lydia Park
- 5 hours ago
- 7 min read
If you're curious about how living things work, what makes up the natural world, or how scientists study everything from DNA to ecosystems, biology might be the field for you. Even as a middle school student, you don't have to wait until high school or college to start exploring biology in a meaningful way. Across the country, there are research opportunities, competitions, and hands-on camps designed specifically for students in grades 6–8. These programs give you a chance to ask scientific questions, work with real data, and sometimes even connect with researchers or mentors in the field. Whether you're interested in marine life, human genetics, environmental science, or just want to try doing your own experiments, there are programs that can support you.
The list below features ten verified biology-related opportunities for middle school students, each offering a unique way to dive deeper into science and develop research skills early on.
10 Biology Research Opportunities for Middle School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
If you’re looking for an online guided program, Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program may meet your needs. You will be paired with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in their fields. You can study a subject of your choice, including medicine, engineering, business, economics, history, and so on. The program helps you learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. You can expect to develop critical thinking and scientific communication skills through feedback sessions. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals in 16 weeks.
Location: South Bronx, New York City
Cost/Stipend: Free; includes a paid summer internship component
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Over 200 students have participated; current size not specified
Dates: September through April, plus optional summer internship
Application Deadline: Not specified online
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in the South Bronx
The BioQuest STEM Mentoring Program is a year-long experience designed for middle and high school students in the South Bronx to explore careers in biotechnology, medicine, and life sciences. Through monthly events and break programs, you'll participate in activities like DNA extraction, ecosystem exploration, and biotechnology lab visits. The program partners with organizations such as BioBus, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the New York Genome Center to provide hands-on experiences in real science environments. Events also include career days, innovation challenges, and museum explorations, all guided by mentors from the STEM fields. For highly engaged students, there’s also a paid summer internship and Ambassador Program focused on professional skill development.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 8; no coding or technical background required
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to key concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and collaborative learning. Over 25 hours, you learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. You receive personalized guidance through small-group mentoring, with a five-to-one student-to-mentor ratio. As the program progresses, you explore more advanced topics such as neural networks and AI ethics. A central part of the experience is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: $500; need-based full scholarships available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: 24 students per session
Dates: July 6–17 and one additional August session (TBD)
Application Deadline: Registration opens in early March
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th grade students
Expedition: Bio is a two-week summer program hosted by the Whitehead Institute that immerses you in biology through hands-on lab modules, interactive fieldwork, and discussions with working scientists. You'll explore topics in ecology, genetics, chemistry, and bioengineering, using real scientific methods to investigate how life sciences solve major challenges. Sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and include all materials, lunch, and snacks. Designed for curious middle schoolers, this program provides a structured yet fun way to experience science beyond textbooks. Financial aid is available to help make the program more accessible.
Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: $7,865/year; reduced or free tuition available based on family income
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; selective and interview-based
Dates: July 20–August 7 (for first summer); 15–18 Saturdays during the school year
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Current 6th graders living in or attending school in NYC
The Lang Science Program is a six-year science immersion experience run by the American Museum of Natural History for middle and high school students in New York City. Starting the summer after 6th grade, you’ll study subjects like genetics, anthropology, geology, and conservation through museum-based classes, lab visits, and field trips. During the school year, you'll continue learning with Saturday sessions that focus on collaboration, communication, and scientific thinking. In high school, the program shifts to more advanced coursework and opportunities for independent research. Admission is competitive, and the program requires a significant time commitment across multiple years.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: $1,000–$2,000 depending on module; no mention of financial aid
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6–August 28 (various modules available)
Application Deadline: Registration opens January 15
Eligibility: Middle school students ages 10–14
MCB BioCamp at Harvard University is a STEM day camp offering hands-on, inquiry-based learning in microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, and neuroscience. Each module runs for one or two weeks and is taught by scientists active in research. You'll explore topics like brain function, cellular processes, and invisible microbes through lab activities designed specifically for younger learners. The camp meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Harvard’s Northwest Building and allows you to enroll in one or more independent modules. While no prior science experience is needed, space is limited and early registration is encouraged.
Location: Groton, Connecticut (UConn Avery Point Campus)
Cost/Stipend: $555–$1,055 depending on program; need-based aid covers 30%–90% of tuition
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21–August 21 (varies by program)
Application Deadline: Registration opens mid-December
Eligibility: Ages 9–17, varies by specific camp program
Project Oceanology offers multiple week-long marine science camps for students of different age groups, combining ocean exploration with environmental research. Younger campers (ages 9–13) can join themed day camps like “Animal Adaptations” and “Eco Engineers,” while older students (ages 12–17) can choose from overnight camps such as Ocean Camp or the Marine Science Research Experience. You’ll conduct experiments aboard research vessels, study salt marshes, collect marine samples, and even present independent research in some sessions. All programs are led by professional marine educators and focus on fostering curiosity, teamwork, and stewardship of marine environments. Residential and day options are available, and tuition assistance is offered for families who qualify.
Location: Lakeville, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate or cohort size: 30 students per session
Dates: June 28–July 11 and July 12–25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders
Fun with DNA is a two-week molecular biology camp hosted at The Hotchkiss School and taught by instructors from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center. You’ll begin by exploring core genetics concepts through hands-on labs on DNA structure, protein synthesis, and heredity. In the second week, you’ll complete a full biotechnology project, engineering bacteria to produce a jellyfish gene (GFP) and isolating the protein using real lab techniques. The program emphasizes skills like micropipetting, bacterial transformation, and PCR. It concludes with a final presentation where you showcase your lab work and discoveries.
Location: Seattle, Washington
Cost/Stipend: $150; financial aid available through fee waivers
Acceptance rate or cohort size: 8 students per cohort
Dates: May 6–June 5 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 PM)
Application Deadline: Rolling admission until cohort is filled
Eligibility: Middle school students aged 12–14
Life Science Explorers is a small, hands-on molecular biology program for middle school students, run by SoundBio Lab in Seattle’s University District. Over ten after-school sessions, you’ll carry out a full DNA-based research project identifying moss species using techniques like PCR and gel electrophoresis. Along the way, you’ll explore topics in ecology and genetics, build your own microscope, and present your work at a final showcase event. The program is led by volunteer scientists and aims to support students underrepresented in STEM fields. Due to the small lab size, only eight students are accepted per session, and attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged.
Location: Logan, Utah (USU Logan Campus)
Cost/Stipend: Free; lunch provided
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Limited capacity; waitlist currently full
Dates: July 8–9
Application Deadline: June 27
Eligibility: Incoming 7th and 8th-grade students at Mount Logan Middle School, Ogden Preparatory Academy, or American Preparatory Academy
Hosted by Utah State University, the GEAR UP Biotechnology Camp offers a two-day hands-on introduction to modern biology and biotech concepts for eligible middle school students. You'll explore topics like genetic engineering, CRISPR, DNA visualization, and biochemistry through interactive experiments. The experience also includes field trips to the USU Research Greenhouse, Chocolate Factory, and Aggie Creamery. Instruction takes place at the Edith Bowen Laboratory School, with transportation provided for APA students. Though short in length, the camp provides a meaningful and engaging entry point into life science fields.
Lydia is an alumna from Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation.
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