10 Biology Scholarships for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 3
- 5 min read
Middle school students interested in pursuing biology may consider applying for biology scholarships. For students, scholarships are a solid option to embark on further education without worrying about finances. Scholarships not only provide funding but also allow you to enhance your knowledge and skills.
Many scholarships are awarded in the form of competitions and challenges, where the winners receive an award. They also offer networking opportunities for you to interact with professionals in the field. We have compiled a list of 10 biology scholarships for middle school students.
10 Biology Scholarships for Middle School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 8 weeks starting June 2 (Summer Cohort I) or July 14 (Summer Cohort II)
Application deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program is a virtual program that middle school students interested in biology can opt for. The program enables you to work 1:1 with a mentor who is from a top research university such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, or LSE. Over the 8-week program, you will learn about biology and complete a project related to the subject. The Junior Explorer Program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. You can find the application here!
Scholarship Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Youths aged 8–16
Middle school students with a passion for environmental conservation may participate in the Eco-Hero Awards. Whether you are working to mitigate pollution, conserve wildlife, or protect trees, the award recognizes those who act for the benefit of the environment. You must have undertaken and completed a project to “foster respect and affection for nature through personal action.” The panel of judges includes experts in environmental science, biology, and education. The action should have been self-initiated, and if you are proposing an invention, you must have conducted trials.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates:
Spring cohort: 25 hours over 10 weeks (weekends)
Summer cohort: 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers is a virtual program for middle school students. Through this program, you will learn the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning in 25 hours of programming. The course covers numerous topics such as Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students interested in biology can create projects related to the subject. In previous years, students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and created a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Scholarship Amount: Up to $100,000
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students aged 4–18 participating individually or in teams
The Paradigm Challenge invites middle school students to complete projects in biology-related topics. Some of these projects include biodiversity, personal health, waste reduction, and so on. If you win the challenge, you may receive support with patenting your solution. First-place winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles for the award ceremony. Entries submitted 30 days before the deadline will receive feedback on the submission; you can make modifications and resubmit your project based on the feedback.
Scholarship Amount: $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000
Application Deadline: February 12
Eligibility: Students aged 18 or younger who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship available to middle school students. Gifted and high-achieving students who have completed a significant piece of work are eligible for this scholarship. The project will be judged based on its potential for positive contribution to society. It may be an interdisciplinary discovery, an innovative solution, or a creative application of existing knowledge. Travel expenses and lodging are provided for fellows to attend the award ceremony.
Scholarship Amount: Several prizes
Dates: Final event in April/May
Application Deadline: 3 weeks prior to the event
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in teams of 4–5 students
Unlike the other options in the list, this is a fast-paced education and academic event. It is a verbal forum where students solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math, including biology. After the regional championships, winners are invited to the national science bowl; all expenses are covered for this trip. The regional and national levels vary in terms of rules and difficulty. In addition to the competition, you will partake in science activities, sightseeing, and more. You can also attend science seminars.
Scholarship Amount: $10,000
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students aged 8–18 who are working on an inspiring service project or have completed one within the past 12 months
The Gloria Barron Prize recognizes the youth who have contributed to humanitarian efforts and environmental projects. Many projects tend to be interdisciplinary and cover a wide range of subjects, from the sciences to the arts. 25 winners are selected each year. The selection committee is composed of professionals with extensive experience in the fields of education, philanthropy, and youth service. The prize money helps continue the impactful work and supports education.
Scholarship Amount: Several awards; finalists win $500
Application Deadline: June 11
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 who have competed at a Society-affiliated science fair and earned a nomination
The Thermo Fisher JIC is a STEM research competition for middle schoolers. To be able to participate, you must be nominated after competing at a Society-affiliated science fair. Your project must be related to a science field and engineering. In addition to attending the national finals week in Washington D.C., you will also visit sites that celebrate STEM innovations. Past winners have been recognized by TIME.
Scholarship Amount: $2,500 (to be received upon graduating high school)
Application Deadline: Late August – early September (tentative)
Eligibility: 8th-grade students attending a public school in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex
The Bobby Bragan scholarship is for 8th graders to support them to attend college. Students compete in the annual competition to be considered for the scholarship. The aim of the foundation is to motivate students to further their education. In the application, you must provide details of your academic achievements, extracurricular and athletic activities, and community involvement. The committee selects 25 students to receive the scholarship.
Scholarship Amount: $3,000 cash prize
Application Deadline: May 20
Eligibility: Youth environmental change leaders ages 13–22 (as of the application deadline) living in North America (including Mexico, Canada, and U.S. territories)
The Brower Youth Award is for leaders working for the protection of the environment. Your project must provide a fresh approach and solution to an environmental challenge. You must have played a leadership role in executing the project. For additional tips, visit their website here. In addition to the cash prize, a short film will be made about your work, and you will receive a trip to participate in leadership development activities.
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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