15 Biotechnology Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 23 minutes ago
- 12 min read
If you are a middle school student curious about science, structured programs can be an accessible way to explore advanced academics beyond the classroom. These opportunities help you build foundational lab skills and scientific reasoning while introducing real-world research without requiring a major financial investment. Many of these programs are offered by universities or research institutes, providing access to professional learning environments and academic resources.
What are the benefits of a biotechnology program?
If biotechnology interests you, whether through genetics, biomedical science, or environmental applications, early exposure to biological research methods can make a real difference. By joining biotechnology programs for middle school students, you work with mentors, collaborate with peers, and engage in projects that go beyond standard curricula. These experiences introduce you to lab techniques, critical thinking, and various applications of biology, while also helping you build connections with mentors.
Below is a curated list of 15 biotechnology programs for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: Summer classes typically held Monday–Friday in July | Academic year sessions on Saturdays from October to May
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–12 with an average of 80%+ in math and science and a strong interest in medicine or STEM
The State Pre-College Enrichment Program at Columbia University gives middle schoolers a free, structured pathway into medicine, science, and biotechnology. Designed for students starting in 7th grade, the program supports your transition from middle school to high school and college through structured enrichment in math, science, and health-related STEM fields. In the program, you can study subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, chemistry, organic chemistry, brain and cognitive science, physics, psychology, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, and statistics while also preparing for the PSAT and SAT. Beyond coursework, you’ll receive college and career workshops, academic counseling, field trips, and college tours that connect learning to real pathways. As you move forward, S-PREP makes you eligible to apply for Columbia’s high school research programs, such as BRAINYAC and YES in the Heights, where you gain hands-on experience in biomedical and life science research at leading institutes.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by cohort | Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Vary by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 | No prior experience required, but best suited for motivated and academically curious students
Lumiere Junior Explorer Program gives you the opportunity to explore biotechnology through personalized one-on-one mentorship with researchers from top universities. In this online eight-week program, you work directly with a PhD mentor to survey key biotech areas before narrowing your focus into a research project you care about, such as a scientific case study or an exploratory portfolio. You’ll learn how to read and process real scientific literature, ask targeted research questions, and apply advanced research and writing skills to biotechnology topics like genetics, biomedical science, or bioengineering. With close guidance, you design and build a hands-on project that can grow into publishable academic work. By joining the program, you can develop independent thinking, research confidence, and collaboration skills while gaining early exposure to how real biotechnology research is conducted beyond the classroom.
Location: Various (Cold Spring Harbor, NY; Brooklyn, NY; Sleepy Hollow, NY; Wayne, NJ; Online).
Cost: $600–$650 (in-person) | $420 (on-demand virtual) | Scholarships and discounts available
Dates: June 29–September 4 (varies by location and camp)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–7 for most introductory camps
DNA Learning Center Summer Camps introduce you to core biotechnology and genetics through hands-on laboratory experiences designed for young scientists. You’ll work with real techniques such as DNA extraction, enzyme function analysis, and model organism studies to understand how biological systems operate at the molecular level. In themed sessions like introductory genetics with fruit flies, you can explore inheritance patterns and biological change while practicing real scientific thinking. Besides, guest STEM speakers and guided activities connect your lab work to biotechnology careers, and structured lessons strengthen your research and problem-solving skills. With on-demand options that include recorded classes and mailed experiment kits, you can also explore biotechnology from home while building a strong foundation in life science.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Full need-based financial aid available
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines | You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
AI Trailblazers by Veritas AI lets you explore how artificial intelligence powers modern science and biotechnology through a fully virtual, project-based program for middle school students. Across more than 25 hours, you’ll learn Python programming alongside core machine learning topics such as data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics, all taught in small group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. You apply these skills to real-world style projects, such as building models that classify data or create personalized recommendation systems, similar to how AI is used in bioinformatics and medical research. Through guided lectures and collaborative workshops, you can strengthen your computational thinking, understand how AI supports biological and health-related discoveries, and gain early experience using technology that drives today’s biotechnology and life science innovation.
Location: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
Cost: $1,550 | Residential add-on available for $1,350 | Financial aid available
Dates: June 21–26 | July 5–9 | July 20–24 | July 27–31
Application Deadline: Registration opens in December and closes the week before start dates
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9.
Body Systems and Biomedical Innovations immerses you in biomedical science at the Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley, where you learn how doctors and engineers diagnose and treat the human body. You’ll explore major body systems, including the brain, heart, lungs, and blood vessels, while investigating how they function and fail. Through hands-on activities, you can dissect a sheep heart, observe human organs, build lung models, conduct brain science experiments, and perform DNA extraction. You also solve medical mysteries for fictional patients by using real diagnostic techniques and creating treatment plans. Beyond the lab, you tour research facilities, interview practicing doctors, and connect with students and STEM professionals. By the end of the program, you’ll present your work and earn a Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley certificate while gaining practical lab skills, problem-solving experience, and insight into how biotechnology improves human health.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
Cost: $700
Dates: June 29–July 9
Application Deadline: Rolling admission | Limited to 24 students per grade level
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 and 8
Science Exploration Program at Stony Brook University gives you a laboratory-focused summer experience designed to strengthen your science foundation before high school. In this program, you can work in real labs while reading scientific material, researching online, writing, and collaborating in groups to investigate how science works in practice. If you are entering 7th grade, you’ll build core lab skills through guided explorations in physics, chemistry, microbiology, and ecology, learning how to observe, measure, and experiment with confidence. For 8th graders, you’ll dive deeper into biology, chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental chemistry through case studies on topics such as cholera, bioremediation, genetics, and interactive demonstrations that connect science to real-world problems. Throughout the program, you’ll strengthen critical thinking, research habits, and experimental technique while exploring themes like homeostasis and the environment, helping you prepare for more advanced high school science and biotechnology coursework.
Location: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $500 | Limited full-tuition scholarships available
Dates: Session I: July 6–17 | Session II: August 10–21
Application Deadline: Registration opens in early March and closes once capacity is reached | Limited to 24 students per session
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–8
Expedition Bio at the Whitehead Institute offers you a two-week immersive science experience focused on the living world. You’ll explore how scientists use genetics, ecology, chemistry, and bioengineering to solve real-life science questions through hands-on laboratory modules and outdoor field investigations. Using professional lab equipment, you can conduct activities such as DNA extraction, ecosystem observation, and simple bioengineering design while learning how data is collected and analyzed in research settings. You also join small group discussions with Whitehead Institute researchers who guide your scientific thinking, communication, and problem-solving. Through the program, you can build practical lab skills, confidence in experimentation, and a clear understanding of how biotechnology connects to real-world challenges in a university research environment.
Location: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
Cost: $350
Dates: June 30–July 25
Application Deadline: May 9 (early application strongly encouraged)
Eligibility: New Jersey students entering grades 7–12 | Preference for Newark and Essex County residents
Science Medicine and Related Topics SMART at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School gives you early exposure to health science and biotechnology through a structured pre-college enrichment experience. In this program, you’ll explore medicine, dentistry, biomedical research, and other health-related fields while learning how biotechnology supports diagnosis, treatment, and scientific discovery. You can build a stronger foundation in biology and lab-based thinking, develop study skills, and connect classroom science to real-world medical and research applications. Through guided learning and youth development activities, SMART helps you gain the knowledge, confidence, and preparation needed to pursue future pathways in biotechnology, research, and healthcare within a professional medical school environment.
9. SigmaCamp
Location: Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center, Sharon, CT.
Cost: ~$1,850 for an 8-day session | Need-blind financial aid available
Dates: August 2–9
Application Deadline: Applications and financial aid forms typically open in February | Priority deadlines in spring
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 12–15
Sigma Camp gives you a week-long immersive experience where you explore advanced STEM topics with a strong focus on biology and biotechnology alongside chemistry, physics, and engineering. In the program, you’ll join daily Semilabs that blend short seminars with hands-on laboratory work, allowing you to run experiments, analyze results, and apply scientific ideas to real-world problems. Guided by scientists and faculty from institutions such as MIT, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford, you also attend guest lectures on emerging research and take part in evening workshops like rocket building and glassblowing to strengthen practical skills. You’ll collaborate with peers in the Sigma Tournament through team-based problem-solving challenges, and build confidence by leading a Junior Instructor workshop or presenting an Experiment of the Day. Through shared activities, projects, and presentations, Sigma Camp helps you develop lab skills, communication, creativity, and a deeper understanding of how biotechnology connects to modern science.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $200
Dates: Sessions offered throughout the year and during school breaks
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Middle school students interested in biology and potential advanced coursework
UT Dallas Biology Camp gives you a virtual, academically focused way to strengthen your foundation in biology and biotechnology while preparing for advanced coursework. Designed for middle and high school students interested in AP Biology, the program runs as three-hour online classes on Saturdays from October through December using UT Dallas Microsoft Teams, so you can learn without missing regular school. In each session, you’ll work with AP Biology experts who guide you through key topics from the AP syllabus, connect biological concepts to real-world and biotechnology applications, and set aside time to practice solving exam-style questions. You can take part in interactive lessons that deepen understanding of areas such as cellular processes, genetics, and systems biology while building confidence for future standardized exams. As a registered student, you also receive access to session recordings, allowing you to review material, reinforce lab-style thinking, and develop the academic skills needed for higher-level biology and biotechnology study.
Location: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Cost: $850
Dates: June 1–26
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Middle school students
MSM S.T.E.A.M. Academy allows you to explore biotechnology and health-focused STEAM learning through immersive, hands-on experiences designed for elementary and middle school students. In this four-week summer program, you’ll receive early exposure to rising grade level content aligned with the Georgia Standards of Excellence while diving into thematic studies in engineering, technology, and human health. You can investigate how the human body works through routine dissections, experiments, and model building, and connect biology to real life through inquiry-based activities that strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving. Alongside core science, you also explore modern additions such as sports science, coding, and financial literacy, helping you understand how data, technology, and biotechnology shape medicine and healthy bodies. By joining the program, you build creativity, lab-style reasoning, and confidence while discovering how science and biotechnology connect to future careers in medicine and health.
Location: Virtual or in-person at Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $1,095 – $2,985 depending on location.
Dates: Virtual: July 20–24 | Stanford: July 12–17 | UCLA: July 19–24
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Middle school students
Genetics Summer Camp places you in the role of a young biotechnology researcher as you explore how genetic information flows through the Central Dogma of Biology, from DNA to RNA to protein. In this program, you’ll study heritable diseases by starting at the molecular level and expanding to organismal inheritance and genomic analysis, learning how traits and disorders are passed across generations. You take part in interactive lessons with videos, images, and hands-on activities such as building model systems with everyday materials, extracting strawberry DNA, and observing it under microscopes you assemble yourself. Through lab demonstrations and experiments, you can investigate both molecular and organism-level genetics while strengthening research and analytical skills. You also explore careers in genetics and see how biotechnology is used in professional settings. The experience culminates in an EU Genetics Conference, where you present your research on a heritable disease to peers and families, building confidence in scientific communication and project-based learning.
Location: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL.
Cost: $200 (limited scholarships available)
Dates: June 1–5 (9 am–12 pm) |June 8–12 (1–4 pm) | June 22–26 (1–4 pm) | July 6–10 (9 am–12 pm)
Application Deadline: Applications open March 11, reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 6th through rising 8th graders
HudsonAlpha Middle School Biotechnology Camps let middle school students explore real-world biotechnology inside professional research spaces at HudsonAlpha. You’ll begin with the Code of Life camp, where you extract DNA from different organisms, learn how genetic information controls traits, explore how DNA changes lead to genetic disorders, and use professional tools like micropipettes and centrifuges. You also tour HudsonAlpha facilities, meet researchers, and complete a biotechnology project by creating glow-in-the-dark bacteria. After finishing Code of Life, you are eligible for two advanced camps. I Want to Work in a Lab Coat lets you run student-driven experiments, keep a lab notebook, and explore biotech careers through lab tours, while The Secret Lab Challenge challenges you to apply molecular biology techniques to build a bioindicator that detects water pollution and water-borne illness. Throughout these biotech camps, you can gain practical biotechnology skills, research thinking, and exposure to modern lab careers while solving problems that connect science to health and the environment.
Location: Virtual or in-person at University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, and Columbia University
Cost: $3,680 (residential) | $2,280 (commuter) | $490–$1070 | Limited scholarships available
Dates: Multiple summer sessions offered between late May and mid-August (vary by location and specific workshop)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Middle and high school students ages 11–18, depending on the workshop
Rosetta Institute Molecular Medicine Workshops immerse middle school students in real biotechnology and biomedical research through summer and winter programs offered online or in person at universities such as UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Columbia University, and University College London. You’ll learn core molecular and cellular biology, then explore how these processes change in disease, with a strong focus on experimental design, modern drug development, and personalized medicine. Taught by PhD-level instructors, the workshops combine interactive lectures with hands-on lab activities and data analysis in areas like molecular neuroscience, cancer biology, immunology, and bioinformatics. As you progress, you can design an original research project on a gene or molecular pathway of your choice, building research, communication, and portfolio skills. Residential options let you experience campus life in supervised dorms, while online workshops provide flexible access to advanced biotechnology concepts from home, helping you explore future careers in medicine and biomedical science.
Location: Virtual or in-person at University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $135–$450 per course | Need-based scholarships available
Dates: July 6–24
Application Deadline: Rolling registration | Scholarship application deadlines are often in late spring (e.g., May)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8 (middle school) as part of the broader K–12 academy
Sally Ride Science Academy Summer Program introduces you to real-world STEAM learning through hands-on workshops led by expert instructors and role models in science and technology. You’ll step into the role of a scientist or innovator as you work on projects in marine biology, engineering, robotics, geology, entrepreneurship, and creative technology such as VR and digital media. With a strong connection to biotechnology and life science, you also explore how biology, technology, and data come together in areas like environmental science and biological research. The program blends experiments, design challenges, and coding activities with stories of real researchers, helping you see how STEAM careers work in practice. By joining, you can build problem-solving, creativity, and scientific thinking skills while discovering how biotechnology and science connect to real-world challenges.
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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