10 Biotechnology Summer Programs for Middle School Students

Middle schoolers interested in biotechnology may find summer programs to be a suitable option. Such programs provide exposure to the field while equipping you with relevant skills. You also interact with seasoned professionals who provide insights into their careers.

Furthermore, you can network with like-minded students from diverse backgrounds. Participating in summer programs thus provides an opportunity for holistic development. Here are a few options for you to choose from.

10 Biotechnology Summer Programs for Middle School Students

1. Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies. Financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: 8 weeks. Varies by cohort

Application Deadline: Varies by cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8

Students interested in biotech research can opt for Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. Here, you are paired with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are specialists in biotechnology and related fields. You can expect to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study, thereby building crucial research skills through this program. You also develop scientific communication skills by partaking in feedback and writing coaching sessions. You can publish your research in academic journals by opting for the Junior Research and Publication Program.

2. Rosetta Institute’s Molecular Medicine Workshops

Location: Virtual or in person

Cost: Ranges from $490 to $1,070. Scholarships available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Dates: Various sessions during the summer

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

Eligibility: High achieving middle and high school students aged 11 to 18

You can participate in a range of biology-related workshops at The Rosetta Institute. With several options related to molecular medicine, you can choose from the FutureMD: Oncology, Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry and Medical Bioinformatics tracks. The bioinformatics track, taught by PhD-level instructors, may be a suitable option for students interested in biotechnology. The workshops cover normal molecular and cellular biology as well as how these normal processes are disrupted or distorted during the development of disease. You also learn about medicine development and apply your learnings to develop an original research project on a gene or molecular process. 

3. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies. Financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks on weekends during the spring cohort. 25 hours over 2 weeks on weekdays during the summer cohort

Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8

Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers interdisciplinary program allows you to blend technology with biology. You can expect to gain foundational knowledge of AI and machine learning. During the program, you learn diverse technology topics such as Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. This is the theoretical segment of the program. For the practical segment, you develop a technological solution for a real-world challenge in a field you are interested in, such as biotechnology. Past students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.

4. Penn GEMS

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Cost: To be announced. Limited financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Dates: June 22 to June 26

Application Deadline: Varies by session

Eligibility: Rising students in grades 7 to 9 who live and attend school within 60 miles of Penn’s campus

Penn GEMS is a hands-on STEM camp where you learn through experiments and activities. The program offers tracks in various STEM subjects, including bioengineering, engineering, math, robotics, AI, materials science, and more. You learn how engineers solve problems by completing challenging projects. You receive mentorship and guidance throughout the program. The program helps you build skills in teamwork, communication, and critical thinking, while developing confidence in a STEM setting. Through this program, you can determine your future academics and career pathway. 

5. Rice University’s Genome Engineering: Changing the Future of Medicine

Location: Online

Cost: $1,795

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: Multiple course lengths available throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by session

Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older

This course delves into genome engineering and the role of gene editing for treating diseases. You explore the basics of molecular biology as well as gene editing. You understand the three major classes of engineered nucleases and how the CRISPR/Cas9 system works. Thereafter, you learn how genome editing is used to treat sickle cell disease as well as explore clinical trials on genome editing. The course also covers the ethics and challenges in the field. Thus, through this program, you can consider a career in engineering, medical research, genetic counseling, data science, and diagnostics.

6. Stony Brook University’s Science Exploration Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Cost: $675

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students per grade level

Dates: June 29 to July 9

Application Deadline: First come, first served

Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 or 8

Stony Brook University’s Science Exploration Program complements your school science curriculum. The course aims to develop your research, thinking, and scientific skills. Throughout the program, you will be involved with reading, computer searching, writing, and group work. Rising 7th graders learn lab skills through subjects such as physics, chemistry, microbiology, and ecology. Rising 8th graders study biology, chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental chemistry through case studies on Cholera, Bioremediation and Genetics. Their course will focus on homeostasis and the environment. This is a challenging course that prepares you for advanced academics in the future.

7. Body Systems and Biomedical Innovations @ The Lawrence

Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Cost: $1,550. Financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: June 22 to June 26 for session 1. July 6 to July 10 for session 3. July 20 to July 24 for session 5. July 27 to July 31 for session 6

Application Deadline: Varies by session

Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 to 9

The Lawrence allows you to understand how doctors diagnose and treat diseases through this program on Body Systems and Biomedical Innovations. Combining medicine and engineering, you learn about body systems, investigate how some of these systems may break down, and explore how scientists and engineers are working to solve these problems. You dissect a sheep heart, build models of organs, experiment with DNA extraction, and engage in other hands-on activities. Furthermore, you use diagnostic techniques to solve fictitious diseases, tour lab facilities, and explore blood vessels and cells in the Planetarium. You also meet and interact with medicine and other STEM professionals.

8. LABC’s Stem Cells and Biotechnology

Location: LA Biotech Center, Torrance, CA

Cost: $895

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 students

Dates: July 13 to July 17 or August 3 to August 7

Application Deadline: First come, first served on a rolling basis

Eligibility: Students aged 11 to 15

The LA Biotech Center offers an intermediate-level, hands-on program for middle schoolers to learn biotechnology. This program teaches you the technical process of insulin biomanufacturing and lab grown meat. You learn how cells are engineered to make medicines (insulin) and food (lab grown meat) in a biotech lab. Researchers act as mentors to guide you throughout the program. You also engage in theoretical discussions to build science literacy alongside hands-on practical activities. This program prepares you for a career in biotechnology and STEM.

9. Northwestern CTD’s Intro to Nanotechnologies

Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Cost: $1,005 plus $825 residential fee. Scholarships available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: July 26 to July 31

Application Deadline: One week before the start date

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8 who meet the Emerald tier eligibility criteria

This program on nanotechnology takes an engineering approach to various subjects. You learn how engineers use nanotechnology for cancer treatments, medicine, electronics, and more. Scientists manipulate individual atoms, so through this program, you understand how nanomaterials behave unlike their larger counterparts. During the week, you participate in a tech-invention challenge in a field of your choice, including biology. Thus, you engage with problem-solving at the smallest scale.

10. Johns Hopkins CTY’s Biotechnology

Location: Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Cost: $7,549 for residential students or $6,717 for commuter students, plus $180 in additional fees

Acceptance rate/cohort size: 18 students

Dates: June 28 to July 17 for session 1. July 19 to August 7 for session 2

Application Deadline: June 8

Eligibility: Students in grades 7 to 11 with CTY level quantitative scores

This program delves into the Human Genome Project as well as the intersection of biology, genetics, and technology and its impact on society. During the program, you learn the fundamentals of cell biology and genetics. You discover biotechnology's applications in medicine, aquaculture, agriculture, and industry, and work in the lab to isolate the DNA molecule from common bacteria and split genes using restriction enzymes. By the end of the program, you will have developed an understanding of various dimensions of genetics, biology, and technology. You also examine DNA vaccines and conduct hands-on activities in terms of conducting gel electrophoresis and modeling polymerase chain reaction.

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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