10 Guided Research Summer Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 minutes ago
- 7 min read
If you’re excited about stepping into real academic research, the programs below offer structured mentorship, scaffolded projects, and a chance to build rigorous skills that go beyond typical summer camps. Guided research experiences are ideal for first‑time researchers because you don’t just learn facts, because you learn how to ask questions, investigate deeply, and communicate findings, all with support from experienced mentors and educators. These opportunities vary in length, focus, and cost, but each emphasizes academic growth, selectivity, and intellectual challenge.
10 Guided Research Summer Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8-week program; multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Location:Â Online
Cost/Stipend:Â Free (includes all instruction and support services)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Highly selective; 12 students per course cohort
Dates: July 6 – 24 (summer); August 26 – December 9 (fall semester)
Application Deadline:Â March 25
Eligibility:Â U.S.-based students currently in grades 6 or 7 from families with incomes typically under $90,000
Through SMSSP, you’ll join a small, highly engaged cohort in a three-week summer course taught by Stanford Online High School instructors, followed by weekly academic sessions through the fall. Courses include topics like dissent in democracy, real-world math, visual history through graphic novels, and geometry in higher dimensions. You’ll build core academic skills, explore selective high school pathways, and grow within a dynamic online learning community. This tuition-free program emphasizes participation, personal growth, and preparation for rigorous academic environments. It’s designed for motivated middle schoolers who are ready to take on challenging ideas with guidance from top educators.
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. Â
Location:Â Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend:Â Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Selective; open to students from three West Baltimore middle schools
Dates:Â Year-round (after-school, Saturday academy, and summer enrichment)
Application Deadline:Â Varies; based on grade and school partnership
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–10 attending partner schools in West Baltimore with interest in STEM or healthcare
As a CURE Scholar, you’ll participate in a long-term pipeline program designed to introduce you to careers in health care, cancer research, and biomedical sciences through real mentorship and hands-on learning. The program spans the school year and summer, combining academic support with lab experiences and Saturday sessions led by graduate students and faculty. You'll build confidence, grow your skills in STEM, and engage directly with professionals at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Designed to reduce health disparities and increase representation in science fields, CURE Scholars offers you a path to academic enrichment and career development from middle school through college.
5. Eureka!
Location:Â Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA (various college campuses)
Cost/Stipend:Â Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Selective; open to specific grades in designated regions
Dates:Â July to early August (exact dates vary by site)
Application Deadline:Â Rolling, site-specific
Eligibility: Youth entering grades 8–10 who identify as girls, non-binary, transgender, or are exploring their gender identity; priority for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, first-generation, and low-income students
Eureka! is a five-year STEM enrichment and leadership program that begins with a multi-week summer camp hosted on local college campuses. As a first-year participant, you’ll spend four weeks diving into STEM topics through collaborative, hands-on workshops while also exploring health, personal growth, and college readiness. The program continues throughout the academic year with monthly learning sessions and transitions into internships and capstone projects in later years. You’ll stay connected with a supportive cohort while building confidence, technical skills, and a deeper understanding of career pathways in science and engineering. The long-term design makes it ideal if you're looking for sustained mentorship and STEM engagement.
Location:Â NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend:Â FreeÂ
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Selective; small, project-based cohorts
Dates: July 8 – August 2
Application Deadline:Â April 29
Eligibility: NYC residents, ages 12–14, with strong academic records and an interest in STEM
The SoSC program introduces you to the challenges and innovations shaping modern urban life through hands-on exploration of technology, engineering, and sustainability. Over four weeks, you’ll work in teams to design solutions to real-world problems using microcontrollers, sensors, coding, and electronics. Your days will include full-time instruction by NYU faculty, teamwork in a materials-rich lab, and even improv-based communication training through a program called Irondale. It’s a high-energy, immersive STEM experience designed to deepen your technical skills while also building confidence in public speaking and collaborative problem-solving. If you’re curious about how cities function and how science and technology can improve them, SoSC is a great place to start.
Location:Â Online
Cost/Stipend:Â $2,599 (Full AI Package); discounts available for early registration
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Selective enrollment with small cohorts of ~6 students
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline:Â Rolling, until full
Eligibility: Ages 12–14 (or age 11 with permission); no coding experience required for beginner track
This immersive virtual program introduces you to data science and artificial intelligence through a structured, code-first curriculum. Over four weeks, you'll learn Python programming, analyze real-world datasets, build machine learning models, and create your own portfolio-worthy project. Classes are live and interactive, with engaging lectures, hands-on coding, and tight-knit cohort sessions. Whether you're brand new to programming or ready to explore advanced AI concepts, the program places you in the right track to ensure you're both challenged and supported. You’ll finish with not only new skills, but also a strong foundation in the tools and thinking behind modern AI.
Location:Â MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend:Â $200 for three weeks; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Selective; for Massachusetts residents only
Dates: Anticipated July–August; exact 2026 dates TBA in spring
Application Deadline:Â Not yet announced
Eligibility: Massachusetts students entering grades 6–8 in the fall
This in-person summer program invites you to MIT’s campus for three weeks of hands-on exploration at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. You’ll work in teams to design and build projects around themes like climate and sustainability, combining creativity with practical problem-solving. The program emphasizes invention, collaboration, and exposure to design thinking. Though details for 2026 are still being finalized, previous sessions have centered on project-based learning that helps you develop foundational skills while engaging with real-world topics. It’s an accessible way to dive into STEAM while experiencing a bit of life at MIT.
Location:Â Online
Cost/Stipend:Â Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Selective; limited cohorts per track
Dates:Â Six weeks during summer (culminates in early August showcase)
Application Deadline:Â Not specified (typically spring)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12; open to all with interest in research
WASH SRI offers you the chance to dive into advanced topics like microbiology, finance & computer science, or quantum physics while working closely with mentors from universities such as Princeton, UPenn, and Johns Hopkins. Over the course of six weeks, you'll attend weekly 2–3 hour workshops and complete research checkpoints tied to your selected track. Your final project will be presented at a virtual science fair, with support from mentors who also offer guidance for publication or future research. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and DEI awareness, the institute blends technical skill-building with a broader social impact lens. If you're seeking a guided and challenging virtual research experience, this program offers both structure and depth.
Location:Â Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend:Â Varies; scholarships available for select students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Selective; space is limited and fills quickly
Dates:Â Summer (exact dates vary annually; includes orientation and multi-week sessions)
Application Deadline:Â April 18 (for scholarship applicants)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–7 (2024–2025 school year)
iRIDE is a hands-on engineering academy where you’ll dive into real-world design challenges while learning how engineering shapes everyday life. Hosted by Rice University’s Office of STEM Engagement, this program exposes you to fields like aerospace, civil, and biomedical engineering through rotating topics, lab tours, and guest speakers from organizations such as NASA and TxDOT. Throughout the experience, you’ll collaborate on a capstone project that addresses a problem relevant to your life or community. Whether you're designing helicopter rescue simulations or testing new materials, iRIDE helps you connect classroom concepts to impactful innovations. It's a practical introduction to engineering that’s designed to spark long-term interest in STEM pathways.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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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