10 Neuroscience Summer Programs for Middle School Students
- Lydia Park
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Neuroscience summer programs for middle school students offer a unique opportunity to explore how the brain works. If you're fascinated by questions about memory, decision-making, or how the nervous system controls the body, these programs can introduce you to the scientific methods used to study them. You’ll often find yourself at the intersection of biology, psychology, and cognitive science, gaining a broader understanding of how disciplines connect to explain complex behaviors.
What makes these programs stand out is their focus on structured academic learning combined with hands-on experimentation and mentorship. Whether you're dissecting a brain, analyzing how neurons communicate, or designing your first cognitive science project, you're encouraged to ask questions, collaborate, and think critically. Many of these opportunities are selective and academically rigorous, giving you the chance to engage with motivated peers and learn from experienced instructors and researchers in a focused, supportive environment.
10 Neuroscience 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: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 6 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in 7th or 8th grade at a New York City public school
The College and Career Lab at NYU introduces you to college-level learning and potential career paths through interactive courses, field trips, and workshops. As a participant in the Exploratory Stage, you’ll study subjects ranging from philosophy to neuroscience, including a week-long module with the Brain & Spine Scholars Program that involves hands-on activities in neurosurgery and healthcare. The program combines summer classes with academic year sessions called Practice Labs, where you continue developing your skills and receive one-on-one mentoring. CCL is a multi-year experience designed to support you through high school and into college with access to NYU faculty and industry professionals.
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: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 6 – July 31 (Summer); Saturdays, October – May (Academic Year)
Application Deadline: April 15 (Summer); November 1 (Academic Year)
Eligibility: New York State residents in grades 7–12 who are economically disadvantaged and/or in need of academic enrichment in STEM
S-PREP is a year-round academic program at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons that prepares you for college and careers in STEM and healthcare. The summer component runs for four weeks and includes classes in subjects like brain and cognitive science, psychology, and anatomy, while the academic year continues with Saturday sessions. You’ll also access college prep, SAT/PSAT prep, career workshops, and the potential to apply for neuroscience research opportunities through the BRAINYAC program. If you're committed to science, medicine, or health fields, this program supports your growth through consistent academic and professional development.
Location: Irvine, CA
Cost/Stipend: $2995 (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 20 – July 31
Application Deadline: Closed (decisions by February 6)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
UCI Brain Camp is an intensive two-week program where you’ll explore neuroscience through lectures, lab visits, dissections, and workshops. You’ll study brain anatomy, learning and memory, neuropharmacology, and advanced tools like optogenetics and brain imaging. Designed to mirror real research environments, the program guides you in designing your own experiment and presenting your findings to peers and professors. If you're looking to engage deeply with neuroscience alongside UCI faculty and graduate students, this is a standout opportunity.
Location: Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: $2,150 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: June 14 – 19
Application Deadline: Priority deadline January 14; rolling afterward
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th grade students
In this one-week residential course, you’ll explore how your brain drives thought, emotion, and behavior through interactive labs and demonstrations. The program includes a guided sheep brain dissection, where you’ll examine brain structures and connect anatomy to function. You’ll also learn how neurons communicate and how different regions of the brain contribute to memory, perception, and decision-making. Led by a Vanderbilt neuroscience PhD candidate, the course is designed to give you early exposure to the complexities of neurobiology while living and learning on a college campus.
Location: UC Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: $1,550 (residential add-on available for $1,350)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited spots per session
Program Dates: June 22 – 26, July 6 – 10, July 20 – 24, July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9
This full-day camp blends human biology with biomedical engineering to help you understand how body systems function and what happens when they don’t. You’ll use diagnostic techniques to solve patient case studies, dissect a sheep heart, and conduct DNA extractions while exploring diseases and treatments. The experience includes guest speakers such as doctors and researchers, and you'll tour labs and medical facilities on campus. If you opt for the residential add-on, your evenings will include structured group activities and downtime in the dorms, giving you a taste of college life.
Location: Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: $2,998 (residential), $1,598 (commuter)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 5 – 10, July 12 – 17, July 19 – 24, July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Middle school students (rising 6th–8th grade)
In this one-week program, you’ll explore the intersection of psychology and neuroscience by studying behavior, emotion, and brain function through real-world experiments and labs. You'll learn how psychologists evaluate personality and mental health, and participate in academic excursions to local labs and institutions. Taught by instructors with experience in both education and psychology, the course combines classroom instruction with interactive learning and guided reflections. The program also includes recreational activities and campus exploration to round out your experience.
Location: St. Louis, MO
Cost/Stipend: $125
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited capacity, waitlist available
Program Dates: July 20 – 24 and July 27 – 31 (various AM/PM sessions based on grade)
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students who have just completed grades 6–8
Hosted by WashU’s Occupational Therapy Services, this neuroscience-informed camp helps you build executive function skills like planning, time management, and goal-setting. You’ll tackle STEM projects and brain games designed to strengthen cognitive abilities while also having fun. Activities are led by a licensed occupational therapist and doctoral-level grad students who adapt sessions to fit your learning needs. The week wraps with an “Ultimate Challenge” that includes your family and showcases everything you’ve accomplished.
Location: San Diego, CA
Cost/Stipend: Contact for pricing
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited enrollment; school-based partnerships
Program Dates: Weekly sessions (30 total) throughout the academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling (school-based registration)
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–8
The Brain Observatory Jr. brings neuroscience directly into your school with weekly sessions that blend science, mental health, and creative expression. You’ll use tools like EEG headsets to study focus and stress in real time, while learning about brain anatomy, emotional regulation, and how to care for your mental health. The program emphasizes hands-on engagement, personal reflection, and socio-emotional learning. At the end of the year, you’ll showcase a personal project that applies what you’ve learned about your own brain and behavior.
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.
Image Source - Columbia University logo