10 Research Summer Programs for Gifted Middle School Students

Gifted middle schoolers looking to further their knowledge can consider participating in research summer programs. Here, you can conduct research, gain specialized knowledge in a field of your interest, and build relevant skills. These programs also typically include a mentorship component.

Although some programs offer research opportunities in specific subjects, others offer the flexibility to choose. You can participate in a program based on your goals and requirements. Here are 10 programs for you to choose from.

10 Research Summer Programs for Gifted Middle School Students

1. Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies by cohort; financial aid available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; small cohorts

Dates: 8-week sessions; timing varies by cohort

Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8

Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program is a research program for you to conduct mentored research in a field you are interested in. After being paired with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, you receive guidance from them as you conduct research. Through this experience, you learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study, which enables you to build crucial research skills. You also build scientific communications skills through feedback and writing coaching sessions. You can publish your research in academic journals by opting for the Junior Research and Publication Program.

2. NYU’s Science of Smart Cities

Location: New York City, NY

Cost/Stipend: None

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified

Dates: July 6 – 31

Application Deadline: May 15

Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders who are NYC residents

SoSC is a selective program for you to explore and research engineering and technology. The program teaches you coding and microcontroller programming along with electronics and circuitry basics. Environmental and urban science are taught from a theoretical perspective, which will inform the group project you work on. For this project, you conduct research on an urban problem and provide an engineering solution that aims to make cities safer and more sustainable. At the end of the program, you present this project to the cohort. 

3. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (weekends) in the spring cohort; 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays) in the summer cohort

Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8

If you want to explore technology, you can consider participating in Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program. This program teaches you the fundamentals of AI and machine learning through diverse topics like Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Once you have grasped these theoretical aspects, you complete a hands-on project in a field of your choice. This project must involve a technological solution for a real-world problem you have identified. In the 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. Rice University’s Forensics Investigators Program

Location: Rice University, Houston, TX

Cost: $599 per week; limited scholarships available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective

Dates: June 22 – 26

Application Deadline: April 18

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 and 7

Rice University’s program invites you to delve into crime scene investigation and scientific exploration. Through this program, you learn forensic science techniques and build critical thinking skills. You participate in various hands-on activities from evidence collection to identifying, classifying, and analyzing different types of evidence, including fingerprints, DNA, blood, and many others. The program involves rigorous scientific inquiry. Thus, it blends research and inquiry with practical activities that build skills.

5. Stony Brook University’s Science Exploration Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Cost: $700

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 24 students per grade level

Dates: June 29 – July 9

Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis

Eligibility: Students in grades 7 and 8

Stony Brook’s Science Exploration Program provides an opportunity for you to conduct science research. Complementing your school studies, this program is a way for you to develop research and critical thinking skills. 7th graders learn physics, chemistry, microbiology, and ecology in a lab environment. Similarly, 8th graders study biology, chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental chemistry through case studies and interactive demonstrations. Day-to-day activities involve reading, computer searching, writing, and group work. 

6. Berkeley Coding Academy’s Data Science - The AI Journey

Location: Virtual

Cost: From $2,599

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 6 students per cohort

Dates: July 6 – 31

Application Deadline: Not specified

Eligibility: Students aged 11 – 18

This program for talented middle schoolers covers data science and AI. You learn Python coding that allows you to understand big data. The course teaches you how to create visualizations, build machine learning models, and apply AI in the real world. Lecture time involves learning new concepts and techniques as you maintain a coding notebook. During cohort time, you work in small groups to complete different projects. You also conduct original research to solidify your learnings. Thus, by the end of the program, you will have a portfolio of work and a certificate of completion.

7. Summer Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP)

Location: University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI

Cost: $1,500 per session; financial aid available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: June 14 – 19 (Session 1) or June 21 – 26 (Session 2)

Application Deadline: May 1

Eligibility: Students finishing grades 6 – 8

STEP is a challenging academic program for middle schoolers. Over one week, you engage with courses that encourage you to polish your critical thinking, problem solving, and creative skills. You study complex questions regarding a subject and apply your learnings to hands-on activities. The schedule includes lectures, learning activities, and independent work on your final project. You also partake in social activities as you socialize and network with your peers. 

8. Georgetown University’s International Law: Protecting the World's Interests

Location: Virtual

Cost: $1,895; scholarships available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: Various sessions of different lengths

Application Deadline: Varies by session

Eligibility: Students age 13 and older

Middle schoolers interested in legal intricacies and international law can participate in this program. Through this course, you learn how international law is created, jurisdiction works, international treaties are negotiated, and international law is enforced. Case studies help you build a stronger understanding of the subject. You consider the future and direction of international law. For the capstone project, wherein you step into the role of an advisor, you apply your learnings, study and research international law, analyze a simulation, and recommend actions to be taken. You receive mentorship throughout the program, which helps you discover various career pathways.

9. The Davidson Academy

Location: Reno, NV

Cost/Stipend: None

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Class ratio of 15:1

Dates: Several week-long sessions in the summer

Application Deadline: January 15

Eligibility: Gifted middle and high school students who meet minimum testing requirements and are Nevada residents

The Davidson Academy offers a range of summer programs for gifted middle schoolers. You study a rigorous curriculum and interact with other gifted students who become a part of your network. You can take various classes based on your interests, such as English, math, history, science, world languages, and electives. The classes are dynamic, where you discuss, experiment, and research to gain holistic knowledge. Students also receive assistance with college planning.

10. Northwestern Center for Talent Development

Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL or online

Cost: $990 – $6,025 depending on course length

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small classes

Dates: Varies by course

Application Deadline: One week before the course start date

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12; additional academic criteria vary by course

Northwestern’s CTD offers several courses and tracks for academically advanced middle schoolers. You can choose the class you want to attend based on your interests. Eligibility criteria vary according to the track, but you can expect the courses to be rigorous. You engage in critical and creative problem solving. Many tracks blend theory with practice to enable hands-on learning. The program provides the opportunity to network with industry professionals and like-minded professionals. Participating in these courses can help you prepare for future academics and chart your career. 

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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