10 Scientific Research Summer Programs for Middle School Students

Engaging in scientific research before high school gives you an early window into how academic inquiry really works, letting you practice hypothesis‑driven thinking, dig into real investigation, and learn from expert mentors outside the classroom. These programs often pair you with researchers, require you to design and carry out projects, and ask you to communicate your findings much like scientists do. That early hands‑on exposure builds confidence for later STEM learning, prepares you to tackle advanced coursework, and connects you with peers who share your curiosity. Because they emphasize rigor and mentorship, many of the most prestigious options are selective and competitive, but that selectivity is part of what makes the experience meaningful.

1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP)

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. 

2. NYU Science of Smart Cities (SoSC)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free (full scholarship)

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective (exact cohort size not listed)

Dates: July 8 – August 2

Application Deadline: April 29

Eligibility: New York City residents ages 12–14 by the program start date; strong academic record and interest in STEM required

In this four-week program, you’ll dive into real-world problems facing urban environments and explore how science and technology can be used to solve them. Working in teams, you’ll design and prototype solutions using microcontrollers, sensors, coding, and electronics, all skills introduced through hands-on coursework taught by NYU faculty and graduate students. Alongside your research and design work, you’ll take part in Irondale, an improv-based workshop that sharpens your communication and public speaking skills. Sessions run full days on weekdays, giving you access to NYU labs and materials while building both technical and creative confidence. If you're a middle schooler in NYC ready for a serious STEM challenge, this program gives you both structure and flexibility to grow.

3. Veritas AI - AI Trailblazers

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. 

4. Whitehead Institute Expedition: Bio

Location: Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA

Cost/Stipend: $500; full scholarships available based on financial need

Acceptance rate or cohort size: 24 students per session

Dates: July 6 – July 17; August session TBD

Application Deadline: Rolling (registration opens early March)

Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th grade students; parental consent required

In this two-week summer workshop, you’ll get hands-on with biology through lab experiments, fieldwork, and daily sessions led by professional science educators. Topics include ecology, genetics, chemistry, and bioengineering, and you’ll learn how scientists use these disciplines to investigate complex life science questions. Each day runs from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, with an earlier end time on Fridays, and includes everything from DNA extraction to small group discussions with researchers. The program is open to middle school students entering grades 7 or 8, and you’ll need to register early due to limited space. Tuition assistance is available if cost is a concern.

5. American Museum of Natural History Science Alliance Middle School Program

Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: $1,000 per course; free or reduced tuition available based on income eligibility

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Varies; 50% of seats reserved for tuition assistance applicants

Dates: Summer sessions run July 6–July 10 and July 13–July 17; year-round sessions also available

Application Deadline: Rolling, until classes are filled

Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8

At Science Alliance, you can explore scientific topics like evolution, geology, conservation, and anthropology through hands-on lab work and museum-based learning. You’ll join a cohort of middle schoolers in weeklong summer sessions or after-school programs, each led by educators and scientists at one of the world’s most renowned museums. Classes meet either on weekdays or weekends, depending on the session, and you’ll get to use real scientific tools while collaborating with peers. Tuition assistance is offered to qualifying families, and registration typically opens in February. Whether you're interested in Earth's history or future sustainability, you'll have a chance to investigate big questions alongside experts.

6. NYU Sounds of New York City (SONYC)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free (full scholarship)

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective (exact size not listed)

Dates: July 8 – August 4

Application Deadline: April 29

Eligibility: NYC residents ages 12–14 by the program start date; strong academic record and interest in science

In SONYC, you'll explore how sound moves through cities, how scientists measure it, and how noise pollution impacts public health. You'll collect and analyze real-world sound data from neighborhoods around NYC, build your own monitoring devices, and use coding, electronics, and microcontrollers to bring your ideas to life. This four-week, full-day program is led by NYU faculty and draws directly from a National Science Foundation research project. You’ll also participate in Irondale, an improv-based public speaking workshop that helps you present your work with confidence. It’s an immersive STEM experience that connects environmental science with tech, creativity, and urban innovation.

7. Lawrence Hall of Science Teen Research Programs

Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA

Cost/Stipend: $1,350 - $1,550; residential add-on available for an extra fee; financial aid offered

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; space limited

Dates: Weeklong sessions between June 22 – July 31 (multiple start dates)

Application Deadline: Rolling until full

Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9 (select programs); parental consent required

At The Lawrence, you’ll spend a full week immersed in a college lab setting, working with real scientific tools and diving into themed tracks like animal behavior, biomedical engineering, nano-satellite coding, or sustainable design. Each program emphasizes hands-on research and encourages you to ask scientific questions, build prototypes, or analyze biological systems. If you're curious about life on campus, you can also opt into a residential add-on that includes overnight housing and extra evening activities with peers. Programs are taught by expert educators at UC Berkeley and are designed to help you think like a scientist or engineer while building connections to STEM careers. Space fills quickly, and financial aid is available for families who qualify.

8. UMB CURE Scholars Program

Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Cost/Stipend: Free 

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective; limited to students from three partner schools

Dates: Year-round with summer, after-school, and Saturday sessions

Application Deadline: Typically in September (date varies annually)

Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th grade students from Franklin Square Elementary/Middle, Green Street Academy, or Southwest Baltimore Charter School

As a CURE Scholar, you’ll join a long-term STEM pipeline that starts in middle school and continues through high school and into college. This year-round program offers lab-based experiences, research enrichment, and direct mentorship from UMB faculty and graduate students. You’ll attend sessions after school and on Saturdays, with additional summer programming focused on science, health, and biomedical careers. The program is designed for students in West Baltimore and aims to increase representation in STEM while providing consistent academic and social support. If you're interested in research or medicine, this is a unique opportunity to grow within a committed, community-driven network.

9. dynaMIT

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective; prioritizes students with limited access to enrichment

Dates: Two separate one-week sessions (exact 2026 dates TBA)

Application Deadline: Opens in spring (rolling until full)

Eligibility: Massachusetts students entering grades 6–9

At dynaMIT, you’ll spend a week on the MIT campus participating in hands-on science and engineering projects led by current MIT students. The curriculum changes each year but often includes experiments in physics, biology, coding, and design thinking. If you're entering 6th or 7th grade, you’ll attend Week 1; rising 8th and 9th graders take part in Week 2. All sessions are completely free, with a focus on serving students from underserved communities. If you're curious, creative, and eager to explore STEM, this program gives you direct access to the energy and resources of a top research institution.

10. Stony Brook University Science Exploration Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Cost/Stipend: $700 (non-refundable); payment due at registration

Acceptance rate or cohort size: 24 students per grade level

Dates: June 29 – July 9 (Monday through Thursday only)

Application Deadline: Rolling, first come first served

Eligibility: Students entering 7th or 8th grade in September

This half-day summer program gives you the chance to explore lab-based science topics across biology, chemistry, and environmental science. If you're entering 7th grade, you’ll build fundamental lab skills and investigate physics, chemistry, microbiology, and ecology through hands-on experiments. As an 8th grader, you’ll tackle more complex topics like genetics and bioremediation through real-world case studies and demonstrations. Each session emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and scientific communication. With just 24 seats per grade, the program is designed for curious, motivated students eager to dive deeper into STEM.

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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