10 Summer Biotechnology Programs for Middle School Students in California
Middle schoolers in California who wish to study biotechnology can complete a summer program offered by different schools and institutes. Through these programs, you learn the core concepts of biotechnology while developing practical skills. You complete lab activities and projects to gain in-depth understanding of the subject. In most cases, scientists and professionals mentor you as you move through the course.
Furthermore, collaborative projects give you the opportunity to network with peers and build problem-solving skills. We have listed a few summer programs you can choose from in California.
10 Summer Biotechnology Programs for Middle School Students in California
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program offers you the opportunity to conduct hands-on research in biotechnology. The program matches you with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in their respective fields, including biotechnology. You develop specialized knowledge through their mentorship and by conducting research. During the program, you learn how 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 skills. You also develop scientific communication skills through feedback and writing coaching sessions. You can publish your research in academic journals by opting for the Junior Research and Publication Program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6
Location: Torrance, CA
Cost: $895
Dates: July 13 – 17 (session 1) and August 3 – 7 (session 2)
Application Deadline: On a first-come-first-served rolling basis up to 1 week before the course start date
Eligibility: Students aged 11 – 15
The LA Biotech Centers offers programs related to biotechnology for middle and high school students. In the Stem Cells and Biotechnology track, you gain intermediate-level, hands-on knowledge. Although you do not need lab experience, prior knowledge of cells and molecular biology is helpful. You learn how cells are engineered to make medicines (insulin) and food (lab grown meat) working hands-on in a biotech research laboratory. Session 1 covers how the human insulin gene is cloned and expressed in E. Coli cells to produce cGMP compliant purified insulin. Session 2 delves into how muscle stem cells are isolated, cultured and differentiated to produce muscle protein fibers that are engineered to create an edible meat product. Throughout the program, professional scientists act as mentors to guide you through the activities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Students looking to study biotechnology can make the most of Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program, which blends biology with technology. You gain a basic understanding of AI and machine learning. The course covers diverse topics like Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The theoretical component is followed by a practical one where you work on a project. This project must solve a real-world challenge in biology by developing a technological solution. 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.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $1,550; financial aid is available
Dates: June 22 – 26 (Session 2), July 6 – 10 (Session 3), July 20 – 24 (Session 5), or July 27 – 31 (Session 6)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 9
Lawrence Hall of Science offers a range of programs for middle schoolers to explore STEM subjects. This program on body systems and biomedical innovations invites you into the world of biotechnology. 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 observe human organs and dissect a sheep heart. You experiment with DNA extraction and use actual diagnostic techniques to solve medical mysteries for fictitious patients. Based on your learnings, you complete a project that you present at the end of the program. In addition to academics, you tour the research lab and interact with STEM students and professionals.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $700
Dates: September 30 – December 2
Application Deadline: One week before the course begins
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Northwestern CTD offers programs in several subjects and fields, including biology. This track takes a holistic view of biology and also introduces you to biotechnology. You learn the core biological concepts through innovative methods. You learn about the scientific method, biochemistry, microbiology, cell structure and cellular reproduction. The program also teaches you the application of biotechnology and how it relates to health and nutrition. Based on your learnings, you conduct original research and present on a topic in biology.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
In this program by Dartmouth, you study regenerative medicine and how science and technology come together to repair the human body. In terms of biotechnology, you discover the core principles of tissue engineering, stem cell technology, and organ regeneration in modern medicine. The program also covers cutting-edge tools like 3D bioprinting and biomaterials that affect modern healthcare. You consider the impact of regenerative medicine on biotechnology, personalized medicine, space medicine, cosmetic applications, and animal care innovations. The final project requires you to propose and evaluate regenerative medicine treatments for real-world medical problems. For this, you develop three distinct regenerative approaches for individual patient cases while considering scientific, ethical, economic, and social factors.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
Genes play an important role in various diseases. This program investigates genome engineering and how the human genome can be edited to treat diseases, such as sickle cell and other hereditary blood disorders. You learn how scientists can specifically modify a genome while gaining knowledge of genome-editing tools. The program also accounts for the ethical dimension of genome editing. For the capstone project, you define beta-thalassemia, understand the mutations that cause beta-thalassemia, and identify a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing based strategy for treating beta-thalassemia.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Online or in-person
Cost: Ranges from $490 to $1,070. Scholarships available
Dates: Various sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High achieving middle and high school students aged 11 to 18
Rosetta Institute offers summer programs related to molecular medicine and biomedical research. Students interested in biomedical research, drug development, pharmacy, or nursing can opt for a workshop by this institute. Some of the available workshops include Medical Bioinformatics, Medicinal Chemistry, Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and so on. You participate in lectures and hands-on lab activities with an emphasis on experimental design, modern drug development, and the emergence of the era of personalized medicine. Other workshops enable you to strengthen your academic skills, build your college portfolio, and explore potential career options.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
Medical research involves exploring the human body and the causes of diseases. The program covers a range of topics such as molecular techniques and community health interventions. You study how scientific discoveries translate into medical innovations and real-world applications through biotechnology. You consider the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications in translational research. For the final project, you select a cellular/molecular or model organism discovery and trace its evolution from initial lab findings to current applications. You also propose an innovative, feasible research question that builds upon the discovery and has the potential to advance medical care.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $1,595
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
This program takes a focused look at bioscience and infectious diseases. You learn the causes and treatments of conditions such as COVID-19, tuberculosis, HIV and more. While understanding the difference between viral, bacterial, and other infectious pathogens, you investigate how infectious molecules replicate and how the immune system fights back. On the biotechnology front, you study how vaccines are used to prevent infectious disease and how DNA-related technologies are being used to treat certain diseases. The final project involves choosing an infectious disease and telling its story using video, PowerPoint, Zoom or another medium.
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.