10 Summer Biotechnology Programs for Middle School Students in New York
If you are a middle schooler in New York who is interested in biotechnology, you can opt for a summer program in the subject. These programs tend to be rigorous and competitive, preparing you for advanced academics. They also help you cultivate relevant skills that accompany you throughout your career. You also receive mentorship from seasoned professionals and field experts.
In addition to academics, these programs offer extracurricular activities and opportunities to develop a network among your peers. Thus, a summer program can be a holistic development option for you. We have compiled a list of such biotechnology programs you can choose from.
10 Summer Biotechnology Programs for Middle School Students in New York
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 allows you to conduct hands-on research in biotechnology. You are matched with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in biotechnology and related fields. You conduct original research during the program and benefit from the mentorship experience. 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. Through feedback and writing coaching sessions, you can expect to hone your scientific communication skills. You can publish your research in academic journals by opting for the Junior Research and Publication Program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Cost: $1300; scholarships are available
Dates: July 6 – 10 or July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
This challenging program invites middle schoolers to explore a range of science topics. You step into the shoes of a scientist and investigate various questions. Students interested in biotechnology can opt for the Animal Prosthetics track. Through a blend of technology and creativity, you learn how to improve the lives of animals with physical challenges. You learn tools like Tinkercad, clay, building bricks, and 3D printing, work in teams, and develop your own prosthetic prototypes. Through this process, you discover how engineers develop ideas, test designs, and refine their inventions. At the end of the program, you showcase your final prototype.
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
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program can be a solid option for students looking for an interdisciplinary program that blends biology with technology. The program provides a basic understanding of AI and machine learning. You study a range of topics like Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. This theoretical component is followed by a practical project. For this project, you 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: 18
Location: To be announced
Cost: To be announced; financial aid is available
Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 11 who meet CTY-level quantitative scores
This program by Johns Hopkins CTY delves into biotechnology. You study the intersection of biology, genetics, and technology and its impact on society. Consequently, you learn the fundamental principles of cell biology and genetics, including mitosis, meiosis, and Mendelian inheritance, get to know the structure and function of DNA and RNA, and sources and types of mutations. The program also introduces you to the applications of biotechnology in medicine, aquaculture, agriculture, and industry. Hands-on lab work involves isolating the DNA molecule from common bacteria and splitting genes using restriction enzymes. The program gives you a contemporary and forward-looking view of the subject.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 per grade level
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $700
Dates: June 29 – July 9
Application Deadline: On a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 and 8
This competitive and rigorous program introduces middle schoolers to various science topics. For 7th graders, the course focuses on developing their lab skills. They explore topics in physics, chemistry, microbiology and ecology. 8th graders biology, chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental chemistry in the context of case studies of Cholera, Bioremediation, and Genetics. You partake in interactive demonstrations to solidify your learning. The general theme for the program emphasizes homeostasis and the environment. Thus, this course prepares you for future academics in high school.
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
Students interested in biology and related topics can opt for this program by Northwestern CTD. you get an overall understanding of biology as you prepare for high school, with an added topic of biotechnology. You learn about the scientific method, biochemistry, microbiology, cell structure and cellular reproduction. In terms of biotechnology, the program covers its real-world applications and how it relates to health and nutrition. Thereafter, you conduct original research on a biology topic and present it at the end of the program.
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: OnlineCost: $1,795
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
Genes and genetics are a crucial component in disease research. In this program, you study 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 specifically modify a genome as well as how to use genome-editing tools. To provide a holistic view, the program considers the ethics of the technology. In the final 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: Various locations in New York
Cost: Varies by camp. Scholarships available
Dates: Various sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12
The DNALC offers a range of science summer camps for middle and high schoolers. As a middle schooler, you start with the foundational camps in genetics and forensics. You conduct practical lab experiments as you explore and learn about biotechnology. While furthering your knowledge, you gain hands-on experience regarding biology, genetics, and more. In high school, you can partake in more advanced courses. At these camps, you also get the opportunity to interact and network with peers.
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
This program investigates medical research to explore the human body and determine the causes of diseases. In this program, you learn several topics such as molecular techniques and community health interventions. The course teaches how scientific discoveries translate into medical innovations and real-world applications through biotechnology. The gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications in translational research are covered here. For the final project, you select a cellular/molecular or model organism discovery and trace its evolution from initial lab findings to current applications. For that organism, you propose an innovative, feasible research question that builds upon the discovery and has the potential to advance medical care.
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.