7 Winter Research Programs for Middle School Students

Exploring research while you’re still in middle school offers you a useful head start: you build analytical skills, deepen your understanding of subjects, and begin seeing how professionals work in science, technology, the arts, or humanities. Short‑term winter programs provide a focused and manageable way to experience academic challenges outside the classroom. The winter season presents unique opportunities for students in many regions. Participating in a winter research program can also help you prepare for high school academics. 

To help you take advantage of this time, we’ve curated a list of 7 winter research programs for middle school students. Each was chosen for its academic rigor, structure, and mentorship.

7 Winter Research Programs for Middle School Students

1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 20%

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort

Eligibility: Ambitious students in grades 6-8

Cost: Varies depending on program type (scholarships and financial aid are available)

Location: Remote

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is designed for students who want to explore their academic interests and develop a foundational research project. Each student is paired with a top Ph.D. mentor to work 1-on-1 on a passion project in a field of their choosing, from STEM to the humanities. The program helps students learn how to ask good research questions, gather information, and structure a final project. Mentorship is the core of the experience, providing personalized guidance and support throughout the research journey. A unique and valuable part of the JEP is the final output, which may be a high school-level research paper or a Harvard Business School-style case study!

2. Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) Online School

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, but many courses have prerequisites.

Dates: Several sessions available by subject, stretching from September to March

Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines varying by subject and batch

Eligibility: Best for students with a strong interest and background in math.

Cost: Varies depending on specific course

Location: Remote

For students who love a deep challenge in mathematics and science, AoPS offers highly rigorous, multi-week courses. Unlike regular tuition classes, these are live, interactive problem-solving sessions that teach students how to think like mathematicians and scientists. Although classroom-based, AoPS offers the kind of rigorous, open-ended challenges that mirror the critical reasoning skills found in research experiences. Winter and spring sessions cover advanced topics far beyond the standard curriculum, requiring students to tackle complex problems and articulate their solutions.

3. Veritas AI Trailblazers Program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, with small class sizes

Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends)

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8. No prior coding experience is required.

Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid options available)

Location: Remote

The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics.  Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.

4. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Online Courses

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Enrollment is open to any student who meets CTY eligibility.

Dates: The CTY Winter Session runs from January to March; the Spring Session runs from April to June.

Application Deadline: December 15

Eligibility: Students in grades 2-12

Cost: Tuition-based, but CTY offers significant financial aid.

Location: Remote

CTY offers academically gifted students a chance to study advanced subjects at the university level. Their winter and spring sessions include a vast catalog of courses in engineering, data analysis, creative writing, and more. Though CTY’s courses are more academic than research-based, their advanced, inquiry-driven design allows students to think critically and engage deeply with complex topics. Both session-based and individual courses are available, allowing flexibility in how you want to approach your academics. 

5. Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) Winter Break Camps

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment

Dates: December 29 – 31

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Eligibility: Grade-specific camps, including options for grades 6-8

Cost: $300 per camper

Location: Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, one of the largest science museums in the world, offers hands-on camps during school breaks, including a robust Winter Break session. These camps allow students to engage in STEM topics like engineering, chemistry, and robotics through experiments and design challenges within the museum's environment. The programs are structured and engaging, allowing you to learn advanced concepts in a more fun way. Though designed as enrichment camps rather than a research experience, MSI’s hands-on experiments and design challenges introduce students to scientific investigation in action.

6. Black Girls Code Workshops

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open, first-come, first-served for workshops

Dates: Workshops are scheduled throughout the year by local chapters

Application Deadline: Registration is on a per-event basis

Eligibility: Focused on Black girls aged 7-17

Cost: Often free or low-cost

Location: Various cities across the U.S.

This nonprofit runs workshops and chapter meetings throughout the year with the mission of providing technology education to girls of color. Local chapters host hands-on workshops on game design, robotics, and web development. While these workshops aren’t traditional research programs, they introduce participants to experimentation, iteration, and real-world problem-solving in tech fields. The events provide a powerful combination of skill-building, mentorship from industry professionals, and a strong, empowering community.

7. Russian School of Math (RSM)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment based on a placement evaluation

Dates: The program runs continuously through the winter and spring

Application Deadline: Enrollment is often in the summer, but mid-year evaluations are possible

Eligibility: Grades K-12, with specific classes for middle school students

Cost: Tuition-based

Location: In-person centers across the U.S., plus virtual options

RSM is a comprehensive after-school math program that runs for the entire school year. It provides a structured, classroom-based approach to developing deep logical reasoning and advanced math skills beyond the standard school curriculum. The middle school program is dedicated to Algebra I, II, and Geometry. Though classroom-based and academic in structure, RSM’s emphasis on logical reasoning and problem-solving builds the same foundation of inquiry needed for future research. For a student seeking a consistent, long-term academic challenge, the winter and spring months at RSM are a core part of the learning journey.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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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