12 STEM Research Programs for Middle School Students
As a middle school student interested in STEM, you must look beyond your school curriculum. One of the ways you can aid your learning is by attending a STEM research program. By participating in STEM programs, you get to engage in hands-on learning, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Middle school is a critical period for academic and personal development. So, attending one of the research-based STEM programs in fields like robotics, computer science, chemistry, physics, and environmental science can be a fun and enriching experience for you. These programs are free from grade pressures and can spark a passion for learning.
If you are excited to take the next step towards exploring STEM fields, we have prepared a rundown of some of the best STEM research programs suitable for middle school students. Some of the programs have the option of financial aid while others are free to attend!
1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. The mentors are scholars from top research universities, such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and Oxford.
In weeks 1-4, participants will delve into four distinct topics within their selected track. In weeks 5 to 6, the focus intensifies as participants embark on a deep dive into one specific topic area, and finally, weeks 7 to 8 are dedicated to project implementation, with participants receiving guidance and support from their mentors as they bring their projects to life.
You can find the application form here.
Location: Fully Virtual
Dates: June 3 for the summer cohort. Spring Cohort 2024 is over
Cost: $1990 (Financial Aid is available)
Application Deadline: May 12, 2024 for Summer cohort.
Eligibility: Grade 6 - 8
2. Veritas AI
Veritas AI stands is an online AI program tailored for middle school students, founded and run by graduates from Harvard University. Over 12 weeks, middle school students collaborate one-on-one with a mentor from top universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Oxford to develop their own project or research paper. This avenue offers a compelling platform to explore AI within the context of various disciplines, enabling students to exhibit their enthusiasm and skills. Find the application form here.
For more detailed information about these programs, you can check out the program brochure.
Location: Virtual
Cost: AI Junior Fellowship - $2,900
Dates: Upcoming Summer dates can be found here
Application Deadline: May 19, 2024 (regular admission II) for the summer cohort
Eligibility: AI Trailblazer - Grade 6-8 AI Junior Fellowship - Middle school students
3. Lawrence Hall of Science Summer Teen Research Programs
Summer Teen Research Programs at the Lawrence Hall of Science is a collection of STEM research-based week-long programs at UC Berkeley. The programs are divided into two sections, with the first one for students entering grades 7-9 and the other for students entering 10-12.
These programs are available for middle school students: Designing and Engineering Bridges, Body Systems and Biomedical Innovations, Coding and Engineering Nano-Satellites, and Solar Energy and Electrical Engineering. You can visit the individual links of the programs for more details.
The programs provide a hands-on, research-based approach that brings science to life with real-world applications. You will delve into the college experience, embarking on campus tours, engaging in captivating lab visits, networking with esteemed students and faculty, and exploring diverse STEM career paths.
Location: The Lawrence Hall of Science is located in Berkeley, California, on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley
Cost: Vary with the program, but the average cost is around $1300
Program Dates: Middle School camps are usually held in June
Deadline: May 15, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 7-12
4. Rice University R-STEM Student Summer Programs
Rice University offers a broad range of summer programs for middle school and high school students interested in STEM courses. These programs are conducted by the R-STEM Institute for elementary, middle, and high school students on topics such as computer science, energy, computer-aided design, 3D printing, biotech, and physics. Programs might vary from year to year.
The iRIDE (Introduction to Research and Innovative Design in Engineering) summer program is a hands-on program specially designed to introduce middle school students in 6th-7th grade to the challenging and diverse field of engineering. This is a week-long paid program, with the availability of limited scholarships. Two sessions will be conducted with the same content.
Toward the end of the program, you will work on a capstone project and present your learnings. The project topics usually address real-world problems directly affecting you and your community!
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $499 for the iRIDE program
Dates: Week A - June 24 - 28, 2024; Week B: July 8 - 12, 2024
Application Deadline: Until seats are filled
Eligibility: Open to current grade 6 & 7 students
5. Georgetown University’s Medical Research Program
An ideal choice for students interested in STEM, pharmaceuticals or medical school, this program explores clinical research, evidence-based medicine, ethical considerations, and cancer research's impact on healthcare. The curriculum heavily focuses on research as it includes a capstone project where you will develop your own study.
In the end, you will create a video presentation showing the components of the scientific method for clinical trials. Over 20-30 hours of instruction and with guidance from a mentor, you will dive into the specifics of medical research.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Up to $1,795
Dates: Program runs in cohorts throughout the year with options for 1-week, 2-week or 4-week sessions
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines for each cohort
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13 and up
6. Texas A&M University - Aggie STEM
While not a traditional research program, The Aggie STEM at Texas A&M University offers a series of week-long STEM programs for students from elementary to high school. You can choose to attend the various day programs that are conducted throughout the week in the summer or opt for one of the week-long STEM programs, which is - Exploring STEM Week.
There are four sessions of the Exploring STEM Week program, which help you explore topics in STEM disciplines such as robotics, rockets, coding, and engineering design. This helps you set the base for multiple disciplines and pursue research projects in the future. The program also includes a tour of various STEM labs on the TAMU campus. You can explore the sample schedule before going ahead and registering.
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Dates: The Explore STEM Week takes place from June through July
Cost: All programs are paid and the final cost is shown after completing the registration
Application Deadline: Registrations are now open, deadline varies depending on the project
Eligibility: Rising 6-8th graders
7. Science Exploration Program - Stony Brook University
The Science Exploration Program at Stony Brook University is conducted by the Institute for STEM Education (I-STEM) every summer. The program is for students entering the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades in September 2024 and provides different courses for different grade levels. These academic programs are designed to complement the students' science curriculum at school and challenge them to think, research, and experiment.
Each program has a research component and involves a mandatory laboratory experience. Students entering 7th grade will focus on developing laboratory skills. Students entering 8th grade will explore biology, chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental chemistry in the context of case studies of cholera, bioremediation, genetics, and daily interactive demonstrations.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Dates: July 15-25, 2024
Cost: All programs have a $650 fee
Application Deadline: Registrations are now open, deadline varies depending on the project
Eligibility: Rising 7-9th graders
8. Science Club at Northwestern University
Science Club at Northwestern University is an opportunity for middle school students to receive high-impact science mentoring. Covering topics such as the science of food, neuro-sports, and environmental science, the program is designed to help you explore hands-on research projects and learn real-world science skills in addition to the curriculum that you are already covering in school.
Science Club recognizes the advantage of applying science in everyday life rather than memorizing facts and terms and encourages students to develop skills in experimental design, data analysis, and making evidence-based conclusions through hands-on research projects and mentorship from real scientists.
Location: Virtual or in member schools
Dates: Three quarters:
Fall: September to December
Winter: January to March
Spring: April to June
Cost: None
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Current middle school students
9. College Academy at College Gate
The College Academy at College Gate is designed for students who excel in fast-paced learning environments and are looking to challenge themselves further. With a research and project-based curriculum that promotes collaboration, STEM-focused summer programs offer courses like marine biology, advanced robotics, science discovery, rocketry, and graphic design.
With a unique 10:1 ratio for each course, the program encourages engagement and positive peer interaction among students as they work on their projects. The goal of the programs is to hone the development of skills through research that will prove useful in college and the workplace.
Location: Stonehill College, Massachusetts
Dates:
Session One: July 8, 2024, to July 26, 2024
Session Two: July 29, 2024, to August 16, 2024
Cost: $1,100
Application Deadline: Rolling applications, based on first come first serve
Eligibility: Current 4th to 8th grade students
10. Summer Discovery
Summer Discovery stands out as a premier provider of summer academic and experiential travel programs, offering students the chance to embark on exciting adventures, forge enduring friendships, and foster both confidence and a sense of community. It provides pre-college summer academic programs designed to offer students a variety of enriching experiences, including engaging in research.
With a selection of over 50 courses, participants are guaranteed to discover subjects aligned with their interests. Options range from courses like "Building Bots: A Robotics Journey" to "Fantasy Football, By The Numbers" and "Careers in Medicine: An Introduction," among others. Start your application here.
Note: Not all courses are available at both campuses, so prospective students should verify course availability before registering.
Location: Georgetown University or UCLA
Dates: Varies, courses are typically 2,3, or 4 weeks in length. Most programs start in the last week of June or the first week of July
Cost: Varies
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6-8th graders
The UMB (University of Maryland, Baltimore) CURE Scholars Program is a unique year-round program that seeks to empower middle school and high school students in West Baltimore for competitive and rewarding research, health care, and STEM-related career opportunities.
You will get exposure to hands-on activities to enhance your learning. You will also be assigned role models and educational and emotional support through mentoring. The program consists of Anatomy Track, Chemistry Track, and Robotics Track. As part of the scholar research, the middle school research training focuses on research basics such as how to conduct a literature review.
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore, and others as per project requirements
Cost: Free
Dates: Year-round program
Application Deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Baltimore students in grades 6-12, preference given to students from a disadvantaged background
12. Women's Alliance in STEM and Humanities Summer Research Institute
The Summer Research Institute at Women's Alliance in STEM and Humanities is a remarkable program designed to encourage high school girls to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, arts, and humanities. Participants engage in an intensive research experience where they work alongside university faculty and graduate students on ongoing projects, gaining hands-on experience and insights into academic research. This is a student-run program!
This summer, the WASH SRI is offering three possible tracks to student researchers: microbiology & epidemiology, finance & accounting, and quantum physics. Middle school students may have trouble finding such specific research opportunities elsewhere! During the program, students can expect once a week workshops ranging from 2-3 hours, covering everything from the fundamentals to the latest applications of each technology. At the end, mentors will grade each research project, and assist students with possible publication/continuation options.
Location: Virtual / In-person TBD
Cost: Free
Dates: Once a week for six weeks, ranging from the end of June to the first week of August.
Deadline: June 30, 2024
Eligibility: Students identifying as female in grades 6-12.
One more option - The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Image Source - Northwestern University Logo