On-campus commuter program. Local students welcome!
Non-credit courses
Eligibility: Current 7th-8th grade students in the 2025-2026 academic year
Summer 2026 | 5-day program | Penn’s Leidy Labs, Philadelphia
The Future Scientists: Biology Edition program is designed to give students a taste of life in a molecular biology lab—all participants will explore the topics hands-on. Through supervised experiments, participants will gain familiarity with common tools and experimental techniques used in molecular biology research, meet Penn researchers, and tour Penn laboratories. Techniques include DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation, light microscopy, ELISA, and sterile cell culture.
Students will:
- Be taught in undergraduate teaching labs by a PhD-level instructor
- Explore and practice scientific techniques such as how to pipette, prepare cell cultures, and work with reagents
- Conduct hands-on lab experiments with actual laboratory techniques used by researchers around the world
- Visit Penn research labs with follow-up Q&A sessions
- Eat lunch daily in a University dining hall
- Receive a lab coat to keep
- Receive a Certificate of Completion at the conclusion of the program
Program details
2026 dates
- Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 10
- Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 14
Students choose one session; both run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Students are not permitted to enroll in both sessions, and we are unable to accommodate requests for late arrival or early departure.
Who should enroll?
Current 7th or 8th grade students in the 2025-2026 academic year
Deadlines
- Priority deadline: April 2, 2026
- Final deadline: June 1, 2026
Tuition
Tuition for the 5-day program is $2,400 and includes program fees and lunch in the University dining halls.
How to enroll
Parents or guardians are required to complete the online application and include:
- Their student’s report card
- An essay written by the student answering these questions:
- Why are you interested in this program?
- Why do you like science?
There is no application fee. A $1,000 deposit is required after acceptance to secure your student’s enrollment in the program.
We accept applications on a rolling basis until all seats are full, and limited space is available.
Instructor
Dr. Hanna Sherrill is the associate director of the Science Outreach Initiative. She holds a PhD in neuroscience from Brown University. Dr. Sherrill’s previous research focused on how different genes control the type of neurons that are produced during embryonic development. Dr. Sherrill is now focused on effective methods for broadening participation in science through interaction with working researchers.
Questions?
Please contact the Penn Arts and Sciences program team at middleschoolprograms@sas.upenn.edu or (215) 746-2309.
Know a high school student?
Explore our offerings—with options in the summer and academic year, specialized studies or academic exploration, with or without academic credit—and choose the right path for your high school student.
