As a seventh-grader obsessed with economics, I drove my parents crazy with dinner-table debates. They would always answer, but I could tell that I was just pressing at the edge of their knowledge (and patience). Years later, during my PhD at Oxford, that memory inspired me to co-found the Junior Explorer Program (JEP) – a space where middle-schoolers dive deep into a topic they love with a 1-on-1 PhD mentor. Last year, more than 500 students seized the chance to push past the limits of “regular” classwork.
What exploration can look like
Amey (grade 6) traced how gene-editing might cure inherited diseases – and wrestled with the ethics behind CRISPR with a UPenn PhD mentor.
Katherine (grade 8) decoded how genetics shape responses to cancer immunotherapy, learning to read real scientific papers along the way.
Bruce (grade 8) crunched Federal Reserve data to see how different sectors of the S&P 500 perform over time – serious number-crunching for a 13-year-old.
Beyond research papers, JEP students have taken their academic interests far beyond ordinary classwork, creating analytical presentations about Chinese architecture or Harvard Business School-style case studies of Nike’s Marketing Evolution.
These projects aren’t résumé fillers; they’re proof that middle-schoolers can tackle graduate-level questions with the right guidance.
I know how rewarding it is to pour your time and energy into something you enjoy, which is why I’m excited we can now offer these opportunities to even more students.
Our Fall Cohort deadline is this August 24. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
