Science Fair Research Competitions: A Compilation of Contests for High School and Middle School Students

There are dozens of competitions where students can submit original research or a research proposal — but they vary enormously in scope, prestige, and what they actually require. This guide focuses specifically on that category: competitions where doing the research (or proposing it rigorously) is the point. Competitions requiring a completed research paper or lab work come first; competitions that accept a research proposal alone are grouped at the end of each section.

Updated May 2026.

Published by the Bay AI Institute (www.bayaiinstitute.com)

High School

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) | societyforscience.org/isef Grades 9–12 | International

ISEF is the world's largest pre-college science research competition, with more than 1,600 finalists each year from 40+ countries. There is no direct application — students qualify by placing at a regional or affiliated fair first, which builds in real judging feedback before the main stage. Top prizes at the international level run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Find your local affiliated fair at societyforscience.org/isef/affiliated-fairs.

Deadline: Register at a regional affiliated fair (deadlines vary by region, typically fall–winter). ISEF international finals held each May.

Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) | societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts Grade 12 only | U.S. citizens and permanent residents

The oldest pre-college science research competition in the United States, and widely considered the most prestigious. Each year roughly 1,700 seniors apply; 300 are named semifinalists and 40 finalists travel to Washington, D.C. The top prize is $250,000. Judging weights research quality and scientific potential — a strong project with an inconclusive result can advance further than a weak project with a clean one.

Deadline: typically early November. Finalists announced January; Washington, D.C. finals in March.

Stockholm Junior Water Prize | stockholmwaterfoundation.org Ages 15–20 | International (via national competitions)

Original research on any water-related topic — quality, conservation, treatment, management, or policy. Students enter through their country's national competition; the national winner advances to the international finals in Stockholm during World Water Week each August. Currently 40+ countries participate. Check whether your country has an active national program and what its local deadline is, as these vary.

Deadline: national competition deadlines vary by country. International finals: August (World Water Week, Stockholm).

Genes in Space | genesinspace.org Grades 7–12 | U.S. only

Students design an original experiment that uses the space environment to investigate a genetics or molecular biology question — not a completed study, but a scientific proposal with genuine rigor. If the winning proposal is approved by the ISS National Lab, it is actually conducted aboard the International Space Station. Applications open in January.

Deadline: typically mid-April. Finalists announced May; winners July.

iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) | igem.org High school and collegiate teams | International

Teams design, build, and test genetically engineered biological systems using standardized BioBrick parts, document their work on a public wiki, and present at regional and international jamborees. Judging covers scientific rigor, innovation, implementation, and societal impact. Lab access is a real prerequisite — this is bench work, not a design exercise.

Deadline: typically late May for team registration. Jamborees held in fall.

THURJ High School Research Competition | thurj.com/hs-research Middle and high school students | International | Free

Run by undergraduates at The Harvard Undergraduate Research Journal, THURJ holds biannual competitions (fall and spring) in two categories: completed research papers and research proposals. Both are judged; they are separate tracks with separate awards. Past participants have come from the U.S., Singapore, Qatar, Hong Kong, Thailand, and China, and topics have ranged from quantum machine learning to anthropology.

Deadline: biannual (fall and spring cycles). Spring 2026 skipped; next competition Fall 2026 — check the website in early fall for registration details.

Neuroscience Research Prize (American Academy of Neurology) | aan.com Grades 9–12 | U.S. only

Annual award from the American Academy of Neurology — the main professional organization for U.S. neurologists — recognizing original high school neuroscience research. Students submit a research summary covering methods, results, and significance of their work.

Deadline: typically October. Applications open August.

Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase | sigmaxi.org/meetings-events/student-research-showcase High school, undergraduate, and graduate students | International

An online science communication competition hosted by Sigma Xi, one of the oldest scientific research honor societies. Students submit a research abstract, a technical slideshow, and a two-minute video presenting the work to a general audience. More than 60 Sigma Xi members judge submissions and engage digitally with presenters. High school division prizes: $500 first place, $250 second place.

Deadline: typically mid-April. Competition runs approximately two weeks.

Genius Olympiad | geniusolympiad.org High school students | International

An international project competition held annually at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, open to students from 80+ countries. All projects must address an environmental issue; disciplines include science, engineering, AI, coding, robotics, entrepreneurship, art, music, and writing. High-scoring finalists may receive a conditional admission consideration from the host university.

Deadline: typically early spring (applications for 2026 are closed). Competition held at RIT each June.

BIEA International STEM Youth Innovation Competition | bieacompetition.org.uk Ages 6–18 | International

Run by the British International Education Association with institutional support from University College London, Imperial College London, and the Royal Institution. Teams of 3–5 design an innovative STEM solution to a real-world problem; the 2026 theme was food waste.

Deadline: typically late May for project submission. UK Final held in London each July.

National STEM Festival | nationalstemfestival.com Ages 13–19 | U.S. only | Free

A national showcase competition powered by EXPLR where students submit original STEM projects; the top submission from each U.S. state and territory earns a National Champion designation and an invitation to a showcase event in Washington, D.C., with travel covered. Less formal than a traditional science fair but free and broadly accessible, with strong industry partner and mentor involvement.

Deadline: typically mid-November. National Festival held the following June in Washington, D.C.

SARC — Student Academic Research Competition | researchcomp.org Ages 13–18 | International | Free

Students submit a 1–2 page research proposal on any topic — STEM, humanities, social science, economics, or any other field. Top 50 finalists submit a short video pitch; global winners are announced in May. SARC includes participant-only bootcamps and webinars throughout the competition cycle, which makes it one of the more accessible entry points for students new to research.

Deadline: typically late March for regular registration; proposal submission deadline late April.

IARCO — International Academic Research Competition | iarco.org Grades 7–12 | International | Free

Similar format to SARC: a two-page original research proposal on any subject. IARCO also publishes a companion Youth Research Journal. Free preparatory bootcamps are offered throughout the competition period.

Deadline: early bird registration closes late June; regular registration closes late August. Competition runs September–November.

Proposal-Only Competition

MIT THINK Scholars Program | think.mit.edu Grades 9–12 | U.S. students and permanent residents

THINK is run by MIT undergraduates, not MIT admissions. Students submit a roughly 10-page proposal for a science or engineering project completable in one semester on a $1,000 budget, with the work aimed at solving a real problem. Finalists receive funding, faculty mentorship, and a trip to MIT to present their work. The proposal requirement is intensive — this is not a brief summary — but no completed research is required to enter. In the 2025–26 cycle, approximately 1,042 students applied and around 6 were selected as finalists.

Deadline: typically January 1.

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) | jshs.org Grades 9–12 | U.S. citizens and permanent residents

For 63 years, JSHS was one of the most respected U.S. high school research competitions. Students submitted original STEM research papers and presented at regional symposia; winners advanced to a national symposium with scholarships up to $12,000, fully funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The national program was suspended in October 2025 following the loss of its DoD funding. Some states are continuing local competitions independently.

Status: Suspended as of October 2025. Worth monitoring — programs with this history and reach have revived before.

BioGENEius Challenge | biotechinstitute.org Grades 9–12 | U.S. and Canada

A long-running competition for original biotechnology research, with regional and virtual At-Large tracks covering healthcare, sustainability, and environmental applications. The Biotechnology Institute ran the program for over a decade and the past winners list is impressive. The last confirmed active season was 2024; no 2025 competition materialized and no 2026 dates have been announced, though the application portal remains live.

Status: Last ran in 2024. No subsequent season has been announced. Worth watching for students focused on biotech research.

Middle School

ThermoFisher Scientific Junior Innovator Challenge (JIC) | societyforscience.org/jic Middle school students | U.S. only

Formerly the Broadcom MASTERS, the JIC is the national science fair for middle schoolers, run by the same Society for Science that manages ISEF. Students qualify by placing at a regional or district-level fair first. Finalists travel to Washington, D.C., where research judging is combined with hands-on STEM challenges.

Deadline: qualify at a regional fair (deadlines vary by region, typically winter–spring). JIC national applications typically open February 1.

3M Young Scientist Challenge | youngscientistlab.com Grades 5–8 | U.S. only

Students submit a short video explaining an original idea for using science to solve an everyday problem — not a completed experiment, just a well-explained concept. The top 10 finalists spend the summer in a mentorship program paired with a 3M scientist, then compete at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul in October. The winner receives $25,000 and the title America's Top Young Scientist.

Deadline: typically mid-April. Finals held in October.

Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI) | emerginginvestigators.org Middle and high school students | International

JEI is a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal that publishes original research by middle and high school students. Every submission receives feedback from a PhD-level reviewer, which makes it valuable as a learning experience regardless of publication outcome. This is not a competition with prizes — it's a publication venue — but it is the most established outlet for placing student science research in a genuine academic record. Current focus is life sciences; $35 submission fee.

Deadline: rolling submissions year-round.

Scholarships for Student Researchers

These programs award scholarships through an application process rather than a competition format, but both are directly relevant to students doing original research.

Davidson Fellows Scholarship | davidsongifted.org Age 18 or younger | U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Awards of $50,000, $25,000, or $10,000 for students who have completed a significant original work in STEM, humanities, music, or fine arts. The bar is genuinely high — this is work that makes a real contribution to a field, not a strong science fair project. Teams of two may apply, but contact the Davidson Institute before starting a joint application.

Deadline: typically February 11.

RISE Scholarship (Schmidt Futures / Rhodes Trust) | risefortheworld.org Ages 15–17 | International

RISE selects 100 Global Winners each year who receive need-based financial support, mentorship, funding for social enterprises, and an invitation to a residential summit. The program weighs what students are actually doing with their potential — academic record matters, but it isn't the only factor.

Deadline: typically early winter (December). Applications open in fall.

Last Updated May 2026.