High School Research & Science Competitions Directory
Published · Grade band: High School (9–12) · Topic: Research & Science
Research competitions are different from the subject-based contests on other pages here. They do not test speed or accuracy on a standardized problem set. They evaluate original work: a research question the student formulated, data the student collected, and an argument the student constructed. The preparation timeline is months or years, not weeks. The difference between a finalist and an entrant is often the quality of the underlying research, not the quality of the presentation.
This directory covers the major programs: Regeneron ISEF, Regeneron STS, JSHS, Genes in Space, and Davidson Fellows. The most important distinction to understand before reading further is apply-direct vs. nominate/qualify-only — several of these programs are reached through a qualifying process, not a direct application.
Regeneron ISEF — the international science fair
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (administered by Society for Science) is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. Students cannot apply directly. The pathway runs through affiliated regional and state fairs: a student must first win at an affiliated fair, which then qualifies them as a representative to ISEF.
The affiliated fair calendar varies significantly by state. Most regional fairs run January through March; state fairs typically run March through April; ISEF nationals run in May, rotating among US cities. A student who wants to reach ISEF should identify their affiliated regional fair through the Society for Science website, then plan their research project to be complete and ready for local judging by December or January.
The research categories at ISEF span all scientific disciplines. The most competitive projects demonstrate methodological rigor, genuine novelty, and clear significance — not necessarily expensive equipment. Many winning projects are conducted in accessible settings: soil samples, local water sources, computer simulations, behavioral observations.
Regeneron STS — the elite senior research award
The Regeneron Science Talent Search (also administered by Society for Science) is the oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition in the United States, running since 1942. Unlike ISEF, the STS is a direct application: graduating seniors submit an original research project in the fall, along with academic records and essays.
The application window typically opens in June and closes in mid-November of the senior year. Three hundred semifinalists are announced in January; forty finalists are selected for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for a final evaluation and awards ceremony in March. The top prize is $250,000.
STS eligibility is limited to students who will graduate from a US high school in the spring following their application. A student who has worked on research through junior year and has substantial findings is well-positioned to apply. The most competitive projects are those where the student is the genuine intellectual author of the research, not a lab worker who collected data for someone else’s project.
JSHS — Department of Defense-sponsored research
The Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) program is sponsored by the Department of Defense and administered regionally through partner universities. Students in grades 9–12 submit original research papers on STEM topics; regional symposia run February through March, with national winners advancing to the National Symposium in spring.
The program offers scholarship awards and connects students with military research scientists. The regional structure means that competition intensity varies considerably by location. JSHS is somewhat less well-known than ISEF or STS, which means a student with strong research may face less competition at the regional level.
Genes in Space — biology research aboard the ISS
Genes in Space is a biology research competition with a genuinely unique prize: winning experiments are conducted aboard the International Space Station. Students in grades 7–12 submit proposals for biology experiments feasible in microgravity. Five finalists are selected; the winner’s experiment is launched on a SpaceX resupply mission.
The program is sponsored by miniPCR bio and Boeing, in partnership with the Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES) and ISS National Lab. The submission window typically opens in fall; entry is free. The constraint is that experiments must be feasible with miniPCR equipment aboard the ISS, which limits but does not eliminate the experimental space.
Davidson Fellows — self-application for significant independent work
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is open to students 18 and under who have produced a significant piece of work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, or philosophy. Applications require two recommendation letters and a portfolio demonstrating the scope and quality of the work. Awards of $10,000, $25,000, and $50,000 are available.
The Davidson Fellows is commonly confused with the Davidson Young Scholars program, which is a separate K–12 gifted-education support program with different eligibility and application requirements. The Fellows Scholarship is for significant completed work; the Young Scholars program is for ongoing educational support for profoundly gifted students. These are different programs from the same organization.
The application cycle typically runs from fall to February, with fellows announced in spring. The program is genuinely open to work in any of the listed domains; past fellows have included novelists, composers, and philosophers alongside the expected STEM researchers.
Planning the timeline
For a student who is a sophomore or junior and wants to pursue Regeneron ISEF or STS, the immediate next step is to identify a research question. The single most common mistake is starting research too late and then rushing the project to meet a December or November deadline. Strong research projects benefit from a full academic year or more of development.
ISEF and STS together represent the most prestigious track available to high school researchers. They are not for every student — they require genuine scientific curiosity, sustained independent work, and access to materials and mentorship. But for students with those qualities, they are the best available platform.
About this directory: Meli Review publishes an independent directory of academic contests for students from primary school through university. Program details were accurate to the best of our review at publication; always confirm with official organizers before applying.