15 Science Research Competitions for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 8 minutes ago
- 14 min read
If you're a high school student looking to explore science beyond the classroom, entering a research competition can be a good option to explore. These competitions often involve independent research, experimentation, or proposal-based projects, helping you build skills, gain exposure to new material, and develop connections with mentors and researchers. Whether your interests lie in biology, engineering, environmental science, or space research, these competitions can help you test out a field while building a stronger academic profile.
Why should I participate in a science research competition in high school?
A science research competition can give you access to mentorship, funding, and recognition that go beyond what a typical classroom project offers. Depending on the competition you choose, you could submit an independent research paper, propose an experiment for space or aerospace applications, or work on a team-based engineering or sustainability challenge. Whether you already have a completed project or are just starting to develop an idea, you can find a competition suited to your research stage and area of interest.
To help with your search, here are 15 science research competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for international online competitions, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These competitions span independent research, engineering design, synthetic biology, environmental science, neuroscience, space biology, and innovation challenges, so students with a wide range of STEM interests can find a relevant competition regardless of their project stage.
Several competitions accept proposals or developing ideas rather than completed research, including MIT THINK Scholars, Genes in Space, Conrad Challenge, and NASA TechRise, making them accessible to students who have not yet finished a project.
Prize values vary significantly, from $1,000 recognition awards (AAN Neuroscience Research Prize, MIT THINK) to scholarships of $250,000 (Regeneron STS) and $100,000 (Davidson Fellows), with several competitions also offering non-monetary benefits, such as mentorship, patent support, and conference presentations.
Registration deadlines span the academic year, from August (Conrad Challenge activation stage) through April (GENIUS Olympiad, Clean Tech Competition), so students should identify target competitions in the fall and plan their project timelines accordingly.
Prize/Award: First-place prize is $250,000 | Prizes are awarded at all stages of the competition
Format: Individual | Online application with in-person finals | Three major stages: Top 300 Scholars, Top 40 Finalists, and Finals Week
Competition Dates: Top 300 announced: January 7 | Top 40 announced: January 21 | Finals week: March 11–17
Registration Deadline: November 5
Eligibility: Students must be high school seniors in the U.S. who have completed individual, independent research
Regeneron STS is built for high school seniors who have completed substantial independent research in a STEM field. You submit a full research project along with essays, recommendations, transcripts, and other application materials, so the competition evaluates both your scientific work and your broader academic potential. Strong submissions usually show originality, careful methodology, and a clear understanding of the project’s significance. This prestigious science research competition for high school students also places a strong emphasis on how well you explain your thinking, limitations, and research choices. Finalists participate in a more intensive judging process, including interviews and public presentation opportunities. It is best suited for students who already have a polished, independent research project and want to present it at a highly rigorous national level.
Prizes: Winners receive scholarships up to $75,000, with more than $7 million in additional prizes
Format:Â Individual or team | In-person international fair after qualifying through an affiliated regional/state fair | Multiple rounds through local or regional fairs before the ISEF final
Competition Dates: May 9–15
Registration Deadline: Final deadline for abstract rewrites by all finalists: April 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12, under age 20, who have qualified through an affiliated science fair
Regeneron ISEF brings together high school researchers who have advanced through affiliated science fairs and are ready to present their work at an international level. You develop an original research or engineering project and defend your question, methods, results, and conclusions before expert judges. Projects span many STEM fields, including biomedical science, chemistry, computer science, environmental engineering, mathematics, and behavioral science. The competition rewards students who can explain not only what they found but also how they designed the work and its limitations. Since participants usually qualify through earlier fairs, the experience also pushes you to revise and strengthen your project over time.
Prize/Award: Scholarships of $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000
Format:Â Individual or team of up to 2 | Online application with in-person recognition events | Single application round followed by finalist/winner selection
Competition Dates: Winner announcements and recognition events are typically held during the summer
Registration Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: Applicants must be 18 or younger as of the application deadline, and a U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or a Permanent Resident, or be stationed overseas due to active U. S. military duty
This science research competition for high school students recognizes students who have completed a major independent project that shows depth, originality, and meaningful intellectual effort. For science research students, this usually means submitting a substantial body of work that goes beyond a typical class project or short-term competition entry. You need to explain what you created or discovered, why it matters, and how your work contributes to the field or problem area. The competition works best for students who already have a mature project to present. Strong applications combine technical quality with clear communication and a strong sense of purpose.
Prize/Award: First Prize (4 teams): U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $10,000 at maturity for each student, and many other prizes
Format:Â Team-based; Online or school-based; Two judging phases: regional and national
Competition Dates: Regional winners are announced on March 12 | National winners are announced on April 28 | ExploraVision Awards Weekend: June 3–6
Registration Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: High school students from the U.S. and Canada (no older than 21 years of age)
ExploraVision asks teams to choose an existing technology and imagine how it could evolve. You begin by researching the technology’s current use, scientific foundation, history, and limitations. From there, your team proposes a future version supported by realistic breakthroughs, design thinking, and scientific reasoning. The competition blends STEM research with creativity, forecasting, writing, and collaboration. You also need to explain the potential impact of your idea on society, the environment, or everyday life. It is a good option if you like science but also enjoy big-picture thinking, innovation, and team-based problem-solving.
Prize/Award: The U.S. national winner receives a $15,000 scholarship, a crystal award, and an all-expenses-paid trip to represent the United States at the international competition | Additional prizes are awarded at both the national and international levels
Format: Individual | Hybrid competition structure with online/state-level submissions and national/international presentation stages
Competition Dates: U.S. National competition: May/June | International SJWP competition, World Water Week in August
Registration Deadline: Regional winners and self-nominated students must enter the State Competition by mid-April
Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in grades 9th-12th, have conducted a water-related science project, and be at least 15 years of age by August 1
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize focuses on research projects related to water, including water quality, conservation, treatment, public health, pollution, and sustainable management. To compete, you need a project that identifies a real water-related problem and investigates it through scientific methods or engineering design. Strong entries usually combine practical relevance with careful data collection, analysis, and a clear explanation of why the issue matters. Students may work in areas such as environmental science, chemistry, civil engineering, sustainability, or public health. This science research competition for high school students also asks you to clearly communicate your findings to judges who value both technical rigor and real-world application.
Prize/Award: 5 Finalist Awards, 5 Junior Scientist Awards, Constellation Awards, 10 Honorable Mentions
Format: Individual or team | Students submit a research proposal rather than a completed experiment | The competition includes proposal review, finalist mentorship, and winner selection
Competition Dates: Mentoring: June–July | Winners announced: July | Space Biology Camp: Fall
Registration Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 who attend a U.S. public, private, or home school | Must be enrolled to study within the U.S. or in U.S. territories
Genes in Space invites students to design a DNA-focused experiment that could be conducted in space. The competition is centered on the strength, creativity, and feasibility of your research proposal. Your task is to identify a meaningful space biology question, explain the molecular science behind it, and propose an experiment that could realistically use space-compatible tools. The competition is especially relevant for students interested in genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology, or space research. Finalists receive mentorship to refine their ideas and strengthen the scientific logic of their proposals. The winning experiment may move beyond a concept and become part of the process for space-based research.
Prize/Award: 3 winners will receive $1,000, be presented with a certificate of recognition, and have the opportunity to present their research at the AAN Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL | Additionally, one winner will receive the Bhuwan Garg High School Neuroscience Research Prize, along with a $1,000 honorarium, a certificate of recognition, and the chance to present their work at the Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting
Format: Individual | Virtual submission with possible in-person presentation opportunities | Single research submission round followed by winner selection
Competition Dates: Not applicable
Registration Deadline: October 20
Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in grades 9th-12th in the U.S.
The AAN Neuroscience Research Prize recognizes high school students who have completed original research related to the brain, nervous system, or neurological conditions. You submit a research report, so the competition is best suited for students who already have a completed or well-developed project. Topics may include neurobiology, cognition, behavior with a neurological basis, nervous system function, or disease-focused research. Judges look for sound methodology, thoughtful interpretation of data, and a clear explanation of the work’s scientific relevance. This neuroscience research competition for high school students also rewards students who can communicate complex neuroscience concepts with precision and organization. Selected students may have the chance to present their work in a professional scientific setting.
Prize/Award: Free registration to the FPS International Conference, individual medals, and travel stipends
Format: Individual or team of up to 4 | Virtual or in-person through regional affiliates | Regional/affiliate competition followed by international conference finals
Competition Dates: Topic Announcement: March 1 | Competition period: Late September to mid-October | International Conference (World Finals): JuneÂ
Registration Deadline: Varies based on regional affiliatesÂ
Eligibility: Varies by annual competition division and challenge topic | Verify grade-level requirements on the official competition page before applyingÂ
The Future Problem Solving World Solutions Challenge asks students to examine complex future-facing problems and develop structured solutions. You may work individually or as part of a team to research a topic, identify major challenges, and develop an organized action plan. Topics often connect science with society, sustainability, technology, ethics, public policy, or global development. The competition is less about conducting a traditional lab project and more about using research, reasoning, and systems thinking to address difficult problems. You’ll need to move from broad analysis to specific, actionable solutions while clearly explaining your logic.
Prize/Award: Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to multiple outstanding teams (there is no limit to the number of medals awarded) | Grand Prizes are awarded to 2 to 3 winning teams from each category
Format: Team-based | Hybrid model involving project development, online documentation, and presentations at the annual Grand Jamboree
Competition Dates: November 13–16 (Jamboree)
Registration Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students interested in biological research
iGEM is a synthetic biology competition where student teams design biological systems to address real-world problems. High school teams may work on projects involving genetics, molecular biology, bioengineering, computation, environmental science, or public health. The competition requires more than experimental work, since teams also document their process, explain design choices, consider broader impacts, and present their results. Depending on your project, you may contribute through lab work, modeling, outreach, ethics, policy research, or communication. It also builds skills in research planning, teamwork, scientific writing, and public presentation.
10. GENIUS Olympiad
Prize/Award: Participants are eligible for Grand Gold Awards, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, Honorable Mentions, certificates, and category-specific awards
Format: Individual or team, depending on category | Online application with in-person finals | Application/project review followed by finalist presentation and awards
Competition Dates: GENIUS Finals: June 8–12
Registration Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 (or equivalent) worldwide who meet the competition's minimum age requirement of 13
This science research competition for high school students is an international stage focused on environmental issues, with categories including science, engineering, robotics, business, art, writing, and more. For students entering a STEM category, the focus is usually on a research project, technical model, or innovation that addresses an environmental challenge. Projects may involve sustainability, pollution, energy, conservation, biodiversity, water systems, or climate-related questions. Strong entries demonstrate scientific reasoning, originality, and a clear link to a real environmental problem. Depending on the category, you may use experimentation, fieldwork, modeling, design, or data analysis.
Prize/Award: $20,000 in total prizesÂ
Format: Individual or team | Online submission | Preliminary submission followed by finalist review and final judging
Competition Dates: Rolling submissions
Registration Deadline: April
Eligibility:Â High school students around the world
The Clean Tech Competition asks students to design technology-based solutions to environmental problems. Projects may focus on waste, pollution, energy, water, agriculture, materials, or other sustainability challenges. You need to research the causes and scale of the issue, explain the communities or systems affected, and propose a solution grounded in scientific reasoning. Strong submissions balance technical depth with feasibility and a realistic understanding of impact. The competition also values clear written communication, since you need to make both the problem and your solution understandable to judges.
Prize/Award: Winners receive up to $1000 seed funding and continued mentorship from the MIT THINK team
Format: Individual or team | Online proposal submission with finalist mentorship | Proposal review, finalist selection/interview, and project development phase
Competition Dates: Finalists are expected to complete their projects by June
Registration Deadline: January 1
Eligibility: High school students with permanent residence in the United States
MIT THINK is designed for students with a strong STEM idea that is not yet fully developed. Instead of submitting finished research, you write a proposal explaining your question, background, methods, expected challenges, and plan for execution. This makes it especially useful if you are at the early stage of an ambitious project and need structure, feedback, and support to develop it. The competition values ideas that are original, feasible, and clearly connected to science, technology, or engineering. Selected students receive mentorship and funding support to carry out their projects over the following months. The process helps build proposal writing, research planning, troubleshooting, and scientific communication skills.
Prize/Award: Teams that advance through qualifying tournaments receive regional, state, and international recognition, with top teams earning invitations to Global FinalsÂ
Format: Team of 2–7 students | In-person tournament structure with some local variation | Regional/state-level tournaments followed by Global Finals for qualifying teams
Competition Dates: Team formation typically takes place between August and January | Local tournaments are generally held between February and April | Global Finals are held in May
Registration Deadline: Registration timelines vary by local affiliate organization and geographic regionÂ
Eligibility: Students from kindergarten through university level may participate, with high school students competing in the Secondary Level division (grades 9–12 or equivalent)Â
Destination Imagination’s Challenge Experience asks teams to solve open-ended STEAM challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. Teams choose from categories such as Technical, Scientific, Engineering, Fine Arts, Improvisational, and Service Learning, with many challenges blending multiple disciplines. If you enter through a scientific or technical challenge, you may need to use research, design, experimentation, storytelling, engineering, or performance to communicate your solution. A key rule is that the solution must be created by the team, which makes collaboration and project ownership central to the experience. Teams also complete Instant Challenges that test quick thinking, teamwork, and creative problem-solving under time pressure.
Prize/Award: Patent legal services, university scholarships, mentorship, and exclusive networking opportunities with NASA and industry executives
Format: Teams of 2–5 students participate in a multi-stage competition that includes project submissions, business model development, and finalist presentations at the Innovation Summit
Competition Dates: Activation Stage: August 28–October 30 | Innovation Stage: October 31–January 8 | Innovation Summit: April 22–25
Registration Deadline: October 30 (phase 1) | January 8 (phase 2) | April (phase 3)
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
The Conrad Challenge asks student teams to develop an innovation that addresses a real-world problem in fields such as aerospace, cyber-technology, energy, environment, health, or nutrition. You move through a structured process that begins with team formation and idea development, then progresses into business planning, prototyping, and pitching. The competition combines STEM thinking with entrepreneurship, so you need to explain both the technical idea and how it could work in the real world. Strong teams back their solution with research, a clear user need, and a practical implementation plan. Finalists present their innovation to judges, making communication and public speaking important parts of the experience.
Prize/Award: Sixty winning teams receive $1,500, a NASA TechRise flight box, engineering mentorship, and a reserved spot on a NASA-sponsored commercial flight test
Format:Â Student teams, guided by an educator, submit a science or technology experiment proposal; selected teams then build and test their payload for launch on a high-altitude balloon or suborbital spacecraft
Competition Dates: Proposals open on September 4
Registration Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in grades 6–12 at a U.S. public, private, or charter school, including schools in U.S. territories
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge gives middle and high school students the opportunity to design a real science or technology experiment for flight. Working in teams, you'll identify a research question, develop an experiment that can operate under flight conditions, and explain the scientific reasoning behind your proposed payload. The challenge encourages students to think like engineers by balancing creativity with technical feasibility, while considering the constraints of aerospace missions. If your proposal is selected, you'll receive mentorship and resources to build and test your experiment before it flies on a NASA-sponsored commercial platform. Along the way, you'll gain experience in proposal writing, engineering design, teamwork, and scientific communication. This competition gives students a very real research and development process: proposal writing, payload building, constraints, testing, and mentor-guided execution.
Frequently asked questions
What science research competitions are available for high school students?
Options include independent research competitions, such as Regeneron STS, Regeneron ISEF, and Davidson Fellows; proposal-based competitions, such as MIT THINK Scholars, Genes in Space, and NASA TechRise; environmental and sustainability competitions, such as Stockholm Junior Water Prize, GENIUS Olympiad, and Clean Tech Competition; team-based innovation challenges, such as Conrad Challenge, iGEM, and ExploraVision; and neuroscience competitions, such as the AAN Neuroscience Research Prize.
Which science competitions are best for students who have not yet completed research?
Students with developing ideas might consider MIT THINK Scholars (proposal-based, with mentorship for selected students), Genes in Space (research proposal for a space biology experiment), Conrad Challenge (multi-stage process from idea to prototype), NASA TechRise (experiment proposal with engineering support for winning teams), and ExploraVision (technology forecasting proposal rather than lab research).
Which science research competitions offer the largest prizes for high school students?
Regeneron STS offers a first-place prize of $250,000. Davidson Fellows awards scholarships of $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000. Regeneron ISEF offers scholarships up to $75,000 with over $7 million in total prizes. The Stockholm Junior Water Prize awards the U.S. national winner a $15,000 scholarship, and ExploraVision awards $10,000 in savings bonds at maturity per student on winning teams.
When should I start preparing for science research competitions in high school?
Students aiming for Regeneron STS (November 5 deadline) and MIT THINK Scholars (January 1) should begin their research in the spring or summer before senior year. ISEF qualification requires advancing through a regional fair earlier in the school year. Conrad Challenge opens in August, making fall the ideal time to form a team and begin development. Students interested in Genes in Space (April 10) or Stockholm Junior Water Prize (mid-April) should begin their proposals or projects in January at the latest.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.