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8 Research Paper Competitions in STEM for High School Students


Research paper competitions offer high school students a wealth of advantages and opportunities, including the chance to present their findings, gain valuable experience in their chosen field, and challenge themselves to build their knowledge and skills. 


Participating in a research competition will help you learn how to present your findings coherently, articulate your research methodology, and draw meaningful conclusions from your data. These skills are incredibly useful for future academic pursuits and careers in research or related fields.


Even if you don't win or place in the competition, your participation can demonstrate your commitment to learning about your chosen field and your proactive approach to exploring your interests. This can be particularly impressive to college admissions officers, who value students with a strong passion for their subjects and the drive to pursue independent research.


In this comprehensive guide, we explore 8 research paper competitions in STEM for high schoolers.


1. International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Location: Hosted in different cities every year. ISEF 2024 will be in Los Angeles, CA.

Dates: Local and regional-level fairs have different dates. Please find the list here. ISEF 2024 will be held from May 11 to 17, 2024

Eligibility: All high-school students with a strong passion for research in science, math, and engineering are encouraged to apply. Students can participate individually or in teams.

Cost:  On-site registration of $25 for each participant.

Prizes: Special Awards such as tuition scholarships, summer internships, and scientific trips, as well as cash prizes of up to $75,000 are awarded to winners. 

Hosted by the Society for Science, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college STEM competition, drawing thousands of entries from across the globe each year. To qualify for ISEF, you first need to compete in a local or regional science fair. Those who excel are shortlisted for the ISEF program, which is conducted in a hybrid format annually. With an acceptance rate of only 2-5% at qualifying fairs, ISEF is highly competitive and selective.


Participants present original research that must be no older than 12 months, with more recent work being preferable. Research categories span a broad range of scientific disciplines, including atomic, molecular, and optical physics, astronomy and cosmology, cellular and molecular biology, and microbiology. Getting shortlisted to present at ISEF is a prestigious honor that showcases your research skills and allows you to build a network with like-minded, passionate young scientists from around the world.


For detailed information on how to participate and succeed in ISEF, check out our comprehensive guide!

2. High School Academic Research Competition

Location: Virtual

Dates: Register for the competition by April 17, 2024 and submit your proposals by April 30, 2024. Results from Round One will be announced by May 6, 2024. Global winners will be announced on May 15, 2024.

Eligibility: SARC is open to all high school students aged 13-18.

Cost:

  • Early Bird Registration Fee is $10/student

  • Regular Registration Fee is $15/student

Prizes:

  • 1st Place: $1,000

  • 2nd Place: $750

  • 3rd Place: $500

Sponsored by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the Student Astronomy Research Competition encourages students to explore celestial phenomena, develop their own research questions, and present their findings. Participants conduct hands-on investigations using data from professional astronomical observatories and other scientific resources.


Projects might involve the analysis of data from telescopes, including optical, radio, and space-based observatories. Examples of past projects include studying variable stars, tracking asteroid movements, analyzing the light curves of exoplanets, or exploring cosmic microwave background radiation. You can find more information on the submission guidelines here.


You can take a look at the winning projects from 2024 here.


3. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)

Location: Challenges are held across the world.

Dates: Applications for the 2024 cycle are now closed, but are expected to open in June 2024 for the 2025 cycle.

Eligibility: 

  • US residents in their final year of secondary school and US citizens abroad are eligible for application regardless of citizenship. However, non-US citizen students attending American schools abroad are ineligible.

  • While most who meet these criteria are eligible, further details on eligibility can be found here for a comprehensive understanding.

Cost: There is no cost

Prizes: Each of the 300 scholars in Regeneron STS will receive a $2,000 award for exceptional research. Out of these, the 40 finalists are awarded a minimum of $25,000 each. The top 10 finalists receive prizes ranging from $40,000 for 10th place to $250,000 for the first-place winner.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) is the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors in the United States. It provides a unique platform for students to present their original research while demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of STEM fields. Each year, approximately 1,900 students participate in this rigorous competition, which involves a multifaceted evaluation process. 

The Regeneron STS only accepts independent research projects, meaning students must have conducted their scientific investigations independently and have results to report. This requirement underscores the program's emphasis on originality and self-driven inquiry, ensuring that the submitted projects reflect the student's work and intellectual contribution.

4. MIT THINK Scholars

Location: Virtual

Dates: Registrations close on January 1, 2024. Semifinalists are announced by January 30, 2024, and finalists by February 5, 2024. Finalists are expected to complete their projects by June.

Eligibility: High school students living in the US are eligible to apply.

Cost: There is no cost to participate.

Prizes: $1,000 is awarded to finalists to execute their projects. Additionally, when possible, finalists will be invited to a four-day all-expenses paid trip to MIT's campus, where they tour labs, present their research to MIT students and faculty, and interact with members of the THINK team.


The THINK Scholars program is conducted by a group of undergraduates at MIT. It is designed for students who have done extensive background work on a potential research project in a STEM field and seek additional guidance in the early stages of their project. Unlike many research competitions, this one does not require participants to have completed their projects beforehand.


The program begins with a semifinal round where applicants are interviewed. Finalists are then announced, and those whose projects are selected receive $1,000 in funding and mentorship from MIT students. Additionally, they are invited to MIT's campus for a paid trip to meet professors in their field of research, tour labs, and attend MIT's xFair, an impressive showcase of innovation and technology. 


If you’re interested in learning more, check out our blog that explores MIT Think in detail!


5. ExploraVision

Location: Virtual

Dates: Applications are typically due in January. Regional winners are typically announced by April, and national winners by May. The ExploraVision Awards Weekend is typically held in June.

Eligibility: All high school students studying in the US and Canada can participate.

Cost: There is no cost to participate.

Prizes: Winners will receive:

  • Up to $240,000 in savings bonds ($10,000 savings bond for each first-place team member and $5,000 savings bond for each second-place team member) 

  • An expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, in June for the ExploraVision Awards Weekend (for the student and one parent/guardian)

  • A technology/science-related gift for each regional winning student

The ExploraVision challenge, hosted by Toshiba and the National Science Teaching Association, invites high school students to engage in real-world problem-solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. Since its inception in 1992, ExploraVision has seen entries from over 450,000 students across the US, making it one of the largest K-12 STEM competitions.

In teams of 2-4 students, participants are expected to select a current technology, research how it can be improved, and present their vision of how it might look in 10 years. The challenge encourages students to draw from their knowledge of various STEM fields, including physics, technology, and artificial intelligence. Teams must detail their idea's development steps, potential benefits and drawbacks, and foreseeable obstacles.

For inspiration, you can look at these examples of past projects!

6. Genes in Space Competition

Location: Virtual/Seattle, WA

Dates: Applications must be submitted by April 15, 2024. See the detailed timeline here!

Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.

Cost: There is no cost to apply.

Prizes: Awards vary by rank. Take a look at the award details here.

The Genes in Space Competition is an exciting opportunity for students to push the boundaries of scientific exploration. Designed for teams of up to two students, the competition challenges participants to design a DNA experiment that addresses the unique challenges of space travel and deep space exploration. 

To participate, you will choose a topic of interest, formulate a hypothesis, and develop a creative approach for conducting the experiment. You must also make a compelling case for why the International Space Station (ISS) is the ideal facility to carry out your proposed experiment.

Performing well in the competition grants you the opportunity to present your research at the prestigious ISS Research and Development Conference in Seattle!

7. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)

Location: Regional contest locations vary; the National Symposium will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dates: The registration deadlines vary from region to region; you can check out more details here. The National Symposium will be held May 1 to 4, 2024, while dates for the regional contest may vary. 

Eligibility: High school students who are permanent residents of the US can apply

Cost: Free registration

Prizes: Prizes include over $192,000 in scholarships, along with other awards and national recognition.


The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) stands as one of the most prominent science fairs in the United States, backed by government support. The symposium hosts regional and national events during the second half of the academic year, inviting over 8,000 participants from the United States, Puerto Rico, and Department of Defense-affiliated schools in Europe and the Pacific.


For the competition, students are required to present research in one of the following categories: Environmental Science, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine and Health, Math and Computer Science and more. You can read more details here about all the major disciplines presented at JSHS. All JSHS applicants must submit a 250-word maximum abstract in electronic format. This abstract should accurately convey the essential nature of the research conducted and the most significant conclusions reached. There are guidelines on how you should structure your abstract and competition here.


To compete at the national level, you must first excel at a regional symposium. The competition is highly selective, with less than a 3% acceptance rate for the final round. This level of competitiveness ensures that only the most outstanding research projects make it to the national stage. Finally, a unique feature of the JSHS is its mentorship program. The JSHS Virtual Mentorship Program connects students with mentors online, offering year-round support for involved students. 


8. American Academy of Neuroscience (AAN) Research Prize

Location: Virtual

Dates: Applications closed on November 2, 2023, and notifications were sent in January 2024.

Eligibility:

  • Students must be enrolled in secondary school (grades 9–12) in the U.S., regardless of age.

  • Applications must represent original research as well as the original written work of the applicant.

  • Projects do not need to occur in formal or traditional lab settings.

  • Each project should be the work of an individual student.

  • Family members of the judges, the AAN Science Committee, or the AAN staff are not eligible to apply.

Cost: There is no cost

Prizes: $1000 prize, the sponsored opportunity to present their work during a scientific poster session at the next AAN Annual Meeting in a different city, and the sponsored opportunity to present one’s work at the 2023 Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting.


The AAN Neuroscience Research Prize acknowledges exceptional high school students who are making significant strides in exploring the brain and nervous system through their research. This prestigious award not only recognizes students for their remarkable contributions to neuroscience but also honors the supportive teachers who guide them. 


Recipients of the AAN Neuroscience Research Prize are given the unique opportunity to present their work at the AAN Annual Meetings, where they can engage with industry neuroscientists and gain valuable exposure to the professional scientific community. This experience can significantly boost a student's academic and career prospects in neuroscience.


If you’re looking for more competitions, you can look at our blogs on engineering, data science, machine learning and programming competitions!



One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also 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 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form 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!


Image Source - ISEF Logo