About

The BioGENEius Challenge requires original, hands-on biotechnology research — literature reviews alone do not qualify. Students in grades 9–12 enrolled in biology or science courses submit an abstract, project description, and research poster, then present their work to professional biotechnologists at the regional or state level. Entry is free for most regional competitions. Students outside the 13 state partner regions enter through the At-Large BioGENEius Challenge, a virtual pathway open nationally; the At-Large organizers recommend applicants have placed in the upper 5% of their local science fair to be competitive. Top regional and At-Large finalists advance to the International Challenge, where they present at a major industry conference alongside working scientists and biotech leaders.

The competition's distinctive value is its industry orientation. Unlike ISEF or Regeneron STS, where judges are primarily academic scientists, BioGENEius places students directly in front of working biotechnologists, entrepreneurs, and industry executives — the people who build and fund the field. Advancing to the International Challenge is itself a meaningful credential; presenting original biotech research at a professional industry conference is an experience available at essentially no other level of pre-college competition.

BioGENEius is the right competition for a student who already has a substantive, original biotechnology research project and wants to present it to an audience that extends well beyond the science fair circuit.