The Biotechnology Institute's flagship program, the BioGENEius Challenge Series, provides high school students with the opportunity to compete and be recognized for outstanding research in biotechnology. Drawn from state and regional science competitions across the more than thirty state and international partners, top finalists representing the upper 5% of applicants showcase their research at the BIO International Convention to some 16,000 attendees and a panel of judges composed of industry and academic subject matter experts. The awards are considered based upon the subject matter and excellence of the finalists' projects.
There are three challenge categories:
- The Global Healthcare Challenge: Projects for consideration for the Global Healthcare Challenge focus on the intended or anticipated outcomes of novel work in healthcare-related sciences, not the process or processes used to achieve them.
- The Global Sustainability Challenge: Projects for consideration for the Global Sustainability Challenge focus on the intended or anticipated outcomes of agricultural applications' work, not the process or processes used to achieve them.
- The Global Environment Challenge: Projects for consideration for the Global Environment Challenge focus on the intended or anticipated outcomes of the work impacting industrial and environmental issues, not the process or processes used to achieve them.
Location(s)
- Local competitions are hosted in California (Bay Area & Southern), Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- The At-Large BioGENEius Challenge is a virtual competition available to high school students in the United States who do not live in the areas listed above.
- Finalists will be invited to attend the BIO International Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
Schedule
- Local and at-large competitions: Spring
- BIO International Convention (for finalists): June
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- High school students in the U.S. and Canada who have conducted research in biotechnology, agriculture, and/or industrial and environmental science.
Deadline
- Deadlines vary by state/local organization and range from February to May.
- At-Large deadline: Mid May
Application or Entry Requirements
- A completed online application
- Parent authorization forms
- Project information, including title, abstract (250 words or less), description (55 words or less), and PDF of poster.
Notifications of Decisions
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The Biotechnology Institute is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 by a group of leading biotechnology companies and centers and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. An independent, science-based, national education organization, the Institute directs the national science competition the BioGENEius Challenge, annual Leadership Awards, educational programs like BioDiversity, and career mentoring opportunities.
The organization supports innovative research in biotechnology and aims to bridge the gap in life sciences knowledge between the general public and the biotechnology community.
