Genes in Space
Design a DNA experiment (PCR, etc.) to be performed on the International Space Station. Winners get their experiment launched to space.
A national STEM competition freely accessible to students in grades 7-12
Genes in Space 2026 Competition Opens January 5th, 2026
Apply now! Get started
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Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair (ACSEF)
If you live in Alameda county, this is your regional fair. Essential for qualifying for state/national genetics competitions.
ProjectCSGIRLS (Bioinformatics)
While CS focused, many winning projects use code to solve genetics problems (Bioinformatics). Open to 8th-12th grade (Select tracks).
ASHG DNA Day Essay Contest
Annual essay contest by the American Society of Human Genetics. 2025 Question asks about the challenges of genetic privacy.
Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge
The most rigorous biotechnology project competition. You must have original research (e.g., from a science fair project) to enter.
UC Davis COSMOS (Cluster 8: Biotechnology)
A 4-week residential program. Apply specifically for Cluster 8 (Biotechnology) at UC Davis, which focuses on genetics and agricultural genomics.
ASDRP (Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program)
A non-profit research institute in Fremont. You join a research group for a semester or summer. Look for the "Genetics & Genomics" department projects.