Want to compete in JSHS but aren’t sure where to start?
We invite you to join students across America as they strive for greatness in the nation’s premier, high-caliber research competition. Registrations for regional JSHS events will open this fall!
Use the Find Your Region tool to determine your competition region, then bookmark the page to check back for updates. JSHS Regions cover all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Department of Defense Schools in Europe and the Pacific. Students are expected to compete in their home region. Get started by finding your region.
The JSHS experience starts with a Regional Symposium. Our partner universities and organizations provide a variety of activities in their areas at no cost for STEM students and invite educators and those who champion them as volunteers. Students must be United States citizens or legal permanent residents of the U.S. or a U.S. territory to participate in JSHS.
The Core Rules of Competition have been updated for 2026. Visit https://jshs.org/regional-competitions/core-rules-of-competition/ to review the rules and download your Statement of Outside Assistance to work on as you conduct your research.
Core Rules of Competition
Please refer to the complete Core Rules of Competition for requirements and guidelines for Regional JSHS competitions. This document outlines:
- Schedules and deadlines
- Rules and guidelines for JSHS Submissions
- Abstract preparation
- Research paper preparation
- Statement of Outside Assistance
- Eligibility rules
- Research involving vertebrate animals and human subjects
- Suggestions to prepare for the presentations
- Requirements for the oral presentations
- Requirements for the poster presentations
- Judging process
- JSHS categories of competition
Regional JSHS events utilize the National Judging Score Sheets for Poster and Oral Competitions.
Download 2026 Core Rules of Competition
Download 2026 Statement of Outside Assistance
Check out our Research Tips YouTube playlist for tips on choosing a topic and kickstarting your research!
Other STEM Opportunities
For Students
- Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program applications are open! The SMART program is a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students funded by the DoD. Learn more here.
- Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) applications are open! SEAP offers high school students an 8-week paid summer research project at various Department of the Navy laboratories. Learn more and apply at https://www.navalsteminterns.us/seap/.
- eCYBERMISSION registration is open! eCYBERMISSION is an online STEM competition for students in grades 6-9. Each team needs 2-4 students, an adult Team Advisor, and a community problem to explore or try to solve. Learn more at https://www.ecybermission.com/!
- AFRL Scholars applications will open on October 10th. Selected interns gain valuable hands-on experiences working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology and are able to contribute to unique, research-based projects! Learn more at https://afrlscholars.usra.edu/.
