What is the Regeneron Science Talent Search?
The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the United States’ oldest, most prestigious science research competition for high school students.
The prizes total over $3 million dollars, with the winner receiving $25,000.
Who can enter STS?
Students living in and attending their last year of secondary school in the US and its territories may apply to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, regardless of citizenship. Students who are US citizens living abroad may also qualify.
What do you need to apply to Science Talent Search?
You need an independent, individual research paper with data and results to apply to Regeneron STS.
Other application requirements are:
Recommendation requests for mentors,
Forms including approvals, surveys, consent, and permits,
Research description,
20-page original research report,
Previous research (if applicable),
Essay questions,
Activities, interests, and awards,
Test score (optional).
Other key STS rules are:
Students must draft all responses themselves.
You also must not use AI to answer any questions,
Both student and mentor(s) must agree to the Ethics Statement.
Compensation based on STS results is prohibited.
Only one project entry per student is allowed.
Obtain mentor permission to enter research.
Entries undergo plagiarism detection.
Exclude external website links in research reports.
What do you need to succeed in Regeneron STS?
To succeed and win in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, you need innovative, independent research, clear written and communication skills, and preferably a knowledgeable mentor.
Original Research
The cornerstone of Science Talent Search is that students undertake a research project that is innovative, impactful, and demonstrates their scientific curiosity.
To do that, you should choose a topic that genuinely interests you, aligns with your strengths, and allows you to explore new frontiers. Your enthusiasm will shine through in your research and presentation.
Start by immersing yourself in existing literature by diving into scientific journals, articles, and books related to your chosen topic.
This is key, as you need to understand the current state of knowledge and identify gaps. Unanswered questions or unexplored areas can help you decide on your original research question.
Proving rigorous experimentation, data collection, and analysis are crucial for STS, as your ability to design and execute experiments effectively will set you apart.
Find Experienced Mentors
Don’t try to do everything alone. One of the fastest ways to improve your STS project is to get guidance from someone who has more experience than you.
Reach out to teachers, professors, graduate students, or professionals connected to your field. The best mentors do more than answer questions: they help you sharpen your research question, avoid weak experimental designs, and spot problems before they cost you weeks of work.
A good mentor can help you:
Refine your hypothesis and research plan
Recommend papers, methods, or software you may not know about
Identify flaws in your experiment or data analysis
Push you to think more deeply about your results
Prepare for difficult questions from STS judges
You do not need a famous professor for your project to stand out. What matters is finding someone who is knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely interested in helping you improve.
At ScienceFair, we provide coaching for STS. We have coaches who have competed and won ISEF and STS. Get in touch with us to find out more!
Perfect Your Presentation Skills
Effective communication is key to impressing the judges. You need an engaging narrative for yourself and your research that highlights its significance.
To build that, you should practice presenting your research in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. To help you, you can create visually appealing slides or posters: graphs, charts, and images illustrate your findings. Visual aids enhance understanding and leave a lasting impression.
You should also do mock presentations with peers or mentors. Their feedback can highlight any gaps in your presentation and help you to refine your delivery.
A Comprehensive Research Report
The Regeneron STS requires you to hand in a comprehensive 20-page research report. This means you have to clearly articulate your research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions.
You also need to pay attention to formatting, citations, and clarity, and your data analysis must be meticulous. You should use appropriate statistical methods and explain your approach thoroughly, and discuss their implications.
It’s also important to review your written report multiple times. You shouldn’t have typos, grammatical errors, or inconsistencies.
Develop the Mindset of a Scientist
Beyond strong research and mentorship, STS rewards students who think and act like real scientists. That means being resilient, embracing revision, and understanding the broader impact of your work.
Embrace Setbacks and Keep Going
Scientific research rarely goes perfectly the first time. Every scientist encounters failed experiments, unexpected results, or ideas that do not work out as planned.
Rather than seeing these setbacks as failures, view them as opportunities to learn. Often, the most important insights come from understanding what went wrong. Analyze your results, identify what could be improved, and adapt your approach.
Perseverance matters. STS judges want to see that you can continue making progress even when research becomes difficult. Students who keep refining their work, instead of giving up, often produce the strongest projects.
Expect an Iterative Process
Science is not a straight line from hypothesis to conclusion. Research usually involves detours, revisions, and new questions.
As you gather data, be prepared to refine your hypothesis, redesign parts of your experiment, or change your methods based on what you learn. Strong researchers are flexible and willing to adjust their approach when new evidence appears.
You should also seek feedback throughout the process. Mentors, teachers, peers, and even your own observations can help you improve your project. Use that feedback to strengthen your research and make each version better than the last.
Think Beyond the Project
The strongest STS applicants show that they care not only about their research, but also about its broader impact.
Consider how your work could benefit society, address a real problem, or contribute to your community. You might mentor younger students, participate in science outreach, organize events, or collaborate with local organizations.
You should also think about the ethical side of your work. Demonstrating social responsibility and awareness of your research’s implications shows maturity and helps distinguish you from other applicants.
Want Guidance From People Who Have Been to STS?
The strongest STS students do not just work hard: they learn from people who already know how the competition works.
At ScienceFair, our coaches include Regeneron STS Scholars, STS participants, and ISEF Grand Award winners. They have been through the same process themselves: developing original research, writing competitive applications, and answering the hardest judging questions.
Whether you need help refining your project, strengthening your paper, or preparing for STS interviews, you can work directly with mentors who know what it takes to stand out.
Create a personalized plan with out academic advisor and learn from past competitors who have already succeeded at the highest level.
FAQs About STS
What is Regeneron Science Talent Search?
The Regeneron Science Talent Search has been a Society for Science research competition since 1942. The STS aims to identify, inspire, and engage the US’s most promising young scientists who are creating the most innovative scientific solutions.
How prestigious is STS?
STS is a highly prestigious science research competition for high school students. The highest prize is $250,000, and the top 300 scholars win $2,000 for themselves and their school.
Who is eligible for the Regeneron STS?
Any student in their last year of high school in the US and its territories. Students who are US citizens living abroad may be eligible. Students must have independent, individual research.
How many people apply to STS?
2,600 students from over 800 high schools across 46 states, Washington, D.C., Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and 16 countries applied to STS in 2026.
When is the Regeneron Science Talent Search deadline?
The deadline to apply for the 2027 cycle of the Regeneron Science Talent Search is June, 1, 2026.
