The Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) is a prestigious science research competition for high school students in the United States. Established in 1942, every year STS recognizes 300 scholars who win $2,000 for themselves and the same amount for their school. Then the top 10 finalists win higher prizes, up to $250,000.
How do you win the Regeneron Science Talent Search?
To win the Science Talent Search, you need an original, novel research project that identifies a gap that your project can fill.
All the projects are evaluated on their scientific rigor, originality, critical thinking, leadership potential, and commitment to creating meaningful impact in crucial STEM fields.
So you need to have done rigorous scientific research, analyze your data thoroughly, and be able to pitch it to judges and the public clearly and engagingly, and answer tough questions.
You also need to write a 20-page research report that articulates your research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions.
Across all your submissions and presentations, you must consistently show that your project is both original and impacful.
Past winners of STS
Analyzing past winners will help you understand the caliber of research that is presented at STS to help inform your research and entry.
2026 Winner - Connor Hill
Connor Hill won STS in 2026 with his computer program that worked through all the ways to build a noble polyhedron. He discovered that as well as the known the two known infinite families, there are 146 noble polyhedra.
2nd Place - Edward Kang
In 2026, Edward Kang won $175,000 at the Science Talent Search. He trained AI to recognize the retinal image patterns linked to autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. He also created retinal cell models to study gene changes that may help explain why these differences occur.
2025 Winner - Matteo Paz
Matteo Paz won first place at STS in 2025 and the $250,000 grand prize. He designed machine-learning algorithms to efficiently comb through 200 billion entries of raw infrared full-sky data from the NEOWISE telescope. By analyzing tiny changes in infrared radiation, the AI sorted the objects into 10 classes. He found 1.5 million new potential objects.
2nd Place - Ava Grace Cummings:
Ava Grace Cummings created a fruit fly model of Native American myopathy (a rare genetic muscle disease). She found that the common nettle herb, alone or combined with the experimental drug Tirasemtiv, improved movement in both adult flies and larvae.
2024 Winner - Achyuta Rajaram
In 2024, Achyuta Rajaram won first place in the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition. He developed an automatic method to discover which parts of a computer model that analyzes images are involved in decision-making. This knowledge sheds light on what these algorithms are “thinking,” which can help make them more effective, fair, and safe.
2nd Place - Thomas Yu-Tong Cong:
Thomas Yu-Tong Cong investigated the rapid growth of certain cancers and questioned whether metabolism is controlled mainly by gene expression, as is widely assumed. He found that immune-related cancers show major differences in metabolism and gene expression, suggesting cancer biology is more complex than previously thought.
Win STS With The Best Coaches
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.
