Genes in Space Competition

About the Program

Genes in Space invites students to propose biotechnology experiments that address the challenges of living and working in space. It was founded by miniPCR bio and Boeing, with support from the ISS National Laboratory and New England Biolabs.

Five finalist teams receive scientific mentoring and present their proposals to judges. The winning team develops its experiment further at Space Biology Camp, with the aim of having astronauts perform it aboard the International Space Station. Flight experiments require ISS National Laboratory approval; the launch schedule is determined later.

The toolkit includes a PCR thermal cycler, fluorescence viewer, and BioBits cell-free protein expression system. Students design a proposal using these tools without needing to own laboratory equipment or conduct the experiment before entering.

The 2026 contest is closed. The April 10, 2026 deadline is retained as the latest verified cycle. The website has not published dates for 2027; check the official contest page for the next announcement.

Sources verified October 26, 2026: contest details and timeline, 2026 opening announcement, eligibility and entry terms, toolkit, and AI policy.

Eligibility

Participants must reside and attend a public, private, or home school in the United States or its territories. Enter individually or in a team of two; every entry must name an adult sponsor. For students under 13, the adult sponsor must submit the entry. Direct relatives of employees, contractors, or representatives of the contest organizations are ineligible. Proposals must be original student work; AI-generated ideas and written content are prohibited. Only one proposal per student per contest year is accepted. Students enrolled in grades 7–12, including homeschooled students.

Eligible Countries

residency, school-enrollment: US🇺🇸 American Samoa🇦🇸 Guam🇬🇺 Northern Mariana Islands🇲🇵 Puerto Rico🇵🇷 U.S. Virgin Islands🇻🇮 Must reside and attend school in the United States or a U.S. territory.

How to Apply

Develop an original space biology question, state a hypothesis or research goal, and design an experiment using at least one element of the Genes in Space Toolkit. Submit through the official electronic entry form when the contest is open. Review the sample application and scoring criteria linked from the contest page. Selected finalists refine their proposals with scientific mentors and present to judges in person.