The Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS) is one of the top research competitions for high school students in the country. Here’s how it works, plus what past winners did right.
Understanding the JSHS
JSHS is a national research competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. Students conduct original STEM research and present it at regional symposia in the second half of the academic year, with top students advancing to the national event. It reaches thousands of students and teachers across the United States, Puerto Rico, and DoD-affiliated schools in Europe and the Pacific.
Who Can Participate?
- High school students in grades 9-12.
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States or a U.S. territory.
- Your school or organization’s address determines your region.
Learn From Past Winners
Want to win JSHS? Here’s what stood out about recent champions.
1. Find what genuinely interests you
Rishab Jain (Westview High School, Oregon) took 1st place in Medicine & Health/Behavioral Sciences for SarcoSeg, an AI system for analyzing sarcopenia. He picked a topic he actually cared about, and that genuine interest drove both the research and the presentation.
2. Go deep, not wide
Olivia Pollock (Pelham Memorial High School, New York) won Environmental Science for her work on bioplastics, and Marianne Liu (West High School) won Chemistry for solid polymer electrolytes. Both went deep on one specific problem instead of spreading thin, which led to stronger, better-supported work. Narrowing your scope is usually what makes a project stand out.
3. Bring something new
Nidhi Mathihalli (Saratoga High School) won Engineering & Technology for an AI device that helps visually impaired people identify money, and Ryan Park (Millburn High School) won Mathematics & Computer Science for a system for variant forecasting and drug design. Original ideas, not just polished ones, are what win.
“It’s exciting to see these high school students working at such a sophisticated level, connecting what they learned in their STEM classes to uncover new discoveries. We congratulate the national finalists and winners on their impressive achievement, and applaud the teachers and mentors that supported them along the way.”
said Erika Shugart, Ph.D., executive director, NSTA.
4. Communicate clearly
Ashini Modi (Caddo Parish Magnet High School, Louisiana) and Sohi Patel (Academy of Science and Technology, Texas) stood out for turning complex research into clear, engaging presentations. How well you explain your work matters nearly as much as the work itself.
There are free resources online to help you get started, along with similar competitions worth knowing.
5. Use a mentor
Okezue Bell (Moravian Academy) won 1st place in Biomedical Sciences for a myoprosthesis for amputees, developed with a mentor’s guidance. A good mentor, whether a teacher, professor, or researcher, can sharpen both your research and your presentation, and help you navigate the parts of the process you haven’t seen before.
How to Win JSHS: 10 Tips
- Choose a unique, relevant topic: something that excites you and has real-world implications.
- Do thorough research: go deep, get mentor feedback, and look for novel angles.
- Write a clear abstract: summarize your work tightly and show why it matters.
- Write a well-structured research paper: lay out your methods, results, and conclusions cleanly.
- Practice your presentation until you can deliver it with confidence.
- Use visual aids that actually clarify your points.
- Prepare for questions from judges and peers.
- Network with other competitors and experts in your field.
- Seek feedback and refine your work as you go.
- Start early. More time means a deeper, more careful project.
The path to a JSHS win comes down to passion, focus, and clear communication. Learn from these winners, start early, and you’ve got a real shot.
Resources to get you started
If these winners inspired you, Rishab offers science fair and research coaching where he shares his winning strategies for STEM competitions.
Leave a Reply