Biology Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 27 biology competitions for high school students. Of these, 19 are free to participate in and 8 offer virtual participation. Examples include Alameda County Science & Engineering Fair, Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair (ACSEF), and ASHG DNA Day Essay Contest.
- 27
- listed
- 19
- free
- 8
- virtual
- 27
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are biology competitions for high school students?
- Biology Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in biology. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 19 of the 27 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 8 of the 27 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are biology competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — biology competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in biology on college applications.
27 activities found·Browse by category
Alameda County Science & Engineering Fair
County science fair leading to CSEF and ISEF qualification.
Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair (ACSEF)
If you live in Alameda county, this is your regional fair. Essential for qualifying for state/national genetics competitions.
ASHG DNA Day Essay Contest
Annual essay contest by the American Society of Human Genetics. 2025 Question asks about the challenges of genetic privacy.
ASM Agar Art Contest
Create art using living microorganisms in petri dishes; sponsored by American Society for Microbiology.
Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge
The most rigorous biotechnology project competition. You must have original research (e.g., from a science fair project) to enter.
Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge (Applied Math Track)
A high-level research competition. Winning projects often use bioinformatics (statistical analysis of genetic data).
BioGENEius Challenge
Biotechnology research competition for original projects in healthcare, sustainability, and environment.
Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Science video competition explaining life sciences, physics, or math concepts with $250K scholarship prize.
California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF)
State-level science fair; qualify through county/regional fairs for prizes totaling over $30,000.
Davidson Fellows (Science)
Prestigious scholarship program awarding up to $50,000 for significant original research projects in biology and science fields.
Genes in Space
Design a DNA experiment (PCR, etc.) to be performed on the International Space Station. Winners get their experiment launched to space.
Golden Gate STEM Fair
Regional science fair pathway to CSEF and ISEF for Bay Area high school students.
Golden Gate STEM Fair (GGSF)
The ISEF-affiliated fair for the SF Bay Area. You must enter the "Biological Sciences" category with a genetics project.
iGEM High School Competition
International synthetic biology team competition where students design and build biological systems.
Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS) - Northern California
Research paper competition at SF State where top presenters win scholarships and advance to nationals.
National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB)
A regional and national quiz-bowl style academic competition for high school teams testing knowledge of ocean biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and policy, run at universities and research institutions across the country.
National Science Bowl - SLAC Regional
Fast-paced quiz competition covering biology, chemistry, physics, and more; hosted at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
NCF-Envirothon (California)
Environmental science team competition covering aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and soils.
ProjectCSGIRLS (Bioinformatics)
While CS focused, many winning projects use code to solve genetics problems (Bioinformatics). Open to 8th-12th grade (Select tracks).
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
The world's largest pre-college science competition; qualify through affiliated regional/state fairs with over $9 million in awards.
Regeneron Science Talent Search
America's oldest and most prestigious science competition for high school seniors, offering up to $250,000 in top prizes for original research.
Science Ambassador Scholarship
Create a 3-minute STEM education video for chance at $20,000 scholarship; open to high school seniors.
Science Olympiad - Bay Area Regional
Team-based STEM competition with multiple biology events; advance to state and nationals.
Synopsys Science Fair (Santa Clara County)
Regional science fair for Santa Clara County serving as pathway to California State Fair and ISEF.
USA Biology Olympiad (USABO)
A pure exam competition. 25% of the exam is Genetics & Evolution. Requires registration through your school.
USA Biolympiad (USABO)
The premier US high school biology olympiad, genetics-heavy, run by the Center for Excellence in Education, progressing from an online Open Exam through a semifinal to 20 finalists at a residential national finals, selecting the US team for IBO.
USA Brain Bee
National neuroscience championship where winners represent the US at International Brain Bee.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.