2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Finalists

Society for Science and Thermo Fisher Scientific are proud to announce the 30 finalists in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge — the nation’s premier STEM research competition for middle school students. The finalists will travel to Washington, DC from October 23 – 28 to participate in the Finals Week of the competition. Each student will be judged on both their science research projects as well as their demonstration of collaboration and critical thinking skills during team challenges, emphasizing the importance and value of teamwork in STEM fields.

All finalists receive a $500 cash award and will compete for over $100,000 in prizes.

View the Press Release

Meet the 2026 Finalists!

Myreen Ahsan

8th Grade, Friendswood Junior High
Friendswood, TX

Millions to Molecules: Dual Mechanism Small-Molecule Discovery via HTVS and Machine Learning-Guided Molecular Dynamics for Frontotemporal Dementia

Ankith Burki

7th Grade, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
San Jose, CA

Investigating the Effect of Low-Frequency Sound in Enhancing the Efficiency of Water Generation in Thermoelectric Atmospheric Water Generators

Ishaan Dokania

6th Grade, Willamette Valley Academy
Beaverton, OR

Eye in the Sky: From Pixels to Predictions for Lithium and Beyond

Wileidy Enid Feliciano-Rivera

7th Grade, Escuela Intermedia Rafael Irizarry Rivera
Peñuelas, PR

Evaluation of the Effect of EcoMusa: Bioplastic Mulch Based on Musa paradisiaca for Weed Control (Phase II)

Bailey Quinn Frank

8th Grade, Pine Crest School – Fort Lauderdale Campus
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Designing an eDNA Sampler To Provide Health Surveillance Through the Detection and Identification of Bacterial Pathogens in Rural Communities

Sartaj Singh Gandhi

7th Grade, Monroe Township Middle School
Monroe Township, NJ

Meat Freshness Monitor

Isabella Garry

7th Grade, Central Middle School
Eden Prairie, MN

A Novel Method for Microplastic Removal From Simulated Gastric Fluid Using Plant Mucilage Flocculants

Alekha Goldberg

7th Grade, Peak to Peak Mountain Charter School
Pine Mountain Club, CA

Blue-reka! Investigating Methylene Blue as a Neuroprotectant for Traumatic Brain Injury Using a Novel In Vivo Drosophila Model

Henry Grover

8th Grade, Riverside STEM Academy
Riverside, CA

Sprayable Hydrogels for Preventing the Rekindling of Wildfires

Jack Grover

8th Grade, Riverside STEM Academy
Riverside, CA

Sprayable Hydrogels for Preventing the Rekindling of Wildfires

Ellianna Gu

8th Grade, Wasatch Junior High
Salt Lake City, UT

Bot-tling up Emotions: How AI Chatbots Interpret and Respond to Emotionally Challenging Scenarios

Hanna Ryan Heitefuss

8th Grade, Long Beach Middle School
Lido Beach, NY

Investigating Saltwater Intrusion on the Development and Growth of Vigna radiata and Heart Modulation of Daphnia magna

Linden Hunter-Pinsky

7th Grade, Gateway Middle School
Santa Cruz, CA

Investigating the Relationship of Sea Urchins (Echinoidea) to Giant Kelp (Macrocystis Pyrifera) Bed Recovery

Seiji Iigaya

8th Grade, Tenafly Middle School
Tenafly, NJ

Modeling Violin Expression: Timbral Dynamics at the Instability Boundary

Samhitha Kiran Maddu

8th Grade, The Globe Academy
Atlanta, GA

Plasticizers in Pads: A Study of Phthalate Content

Virinchi R. Madireddy

8th Grade, California Connections Academy at Ripon
Ripon, CA

Hidden Threats in Organic Fertilizers: A Study of Antibiotic Resistance in Commercial Animal-Based Fertilizers

Sai Sri Valli Mogilineedi

8th Grade, Mountain View Middle School
Mechanicsburg, PA

A Novel Controlled Release System for GERD Drugs Using Immobilization Techniques

Nathan Gael Montelongo

7th Grade, Lorenzo De Zavala Middle School
La Joya, TX

Shellfish Contributions to Ecosystem and Human Health: Evaluating Chitosan’s Natural Ability To Remove Microplastics

Parthvi Naswa

8th Grade, Canyon Hills Junior High School
Chino Hills, CA

Rebuilding Pyrogenic Soils: Evaluating Stress Impacts and Bioremediation Viability for Ecosystem Recovery

Kianoosh Nawai

8th Grade, West Virginia Virtual Academy
Charleston, WV

Design, Optimization and Evaluation of a Low-Cost, Compact Bionic Hand for Functional Restoration and Accessibility

Sanat Pandit

6th Grade, Greenhills School
Ann Arbor, MI

Project Soteria: A Low-Cost Fire Mitigating UAV Implemented Through Stereovision, Sonar and Path Planning Algorithms

Shrikari Punjala

7th Grade, Quest Academy
Palatine, IL

How Do Calcium Carbonate Crystals Affect Bacterial Growth?

Isabel Rossi

8th Grade, James Blair Middle School
Williamsburg, VA

Listening in the Right Places: Game Theory and Optimization for Earthquake Sensor Placement

Rye Lynn Rost

7th Grade, Baker Junior High School
Baker, MT

Musa acuminata and Musa paradisiaca Mashup: Developing Higher Resistant Starch Bioplastics

Olympia Sternson

8th Grade, The Rhoades School
Encinitas, CA

The Role of Language Specificity in Sparking Controversy on Social Media

Andrew Sun-Zhuang

7th Grade, The Evergreen School
Shoreline, WA

VisionStrike: Portable AI-Powered Baseball Pitching Machine

Lilly Swigert

8th Grade, The Archer School for Girls
Los Angeles, CA

Fly Away From Addiction: Testing Dibenzazepine’s Effect on Ethanol Preference in Drosophila melanogaster

Bowen Wang

7th Grade, Central Middle School
San Carlos, CA

Aftershock Oracle: Machine Learning-Based Aftershock Risk Forecasting for Earthquake Safety

Locklyn Rae Ward

8th Grade, Grove Middle School
Grove, OK

A Study of Open Field Plants, Native and Non-Native, and Their Antimicrobial Properties Against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis

Alec Zelenovic

7th Grade, Gunston Middle School
Arlington, VA

A Multivariable Math Model for Predicting Win Probability in 12U Travel Baseball