About Thermo Fisher JIC
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge® is the premier STEM research competition for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in the United States.
Find a Society-affiliated science fair in your area to earn a chance to compete!
Find a Science Fair Near You
2026 Important Dates
Application Period
February 1 – June 10
Top 300 Junior Innovators Announced
September 2
Top 30 Finalists Announced
September 16
Finals Week
October 2026
Science & Engineering Project Showcase
October 2026
Winners Announcement
October 2026
How to Compete
Find-a-Fair
To earn a nomination to Thermo Fisher JIC, students must first compete at a Society-affiliated science fair. Find your local science fair today!
Eligibility and Important Information
Learn about how to compete, what you can win, and more.
For Nominees
The top 10% of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade competitors at Society-affiliated fairs in the U.S. are eligible for nomination. Learn more about how to complete and submit your 2026 application.
Scientific Integrity
Society for Science expects students competing in Thermo Fisher JIC to hold themselves to the highest ethical standards.
2025 Highlights
Watch the highlights from the 2025 Finals Week to see finalists in action and read the press release to learn about the winners.
For Educators
Educators are key accelerators of students’ achieving in STEM. We have curated a selection of resources to provide support to educators who are interested in helping their students become more engaged with STEM. If you’re an educator eager to help your students learn more about the research process, find a topic of interest, formulate scientific questions, or help with the application cycle, click here! We also have information on how to affiliate a fair at your school if there isn’t one in your area.
Learn More
Thermo Fisher Scientific JIC top winner named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year Honoree
Society for Science is thrilled to see that Shanya Gill is being recognized by TIME for her 2023 Thermo Fisher JIC research project designing a new type of fire detection kit.
Learn about Shanya’s project
Read more about Shanya
Tina Jin interviewed on the Kelly Clarkson Show!
Kelly meets Tina, a 14-year-old innovator who recently won the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge for creating a device to tackle the global clean water crisis. Tina dials-in and shares how she developed a water filter that is low cost and uses natural materials like animal bones.
Affiliated Fairs
The Society’s network of affiliated science fairs around the globe are critical to the success of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and Thermo Fisher JIC. Resources for science fair personnel include:
- Affiliated Fair Dashboard
- Affiliated Fair Guidelines
- Resources for Science Fair Management
- Standards for Science Fairs
From the Society Blog
Sponsors and Partners
Thermo Fisher Scientific
With the generous support of title sponsor and partner Thermo Fisher Scientific, Society for Science is pleased to be running the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. Learn more here.
Award and Educational Partners
The Society thanks its partners for their contributions to Thermo Fisher JIC through sponsorship of awards and supporting each phase of the competition.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Find out more about how to support Thermo Fisher JIC.